All the market principals remain in the race and, as none of those removed from the race were prominent in the ante-post betting lists, there have been no significant changes to the odds on offer for the Aintree marathon.

Amongst the better known horses whose trainers have declined the challenge of this year’s big race is Kilcrea Castle, quietly fancied in some quarters prior to a poor effort recently in the Racing Post Chase, after which his trainer Emma Lavelle hinted that the National might be a step too far at this stage.

Willie Mullins has removed his Beroni and Irish Invader from the contest but still has eight horses entered, whilst Dessie Hughes has taken out Leopardstown’s Paddy Power Chase runner-up Siegemaster, a 33/1 shot in some Aintree Grand National Free Bet lists.

Taranis is probably the most high profile horse to miss the race, the gelding having returned from a long lay-off to post a tremendous win in Cheltenham’s Argento Chase last month. Another horse to have been quoted as short as 33/1 with some firms, Taranis has also been withdrawn from an intended engagement in the Cheltenham Gold Cup due to lameness and will be out for the rest of the season. Trainer Paul Nicholls hopes that his talented but fragile chaser will be back on duty next term.

Another quality horse who has been difficult to keep sound is Charlie Egerton’s Darkness, another well known name who was absent from the list of 98 horses going forward to the next stage of the Grand National. The Grade 1 winner has had all manner of training difficulties in recent years but on his day is still a quality handicapper.

Parson’s Legacy, Jayo, Glenfinn Captain and One Cool Cookie are amongst others who have not gone forward to the second declaration stage.

Irish Raptor had first shown a penchant for the unique Aintree fences when leading until the second from home before fading into seventh in the 2007 Topham Chase. In a tremendous finish to the 2008 renewal Twiston Davies’ charge went down with all guns blazing when failing by only a neck to peg back the gambled-on Gwanako, but 12 months later got his just reward for tremendous consistency at Aintree when holding on gamely to beat Ireland’s Oodachee by a couple of lengths.

Some 2010 grand national entries just seem to be tailor-made for the Merseyside challenge and having raced five times in one lap events at Aintree (he also finished 6th in the 2008 Becher Chase before coming a cropper at the second fence in the same event 12 months later) Irish Raptor has shown that, particularly in April and on a decent surface, he is a serious threat to any horse at Aintree.

A proven stayer who has won at tough tracks like Sandown and Cheltenham over distances in excess of three miles, the 11-year-old has this year been prepared with the Grand National as his principal target. Twiston-Davies knows exactly what is required to win the day and at around 40/1 in the ante-post market there are good reasons for believing that Irish Raptor will give supporters a great run for their money.

The handicapper has allotted Irish Raptor 10st 7lbs, a perfect racing mark, but a figure that will mean that at least 20 horses above the Zaffaran gelding in the weights will have to drop out to give him a shot at Aintree glory. I believe there is every chance that they will and ‘NTD’s’ grand sort will make the starting line-up on for the 2010 Grand National.

Two graded wins at Cheltenham last winter (one of them over three-and-a-half miles) showed that Joe Lively still has a serious engine and that his stamina for the marathon trip of the John Smith’s Grand National is all but guaranteed. In between his two Cheltenham victories, the Flemensfirth gelding ran a good sixth to Notre Pere in the Welsh Grand National, keeping on nicely at the finish.

Having appeared out of sorts for much of this term, it was good to see Joe Lively showing a bit of his old sparkle when running well to be third to the rejuvenated Taranis in the Grade 2 Argento Chase at Cheltenham at the end of January, an effort that possibly reminded handicapper Phil Smith of his capabilities and probably contributed to him being allotted 11st 6lbs in the Grand National weights.

A horse that has shown throughout his career that he is capable of running well on anything from ‘heavy’ ground to ‘good’ going, Joe Lively will doubtless be partnered by regular pilot Joe Tizzard who has ridden him to all nine of his career successes and knows exactly how to get the best out of a classy horse now nearing the veteran stage.

He is on offer at around 66/1 with Horse Race Betting and would not be without a chance of making the frame.

Winner of the Becher Chase at Aintree earlier this season, Dessie Hughes’ charge had, (like so many other serious Grand National Runners, been kept to hurdles events through the winter whilst the handicapper was working out the weights for the race. Having been allotted 11st 6lbs, Hughes returned the 10-year-old son of Old Vic to fences for the Bobbyjo, and he duly ran out a comfortable 8-length winner from stable companion Black Appalachi, another Grand National candidate who shaped well and also looks bang on course for a return visit to Merseyside.

The prevailing soft ground proved ideal for Vic Venturi, who was never far from the pace and took up the running three out before surging away from his rivals. Similar underfoot conditions for Hughes’ gelding would be a distinct bonus on National day as he clear relishes give in the ground.

Flood reported that his mount had given him a great feel throughout the three-mile-one-furlong contest and that he (Vic Venturi) felt as if he had improved further compared to his winning performance at Aintree in the autumn. For his part, Hughes was delighted with both the winner and the runner-up and is convinced he has two very serious Grand National candidates this time around.

On the back of this performance it came as no surprise that punters were interested to have a wager on Vic Venturi who is now generally on offer at around 14/1 amongst the Grand National Race Horses, a price that could contract further as the big event approaches.

A horse that clearly stays well, jumps soundly and has consistently acquitted himself well when facing quality opposition, Vic Venturi is surely one of Ireland’s leading hopes to bring the John Smith’s Grand National back to the Emerald Isle.

Only a seven-year-old, French bred Possol has already proved himself to be a talented performer, last season giving weight and a beating to subsequent Grand National hero Mon Mome in a hot Haydock staying handicap, before running a cracker to be a fine second to Nacarat in Kempton’s Racing Post Trophy. His subsequent disappointing effort in a handicap at the Cheltenham Festival is attributed to him not having sufficient time to recover from his effort at Kempton, and his following outing in the Kilmany Cup at Perth when beating the very useful Ollie Magern, showed that Possol is a very progressive horse.

This term, almost certainly by way of wishing to protect his handicap mark for the John Smith’s Grand National 2010, Daly his campaigned the gelding exclusively over timber and has been rewarded with victories at Ascot and Doncaster, showing that the horse is equally adept over both kinds of obstacles and is clearly in very good heart.

Possol has a touch of class about him, stays very well indeed, goes particularly well on the ‘good’ ground that is so often prevalent at Aintree and has never fallen in 19 racecourse appearances. Of those 19 runs, he has won or been placed fifteen times, proving himself a model of consistency whilst gradually climbing up the handicapping ladder.

Another crack at the Racing Post Chase at the end of February is very much on the cards, whilst Possol also holds an entry in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. It would be a surprise if he were to run in both though, as he seems to need a break between races.

There are good reasons for believing that Possol is a serious contender for Aintree honours, something to consider when placing your Grand National Free Bets.

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Every month we will list the updated odds so you can easily see any movements in price. The Chase season is now well and truly underway, already a few big runners seem to be pointed at the National. The bookmakers already have Vic Venturi as the 16/1 favorite, with Niche Market second at 20/1.

Here are the latest odds from Paddy Power Bookmakers. Remember Ante Post rules apply to all bets made now. (In other words, you’ll lose your money if it doesn’t run!)

Vic Venturi ~ 16/1

Niche Market ~ 20/1

Tricky Trickster ~ 28/1

State Of Play ~ 25/1

Black Apalachi ~ 25/1

Comply Or Die ~ 25/1

Character Building ~ 25/1

Big Fella Thanks ~ 25/1

My Will ~ 25/1

Backstage ~ 25/1

Hello Bud ~ 25/1

Don’t Push It ~ 25/1

Gallant Nuit ~ 25/1

Arbor Supreme ~ 25/1

Irish Raptor ~ 33/1

Mon Mome ~ 33/1

Butler’s Cabin ~ 33/1

Notre Pere ~ 33/1

Possol ~ 33/1

Nine De Sivola ~ 33/1

War Of Attrition ~ 33/1

Having seen Niche Market run a few times he wouldn’t be my choice for the second place favorite! Tricky Trickster would seem like a better bet at 28/1 certainly has a great each way shot.

Of the bigger priced runners, former winner, State Of Play, (27.0 win, 4.3 place) runs off the same mark (145) as when staying on strongly to win this event three years ago and is reported in rude health by Evan Williams.”

It was far more straightforward for fellow Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester City. Mark Hughes fielded virtually his best eleven and that was good enough to beat Scunthorpe 5-1 with City never touching any bigger than 1.4 on the exchange. At 6.2 to win the Cup, only Chelsea at 4.1 and Man Utd at 5.8 are shorter. The former had no trouble disposing of  Bolton. They were matched at a high of 1.4 and those who predicted Chelsea would get four by backing the “any unquoted” runner secured a high of 5.6.

Tottenham (7.4), Aston Villa (12.0) Portsmouth (26.0) and Blackburn (27.0) complete the teams who will be in the draw for the quarter-finals.

My money will be on Call Of Duty, if I can find the market on Paddy Power