Day 3 Grand National Meeting Talking Points The final field for the Randox Grand National at Aintree is beginning to take clearer shape after six horses were absent from the confirmation stage on Monday. The Gordon Elliott-trained Three Card Brag is amongst those now assured of a run, though the same trainer's Duffle Coat finds his hopes hanging in the balance alongside Roi Image and Shakem Up'arry for the final spot. Willie Mullins' Capodanno was not amongst the latest confirmations, one of six to drop out, alongside L'homme Presse, Velvet Elvis, Minella Drama, Fontaine Collonges and Quick Wave. Claim the bet365 welcome offer for the Grand National For those who have already signed up to bet365, check out more of the best betting sites. Good news for Henderson and Elliott Elliott's Three Card Brag, a horse the Cullentra handler has been talking up for the Grand National, is now inside the 34-runner cutline for Aintree after the latest defections. Hyland (Nicky Henderson), Celebre D'Allen (Philip Hobbs & Johnson White) and Twig (Ben Pauling) also now make the cut for the National line-up alongside Three Card Brag. Duffle Coat, Shakem Up'arry and Roi Mage, all due to carry 10st 4lb off ratings of 145, are the trio left vying for the 34th and final spot in the great race. Should there be no further defections, and that trio are left in, a random ballot will be deployed to decide who gets the last spot. Elliott has won three Grand Nationals and Three Card Brag now takes his possible team for Saturday to five alongside Conflated, Coko Beach, Fil Dor and Minella Crooner, as he bids for a record-equalling fourth win. Henderson, of course, has famously never won any of the major National races in Britain or Ireland, so the Seven Barrows supremo will be relieved to get the promising Hyland into the field. Mullins sextet still in the mix The Mullins' team is cut to six due to the absence of Capodanno from the latest stage. The Closutton team will be headed by last year's winner I Am Maximus, rated 8lb higher this time in his quest to become the first top-weight to win since Red Rum. Grangeclare West for owners Cheveley Park Stud joins the likes of Thyestes winner Nick Rockett, Appreciate It, Minella Cocooner and Meetingofthewaters in the Mullins assault as things stand. After the latest round of confirmations it is the Gavin Cromwell-trained Stumptown, winner of the Cross Country race at the Cheltenham Festival, that tops the betting at a best-price 8/1 for the Grand National. The final field for the Aintree showpiece will be decided when declarations are made on Thursday morning, while four reserves will also be nominated at that point, with the deadline for non-runners to be replaced by those horses set at 1pm on Friday. I Am Maximus ready to roll Mullins believes I Am Maximus could be returning to peak form at exactly the right time for his Aintree defence, while the champion trainer has confirmed his plan is to run everything he can in the National. "All our horses in the National, if they get in, they'll run," he told Racing TV at Downpatrick on Sunday. "They're all in good shape. Most of them did their final bit of work yesterday (Saturday) and I'm very happy with them all. "I Am Maximus is very good. Paul (Townend) got down off him with a big smile on his face yesterday morning, so that means he's back to where Paul wants him anyway."
