A high-class entry featuring 119 hopefuls has been revealed for the £700,000 John Smith's Grand National at Aintree on April 14th.

Eight of the nine finishers from last season are still involved, with Martin Brassil's Co Kildare winner Numbersixvalverde likely to lock horns with 2005 hero Hedgehunter, owned by Trevor Hemmings and runner-up last year.

Clan Royal, Nil Desperandum, Risk Accessor, Puntal, Joes Edge and Inca Trail could also run in their second consecutive National. Irish-trained horses have won the four-and-a-half-mile marathon five times in the last eight renewals and another formidable challenge can be expected with 33 horses entered from this country.

As well as Hedgehunter, Willie Mullins has five other candidates, including Our Ben, who also carries the famous Hemmings silks. Ted Walsh, who trained Papillon to land the National seven years ago, has put forward Jack High alongside Grade One novice chase scorer Southern Vic. Michael O'Brien has entered Cheltenham Gold Cup third Forget The Past.