BEAU: Without a win since running away with the Whitbread Gold Cup at Sandown last year and has to shoulder top-weight here. But fancied by Nigel Twiston-Davies, who persuaded a reluctant owner to let him run. Jockey Carl Llewellyn scored on the trainer's Earth Summit in 1998.
PAPILLON: His name is French for butterfly but he stung the bookmakers last year, backed from a morning 33-1 in to 10-1 before scoring by a length and a quarter from Mely Moss. Father and son trainer and jockey team Ted and Ruby Walsh were handed a late chance to bid for a repeat by the Irish Government lifting a blockade on trips to Britain.
EARTHMOVER: Tends to live up to his name by bulldozing the odd fence, and came close to death after a fall at Newton Abbot two years ago. Has warmed up for this by running instead over hurdles - as did the last two National winners. But other omens are less promising. Young jockey Joe Tizzard has already had four National rides - but is yet to complete the course. Only three of trainer Paul Nicholls' past runners have made it round.
MERRY PEOPLE: Failed to put in a clear round in last two Nationals, though was running a blinder until he fell at the second-last fence two years ago. Out of action since last September and this Irish challenger's backers may not be merry people after the race.
TRESOR DE MAI: Highest-weighted of a big team saddled by trainer Martin Pipe, who has been working all week to find the jockeys to partner the 10 runners from his stable. Tresor de Mai's rider looks to have drawn the short straw.
GENERAL WOLFE: No better than 12th when fancied for this race in his prime two years ago and has been restricted to just two outings in the last two seasons. First National ride for jockey Brian Crowley, who won the Welsh equivalent for General Wolfe's trainer Venetia Williams on Jocks Cross.
THE LAST FLING: The last resort for many. Though seventh in the race last year, his form has been much less encouraging this season.
HANAKHAM: Once a smart chaser, he has been very hard to keep sound and even Red Rum's trainer Ginger McCain is unlikely to be able to get him in the shape to triumph here, judged on the gelding's heavy defeat at Haydock last time. Former Irish champion jockey Barry Geraghty was sixth on Call It A Day on his National debut last year.
ADDINGTON BOY: National specialist who finished fifth last year and fourth 12 months previously. But now approaching veteran status and no 13-year-old has triumphed since Sergeant Murphy in 1923.
RED MARAUDER: Carried high hopes last year, only to fall at Becher's. Has been running respectably in good handicaps this season, though stamina remains unproven and will be unsuited by the very soft ground.
DJEDDAH: Ninth last year - the first runner trained by Frenchman Francois Doumen to complete the course. Out of form in his home country to date this term, and ran poorly at Kempton on his last visit to Britain.
STRONG TEL: Strength may be no worry but soundness is, as he has managed just four runs in the past two seasons and has been off the course since he was well beaten at Newbury last November.
UNSINKABLE BOXER: Unbackable too, having run just twice in point-to-points since 1999 - and fallen in the first of those.
BLOWING WIND: His recent wins at Doncaster and Sandown make him one of the form horses. But they came over distances more than two miles shorter than this marathon trip and he is more than likely to blow himself out before the end.
MORAL SUPPORT: One of the bargains of the season. He was bought for just 8,200 guineas last May and won four races in a row before finishing second in the Welsh National at Chepstow. Below his best last time out but trainer Charlie Mann remains very bullish.
NORTHERN STARLIGHT: Jumped these fences in style when winning the John Hughes Chase last year. But no horse has ever gone on from victory in that race over a circuit of the National course to land the real thing. Lack of a race since hardly adds to his chance.
NOBLE LORD: Favourite for this race after a successful reappearance at Haydock, since when this useful chaser's form has rather nose-dived.
AMBERLEIGH HOUSE: Yet to win a race since joining Ginger McCain from Ireland this season and long odds against to break his duck here.
EXIT SWINGER: Likely to be heading for the door soon after halfway as his best form is at up to two and a half miles and his stamina is a big doubt.
MELY MOSS: Runner-up last year and bids to emulate L'Escargot and Red Rum by going one place better 12 months later. But has not run since last year's race and no horse has scored on his seasonal reappearance since Frigate in 1889.
DARK STRANGER: Got no further than the third fence when favourite last year but Little Polveir and West Tip both returned 12 months after a National fall to land the spoils.
LISTEN TIMMY: Few would be prepared to listen to a case for this one to win as he has shown no form at all in the past two seasons.
INIS CARA: Only sent to Venetia Williams 72 hours before the big race - even she can't work her magic that quickly, can she?
EDMOND: Has shown signs of temperament since winning the Welsh National last season and is set to be tried in blinkers. Jockey Richard Johnson has chosen him ahead of several others, though he has yet to complete the course in four attempts.
YOU'RE AGOODUN: Are you? May have been flattered when second to highly-rated Behrajan in a novice event at Huntingdon last month and this will be an awful lot tougher.
NO RETREAT: Nor any advance, if his recent form is anything to go by. Has made little show in three races to date this term and unlikely to gain another National win for Lord Gyllene's trainer Steve Brookshaw.
SMARTY: Represents the Pitman dynasty but needs to improve on recent form to enable son Mark to emulate mother Jenny, who sent out two National winners.
HOLLYBANK BUCK: Came across from Ireland to finish 10th behind compatriot Papillon last year and has shown little in recent outings to suggest he is in better heart this time. Heavy ground definitely in his favour, though.
MOONDIGUA: Yet to build on last season's successful novice campaign and very much shooting at the moon here.
VILLAGE KING: Fell at the 20th fence last year and is unlikely to make things any easier for jockey Jim Culloty this time as he appears to have his own ideas about the game and tends to take little interest.
SPANISH MAIN: Second-string for Nigel Twiston-Davies - as was Kings Road on whom Jamie Goldstein won the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury last November.
ESPRIT DE COTTE: Has fallen in both previous races over the National fences and no recent form on park courses either. But has the assistance of Rough Quest's jockey Mick Fitzgerald and trainer Nicky Henderson is "due" after saddling two seconds, a third and a fourth in the past.
LANCE ARMSTRONG: Named after the US cyclist who conquered cancer to lift the Tour de France - though his winning the National would be an even more unlikely tale after a career spent largely at the "gaffs". But has won twice this season and jockey Andrew Thornton won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on the similarly unfancied Cool Dawn three years ago.
KAKI CRAZY: Crazy indeed to back this one, whose recent form has been modest and who has shown signs of temperament to boot.
FEELS LIKE GOLD: Another Aintree specialist, who finished fifth in this race two years ago and won the Becher Chase here last season. But unseated his rider at the third in the Becher Chase this term and unraced since.
PADDY'S RETURN: Third in the Becher Chase here last November. Reckoned a likely National sort by Ferdy Murphy, who has only ever run Addington Boy in the race before.
BRAVE HIGHLANDER: Carried the Aldaniti colours into sixth place here two years ago and improved on that by finishing fourth last term. Likely to run another sound race without becoming the first successful 13-year-old for 78 years.
ART PRINCE: Moody front-runner who seems to need to dominate and is most unlikely to get his own way here.
MISTER ONE: Classy chaser in his younger days, he has been hindered by unsuitably soft ground of late and could prove well handicapped. No Mister has triumphed since Mr What in 1958.
SUPREME CHARM: Charm is unlikely to be enough for him. Though he has won over the cross-country course at Cheltenham his form on conventional tracks gives him an awful lot to find here.
