The official list of entrants for the 2010 Grand National started off with 111 horses. With the weights announced on February 16th, many trainers were disappointed with their handicap and as such had tough decisions to make over the following few weeks. With the first scratchings deadline on March 2nd 2010, 13 horses were excluded leaving 98 horses in the running for the big race. But with Cheltenham soon approaching many trainers used the festival to ultimately determine if their horses could cut the mustard on April 10th. It would appear that many could not because with the second official scratchings on March 22nd, a further 23 horses were eliminated from contention leaving the now 75 horses to battle it out for one of the 40 places up for grabs. There were a number of surprises among the horses that were withdrawn, most notably Albertas Run who, fresh off the back of the Ryanair Chase win at Cheltenham, had looked very promising for the Grand National despite having been given the top weight of 11-10. UK bookmakers had cut his odds significantly but the trainer and owner had a chat and decided that although he won't be running in the Grand National he is likely to take part in one of the other Aintree Meeting races. Possol, another ante-post favourite was also a surprise withdrawal. The seven year old, Henry Daly french-bred horse, is fresh off the back of his Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham where he finished fifth behind the winner Berties Dream. It is possible that his trainer decided that it would be too much to expect him to be ready again in time for Aintree especially as, based on his Cheltenham performance, he was not likely to win it. The debate over War of Attrition's entry since the weights were announced has finally been put to bed with trainer Mouse Morris officially withdrawing him from contention. Speculation had arisen after Morris openly criticised the handicapper for giving War of Attrition too high a handicap weight for the National but had still kept him in the running after the first official scratchings deadline. However, a relatively poor Cheltenham performance finally sealed the deal and he has decided that the 11 year old will not be running on April 10th. Though other noted horses have been withdrawn such as Our Vic, Roulez Cool, Gone to Lunch, Casey Jones and Seven Is My Number, there were no real shock surprises amoung those now out of the race. Of the 75 horses that still remain, a significant 63 of them all meet the minimum weight requirement to take part which is very surprising and as a result there have been no amendments to the weights by the handicapper. One ante-post favourites that may miss the cut altogether because of the weights is the much anticipated Chief Dan George, who on 10-02 has not met the minimum weight requirement of 10-07 and with so many horses who have met the minimum still in, it does seem unlikely that he will get his shot at the Grand National this year.
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