Last year’s winner Corach Rambler heads the contenders for Saturday’s Grand National at Aintree, with the final line-up to be named on Thursday.

The maximum number of runners for the Aintree contest has been cut to 34 from 40 this year for safety reasons.

Corach Rambler, trained in Scotland by Lucinda Russell, leads British hopes in a field dominated by Irish runners.

Irish trainers Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins could both have eight runners.

Elliott’s team includes Delta Work and Chemical Energy, although Conflated is set to be rerouted to Friday’s Melling Chase, meaning 2022 winner Noble Yeats will carry top weight.

Owner JP McManus has confirmed riding plans for his team, with Paul Townend on the Mullins-trained I Am Maximus and Mark Walsh choosing Limerick Lace over Meetingofthewaters, who will be the mount of Danny Mullins.

Keith Donoghue has been booked for Capodanno, with Jody McGarvey on Janidil.