Speed figures expert Andy Bate has narrowed down the field for the Randox Aintree Grand National to four

NOBLE Yeats sets a very high standard, courtesy of his Gold Cup fourth, and any repeat of his Cheltenham performance will make him very difficult to beat, even though he is set to carry the welter burden of 11st 10lb.

Many Clouds shouldered just 1lb less when winning in 2015, having previously finished sixth to Coneygree in the Gold Cup so Emmett Mullins’ gelding is not facing an impossible task.

The same challenge faces Any Second Now who, despite being 11, has looked as good as ever in the build up to a third attempt to win this race. After running with credit behind Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup he completed his preparation with a Grade 2 success over two-and-a-half miles at Navan.

Longhouse Poet is another to consider from last year’s renewal as he travelled at least as well as the winner on the long run to the second last fence. A mistake at Foinavon forced Darragh O’Keeffe’s hand slightly and he was in the front rank plenty soon enough, before fading on the run for home. Retained rider and Irish Grand National winning jockey J.J. Slevin was in the saddle at Down Royal on his final start before the big day, when the nine-year-old showed maturity when settling just off an ever-changing lead. To bridge the gap he will need to display the same characteristic.

Corach Rambler heads the market courtesy of his second successive victory in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.

Derek Fox has twice delivered Lucinda Russell’s gelding to perfection at Prestbury Park. While I respect the relationship between man and horse this will prove a different challenge. I also have my reservations about his effectiveness over the trip as he weakened at Warwick when fourth in the Classic Chase of 2022 and was not making any ground on Le Milos in the closing stages of the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November.

Dan Skelton was quoted as saying he was fitter than Le Milos at Kelso when he faded after the final fence, having looked to have the race in safe-keeping. Skelton is renowned for his ability to target a big race and I expect today to be no different. There will not be many finishing stronger than the eight-year-old if he reproduces his Newbury performance when he was just only marginally slower than the then in-form two-mile chaser Amarillo Sky from the cross fence.

The Big Dog was in the process of running a career best when falling at the second last in the Irish Gold Cup. It is likely he would have finished in front of Any Second Now so, if he takes to the fences, there is no reason why Peter Fahey’s gelding can’t confirm the impression he created at Leopardstown.

If the heavens were to open then Carefully Selected would have to enter calculations. Galvin would require the opposite conditions to give Davy Russell the dream send-off, while of those at more fanciful odds Sam Brown looks overpriced judged on his run behind Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall Chase.