First Scratching Deadline For Grand National 2023

After receiving fewer entries than usual, there are now 73 contenders for the Grand National on April 15th, 2023, as four more potential runners have been withdrawn from the initial 85 entries.

The first scratching stage is usually uneventful, with some connections choosing to take their chances elsewhere. However, this year, entries, weights and the first scratching stage are all one week closer to The Festival so fewer horses have raced elsewhere.

Many horses have entries at both Aintree and the Cheltenham Festival and their performance at the latter can determine whether they will participate at the Grand National.

That includes top-weight Hewick, who has options in both the Gold Cup and the Stayers Hurdle.

At this stage, horses are withdrawn because they don’t qualify, they have received an injury or connections know they are simply too far down the list to make the cut.

2023 Grand National Withdrawals

While Minella Times’ retirement was expected, Henry De Bromhead had already made the announcement on the day the weights were allocated.

The removal of Iwilldoit and the previously withdrawn Fiddlerontheroof, Grumpy Charley, and Riders Onthe Storm was also known.

For the first stage in 2023, 4 horses were withdrawn.

• Burrows Saint (22)
• Ash Tree Meadow (46)
• Frontal Assault (61)
• Sporting John (63)

With only Burrows Saint occupying a spot in the original top 40 runners, it means that one additional horse now makes the cut and that is Ain’t That A Shame.

New Order For Grand National 2023 Runners

While the horses are originally numbered from 1 to 40 following the weights, after the first scratching stage they usually get moved around a little if more than one is handed the same weight.

With 73 horses still left, the numbering has changed slightly, so here are all the remaining runners in their new numerical order:

• 1 Hewick – 11 12 – John Hanlon
• 2 Any Second Now – 11 12 – Ted Walsh
• 3 Conflated – 11 12 – Gordon Elliott
• 4 Noble Yeats – 11 11 – Emmet Mullins
• 5 Galvin – 11 11 – Gordon Elliott
• 6 Royale Pagaille – 11 08 – Venetia Williams
• 7 Envoi Allen – 11 08 – Henry de Bromhead
• 8 Fury Road – 11 06 – Gordon Elliott
• 9 The Big Dog – 11 05 – Peter Fahey
• 10 Capodanno – 11 05 – Willie Mullins

 

• 11 Delta Work – 11 04 – Gordon Elliott
• 12 Sam Brown – 11 04 – Anthony Honeyball
• 13 Lifetime Ambition – 11 03 – Jessica Harrington
• 14 Franco de Port – 11 03 – Willie Mullins
• 15 Carefully Selected – 11 01 – Willie Mullins
• 16 Coko Beach – 11 00 – Gordon Elliott
• 17 Chris’s Dream – 11 00 – Henry de Bromhead
• 18 Longhouse Poet – 11 00 – Martin Brassil
• 19 Gaillard du Mesnil – 11 00 – Willie Mullins
• 20 Darasso – 10 13 – Joseph O’Brien

 

• 21 Pencilfulloflead – 10 12 – Gordon Elliott
• 22 Happygolucky – 10 11 – Kim Bailey
• 23 Le Milos – 10 11 – Dan Skelton
• 24 The Shunter – 10 11 – Emmet Mullins
• 25 Quick Wave – 10 11 – Venetia Williams
• 26 Ga Law – 10 11 – Jamie Snowden
• 27 Escaria Ten – 10 10 – Gordon Elliott
• 28 The Big Breakaway – 10 10 – Joe Tizzard
• 29 Remastered – 10 10 – David Pipe
• 30 Farclas – 10 10 – Stud Gordon Elliott

 

• 31 Threeunderthrufive – 10 09 – Paul Nicholls
• 32 Cape Gentleman – 10 08 – John Hanlon
• 33 Cilaos Emery – 10 08 – Sophie Leech
• 34 Roi Mage – 10 08 – Patrick Griffin
• 35 Diol Ker – 10 08 – Noel Meade
• 36 A Wave of The Sea – 10 06 – Joseph O’Brien
• 37 Minella Trump – 10 06 – Donald McCain
• 38 Vanillier – 10 06 – Gavin Cromwell
• 39 Velvet Elvis – 10 06 – Tom Gibney
• 40 Ain’t That A Shame – 10 05 – Henry de Bromhead

 

• 41 Corach Rambler – 10 05 – Lucinda Russell
• 42 Lord Lariat – 10 05 – Dermot McLoughlin
• 43 Enjoy d’Allen – 10 05 – Ciaran Murphy
• 44 Mr Incredible – 10 04 – Willie Mullins
• 45 Cloudy Glen – 10 04 – Venetia Williams
• 46 Gin On Lime – 10 04 – Henry de Bromhead
• 47 Mister Coffey – 10 04 – Nicky Henderson
• 48 Battleoverdoyen – 10 04 – Gordon Elliott
• 49 Ashtown Lad – 10 03 – Dan Skelton
• 50 Hill Sixteen – 10 02 – Sandy Thomson

 

• 51 Gabbys Cross – 10 02 – Henry de Bromhead
• 52 Recite A Prayer – 10 01 – Willie Mullins
• 53 Rapper – 10 01 – Henry Daly
• 54 Eva’s Oskar – 10 01 – Tim Vaughan
• 55 Our Power – 10 00 – Sam Thomas
• 56 Death Duty – 10 00 – Gordon Elliott
• 57 Dunboyne – 10 00 – Gordon Elliott
• 58 Francky du Berlais – 10 00 – Peter Bowen
• 59 Fortescue – 9 13 – Henry Daly
• 60 Back On The Lash – 9 13 – Martin Keighley

 

• 61 Defi Bleu – 9 12 – Gordon Elliott
• 62 Milan Native – 9 10 – Gordon Elliott
• 63 Punitive – 9 10 – Gordon Elliott
• 64 Gevrey – 9 10 – Gordon Elliott
• 65 Born By The Sea – 9 10 – Paul Gilligan
• 66 Fakiera – 9 08 – Gordon Elliott
• 67 Mortal – 9 08 – Gordon Elliott
• 68 Captain Kangaroo – 9 08 – Willie Mullins
• 69 Darrens Hope – 9 08 – Robert Murphy
• 70 Captain Cattistock – 9 05 – Fergal O’Brien

 

• 71 Secret Reprieve – 9 05 – Evan Williams
• 72 Fantastikas – 9 05 – Nigel Twiston-Davies
• 73 Glamorgan Duke – 9 01 – Paul Gilligan

How Have The Odds Changed?

Since the announcement of weights for the 2023 Grand National, a lot has happened in the past two weeks.

Once the weights have been set, the horses can race without worrying about affecting their rating. However, the weights were announced later than usual this year, and with Cheltenham approaching, entries are holding off until the festival on March 14th.

Noble Yeats remains the favorite with odds of around 8/1, followed by Gaillard Du Mesnil at 12/1.

Mr Incredible has seen the biggest improvement, going from 25/1 to 14/1. Despite being outside the top 40, the horse is catching the bookies’ attention.

However, the betting markets have been largely unaffected due to the limited number of withdrawals at the first scratching stage.

Plus, it’s quite typical for the Grand National to be overlooked before the Cheltenham Festival, as all betting is focused squarely in the direction of Prestbury Park!