Business heads huge Grand National entry

A total of 133 horses have been entered for the Grand National, a figure bettered only by the 141 entries for the 1984 renewal. The weights for the 7 April race are issued on 6 February and will be headed by the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, See More Business. Other high-class entries for the £500,000 prize include Florida Pearl, one of 24 from Ireland, and Marlborough.

A total of 133 horses have been entered for the Grand National, a figure bettered only by the 141 entries for the 1984 renewal. The weights for the 7 April race are issued on 6 February and will be headed by the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, See More Business. Other high-class entries for the £500,000 prize include Florida Pearl, one of 24 from Ireland, and Marlborough.

The first 12 home in last year's National, led by Ted Walsh's Papillon and including the 1999 winner, Bobbyjo, are all entered to run again.

The 1997 winner, Lord Gyllene, is one of 14 entries from Martin Pipe's stable, which also number last year's favourite Dark Stranger. Other notable entries include the Whitbread Gold Cup winner Beau and Young Kenny, who will bag a £250,000 bonus if he adds the National to his Becher Chase victory over the spruce fences on the Aintree course in November.

The Lincoln Handicap top weight, Tarry Flynn, was among six horses withdrawn from the 24 March Doncaster race at yesterday's forfeit stage. The weights will now rise by 2lb, with Man O'Mystery and Pulau Tioman heading the handicap on 9st 10lb. Notable withdrawals were Crimson Tide, a 20-1 chance, I Cried For You and Sir Ferbet, both 25-1, along with Bold Effort and Burgundy.