Spillane's Tower was left in Saturday's Randox Grand National at the final declaration stage, meaning Pied Piper just missed the cut for the 34-runner spectacular.
One of seven JP McManus-owned contenders in the line-up, Spillane's Tower has been given the option of the National despite being declared for the Grade 1 Racing Welfare Bowl on Thursday.
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McManus's racing manager Frank Berry said on Tuesday that was likely in case conditions were not deemed soft enough for Spillane's Tower to run on day one of Aintree. The Jimmy Mangan-trained eight-year-old was withdrawn from last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup due to the ground.
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Connections of first reserve Pied Piper, who is trained by Gordon Elliott, now face an anxious wait to see whether or not Spillane's Tower lines up in the Bowl.
The reserve deadline for the National is 1pm on Friday, with Imperial Saint, Amirite, Ain't That A Shame, Deep Cave and Buddy One next in the pecking order.
The ground at Aintree was eased to good to soft (from good to soft, good in places) on Wednesday morning after between eight to ten millimetres of water was applied on Tuesday.
In other developments at final declarations, which have been brought forward 24 hours from this year, favourite I Am Maximus has been declared in cheekpieces, an aid he has only worn once before when second in a beginners' chase in 2022.
Jockey bookings became clearer too, with confirmation that Harry Cobden will ride Perceval Legallois in the McManus silks. Jonjo O'Neill Jr will again partner last year's fourth Iroko and Richie McLernon will continue his association with Johnnywho following their success in the Ultima at Cheltenham.
The rest of the McManus riders are still to be published, which is also the case for Willie Mullins' nine runners.
One of the most eyecatching bookings is that of Toby McCain-Mitchell on Haydock Grand National Trial runner-up Top Of The Bill, one of two runners alongside Beauport for Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies.
The 5lb claimer is a grandson of the late, great Ginger McCain, trainer of the three-time Grand National hero Red Rum.
Of the 34 runners, 23 are trained in Ireland with 11 in Britain.
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2026 Grand National: the confirmed list of runners and riders for Saturday
I Am Maximus Paul Townend
Nick Rockett Tom Bellamy
Banbridge JJ Slevin
Grangeclare West Patrick Mullins
Gerri Colombe Jack Kennedy
Haiti Couleurs Sean Bowen
Spillane's Tower tbc
Firefox Keith Donoghue
Monty's Star tbc
Spanish Harlem Brian Hayes
Lecky Watson Sean O'Keeffe
Champ Kiely Danny Mullins
Iroko Jonjo O'Neill Jr
Favori De Champdou Danny Gilligan
Three Card Brag Jordan Gainford
Oscars Brother Daniel King
Mr Vango Jack Tudor
High Class Hero James Bowen
Stellar Story Robert Dunne
Beauport Sam Twiston-Davies
Captain Cody Jonathan Burke
Jagwar tbc
Perceval Legallois Harry Cobden
Gorgeous Tom Sean Flanagan
The Real Whacker Gavin Sheehan
Quai De Bourbon Donagh Meyler
Answer To Kayf John Shinnick
Jordans Ben Jones
Final Orders Conor Stone-Walsh
Marble Sands Kielan Woods
Panic Attack Harry Skelton
Top Of The Bill Toby McCain-Mitchell
Johnnywho Richie McLernon
Twig Beau Morgan
Reserves (in order of who will get a run should there be a withdrawal)
Pied Piper
Imperial Saint
Amirite
Ain't That A Shame
Deep Cave
Buddy One
2026 Grand National: latest betting odds for the big race
Paddy Power: 6 I Am Maximus, 8 Grangeclare West, 9 Jagwar, Johnnywho, 10 Panic Attack, 12 Iroko, Nick Rockett, Oscars Brother, 14 Haiti Couleurs, 16 Captain Cody, Montys Star, 20 Final Orders, Gorgeous Tom, Quai De Bourbon, 25 Jordans, Lecky Watson, Perceval Legallois, Spanish Harlem, Stellar Story, 33 Favori De Champdou, Gerri Colombe, Spillane’s Tower, 40 High Class Hero, Three Card Brag, 50 Answer To Kayf, Banbridge, Champ Kiely, Firefox, The Real Whacker, 66 Amirite, Imperial Saint, Mr Vango, Twig, 100 Beauport, Hyland, Marble Sands, Pied Piper, Top Of The Bill, 150 Ain’t That A Shame, Soul Icon.
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2026 Grand National: Aintree verdict and 1-2-3-4 prediction
By Olly Eden
1. Captain Cody
2. Grangeclare West
3. I Am Maximus
4. Champ Kiely
Willie Mullins, who is seeking a Grand National hat-trick and saddled the 1-2-3 in last year's running, could hold the key once again with Captain Cody the pick at the prices.
The nicely weighted eight-year-old is the ideal age and proved his stamina when a cosy winner of last season's Scottish Grand National under a super-cool ride by Harry Cobden, scoring with much more in hand than the winning margin implies.
Things haven't gone his way since an encouraging reappearance third over an inadequate trip in a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse in November, but that's at least protected his current mark and there's surely a bigger performance in him.
This has been his primary aim all season and spring ground will see him to best effect.
Stablemates Grangeclare West and I Am Maximus, third and second last season, appeal as rock-solid each-way contenders again.
Another Mullins inmate worthy of a second look is Champ Kiely, who looks vastly overpriced at 80-1.
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