The Nationwide is a handicap chase with runners allotted totally different weights that they have to carry in response to their scores.
There are presently 87 horses entered for the race. The utmost variety of runners within the Nationwide was reduce final yr to 34 from 40 following a security evaluation and 32 runners went to put up after two withdrawals.
Official handicapper Martin Greenwood believes these at 59 or above within the present checklist will battle to make the reduce.
Mr Vango, winner of the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock for Sara Bradstock, is at 65 on 10st 2lb and more likely to miss out.
“It can break my coronary heart if we get some gentle floor and we won’t run as a result of he might win a Nationwide on gentle floor. That was why I used to be so eager,” stated Bradstock, whose husband Mark – coach of 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Coneygree – died final yr.
“It does appear like there’s probably rain this spring, however we’re not going to get in are we?”
Former soccer supervisor Harry Redknapp faces a wait to see if his horse Shakem Up’arry – quantity 58 within the checklist on 10st 4lb – will make the reduce.
However coach Paul Nicholls hopes to have 5 runners – Hitman, Bravemansgame, Threeunderthrufive, Kandoo Child and Keep Away Fay.
In addition to a discount in runners, different security measures launched final yr included a standing begin for the race, which went off on the first time of asking, a discount in peak to one of many fences, and added foam and rubber toe boards on each fence.
There have been no fallers and 21 horses accomplished the race – the very best quantity throughout the end line since 1992 – with 4 horses unseating their riders and 7 pulled up.
