The allocation of weights for the National marks a pivotal point for the prospects of trainers, jockeys, owners and punters. It can clear the path to big-race glory or produce a burden too heavy to overcome.
Unlike the other most prestigious steeplechase of the year, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Grand National is a handicap race. This means horses carry differing weights according to their previous form. The idea behind a handicap is to make for a more even race - the handicapper's ultimate (though in practice unfeasible) aim is for the horses to pass the winning post in a dead heat.
The "best" horse in the race is given the top weight (about 11st 12lb) and the weights allotted to the other horses are set in relation to this. This means if the top-weighted horse drops out, the weights of the other competitors may alter but will not change in relation to each other.
Even if a horse is allotted a weight of 8st 12lbs, it must carry 10 stone as this is the required minimum. This means some horses will be carrying possibly a stone more than they should be (known as being out of the handicap) and this disadvantage should suggest they are likely to perform less well than their rivals. Many punters will automatically put a line through horses out of the handicap.
In allocating a weight to each horse, handicapper Phil Smith must take a variety of factors into account, including form - a horse's recent and previous performances - and the course: the so-called 'Aintree Factor' - does the horse like the track and is he proven over long trips?
The top 40 in the handicap from the confirmation stage on Monday - with the exception of the already scratched War Of Attrition - all stood their ground for the Aintree marathon at the final declaration stage, meaning Zabenz takes his place at the foot of the weights on 10st 5lb.
Cloudy Lane has the burden of top-weight under 11st 10lb as he bids to give the McCain family another National success, while last year's winner Comply Or Die shoulders 11st 6lb for David Pipe and David Johnson.
Ante-post favourite My Will (11st 4lb) is one of four runners for champion trainer Paul Nicholls, with Eurotrek (11st 3lb), Big Fella Thanks (11st 1lb) and Cornish Sett (10st 10lb) all lining up.
Becher Chase winner Black Apalachi carries 11st 5lb along with former Irish Grand National winner Hear The Echo, while leading fancy Rambling Minster has 10st 9lb.
£900,000 guaranteed For 6yo+ which are allotted a rating of 110 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including February 8th; horses which are not qualified a rating in GB/Ireland at January 27th may also be entered - such horses may be eligible a weight providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances to February 8th would merit a minimum rating of 110; to qualify horses must have run at least three times in chases run under the Rules of Racing of the same Recognised Turf Authority up to and including February 8th; at the Handicapper's discretion such horses may be allocated a rating; the decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final (for riders who, before April 2nd, 2009, have ridden not less than 15 winners in chases/hurdles under GB/Irish rules of racing, or before March 22nd, 2009, have ridden not less than 10 winners in chases/hurdles and have applied no later than March 25th, 2009, to the BHA for exemption to ride; or for riders approved by the BHA who have ridden not less than 15 winners in chases/hurdles under any rules of racing and who ride under the provisions of Rule 60/61) Weights highest weight 11st 10lb Minimum weight 10-0 Penalties (no penalties after the publication of the weights) Cloudy Lane's Handicap Mark 158 Entries 122 pay £750 Confirmed 73 pay £1000 Penalty value 1st £506,970.00 2nd £190,980.00 3rd £95,580.00 4th £47,790.00 5th £23,940.00 6th £11,970.00
Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer Jockey
1) 16-0431F CLOUDY LANE 9-11-10 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain Jnr Jason Maguire
2) 61U1F234 CHELSEA HARBOUR (IRE) 9-11-08 Frances Duffin Tom Mullins IRE Emmet Mullins
3) 332-56F2 SNOWY MORNING (IRE) 9-11-08 Quayside Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE Andrew McNamara
4) 16UP-100 KNOWHERE (IRE) 11-11-07 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies Paddy Brennan
5) P211-P00 COMPLY OR DIE (IRE) 10-11-06 David Johnson David Pipe Timmy Murphy
6) 40-255550 OLLIE MAGERN 11-11-06 Roger Nicholls Nigel Twiston-Davies Mr Sam Waley-Cohen
7) 4-2P51P04P STAN (NZ) 10-11-06 Paul Beck Venetia Williams Aidan Coleman
8) 20F2-P151 BLACK APALACHI (IRE) 10-11-05 Gerard Burke Dessie Hughes IRE Denis O’Regan
9) 501-556U HEAR THE ECHO (IRE) 8-11-05 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE Davy Russell
10) 140-0F10 PREISTS LEAP (IRE) 9-11-05 John D O'Donohue Tom O'Leary IRE Philip Enright
11) 32023/-55 MY WILL (FR) 9-11-04 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh
12) 411P/1P/- EUROTREK (IRE) 13-11-03 Paul Green Paul Nicholls Sam Thomas
13) 2560-14 STATE OF PLAY 9-11-02 William & Angela Rucker Evan Williams Paul Moloney
14) 2-322U13 BIG FELLA THANKS 7-11-01 Paul Barber & Maggie Findlay Paul Nicholls Christian Williams
15) 00-210200 MON MOME (FR) 9-11-00 Vida Bingham Venetia Williams Liam Treadwell
16) F/02421/-0 SILVER BIRCH (IRE) 12-11-00 Brian Walsh (Co. Kildare) Gordon Elliott IRE Robbie Power
17) 03F-0005 BUTLER'S CABIN (FR) 9-10-13 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill Tony McCoy
18) 1111/U2-2 OFFSHORE ACCOUNT (IRE) 9-10-13 Brian Polly Charlie Swan IRE David Casey
19) 23/54-1P PARSONS LEGACY (IRE) 11-10-12 Rodney Offer Philip Hobbs Richard Johnson
20) F0612/-P0 REVEILLEZ 10-10-12 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill Mark Walsh
21) 00146P6P FUNDAMENTALIST (IRE) 11-10-11 Colin Cornes Nigel Twiston-Davies David England
22) 1/P133/3-0 GOLDEN FLIGHT (FR) 10-10-11 John & Barbara Cotton Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty
23) 03F0-4212 L'AMI (FR) 10-10-11 J P McManus Enda Bolger IRE Robert Thornton
24) 332-245P BATTLECRY 8-10-10 Trevor Hemmings Nigel Twiston-Davies Tom Scudamore
25) P00-F120 CORNISH SETT (IRE) 10-10-10 Peter Hart Paul Nicholls Nick Scholfield
26) 042-P610 FLEET STREET 10-10-10 Henry Ponsonby Nicky Henderson Andrew Tinkler
27) 1222100 MUSICA BELLA (FR) 9-10-10 Jean-Paul Senechal Francois Cottin FR Philip Carberry
28) 63-111314 CAN'T BUY TIME (IRE) 7-10-09 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill Noel Fehily
29) 113P//-3P1 DARKNESS 10-10-09 Lady Lloyd-Webber Charles Egerton Wayne Hutchinson
30) F323111 IRISH INVADER (IRE) 8-10-09 Sackcloth & Ashes Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE Paul Townend
31) 46-56511 RAMBLING MINSTER 11-10-09 The Lingdale Optimists Keith Reveley James Reveley
32) 5F/-06U343 SOUTHERN VIC (IRE) 10-10-09 Brenda Graham Ted Walsh IRE Niall Madden
33) 20P-1112 KILBEGGAN BLADE 10-10-07 Kevin & Anne Doocey Tom George Graham Lee
34) 4124021 BROOKLYN BROWNIE (IRE) 10-10-06 Kieren Gaffney & Neil Stevenson Malcolm Jefferson Phil Kinsella
35) 1-P504P0 HIMALAYAN TRAIL 10-10-06 Anne Gittins Jimmy Mangan IRE Paddy Flood
36) 3/00010-0 ARTEEA (IRE) 10-10-05 Judith Wilson David Pipe Johnny Farrelly
37) 0P/50PP-0 CERIUM (FR) 8-10-05 Judith Wilson Paul Murphy Keith Mercer
38) 050-2403 IDLE TALK (IRE) 10-10-05 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain Jnr Brian Harding
39) 0F2U6-P00 KELAMI (FR) 11-10-05 Halewood International Ltd Lisa Williamson Derek Laverty
40) 0/232P5/- ZABENZ (NZ) 12-10-05 Michael Watt & Sarah Hobbs Philip Hobbs Tom O’Brien
The Grand National is a test of endurance and horses rarely win carrying more than 11 stone.