Eclair Surf and Fortescue have narrowly made the cut for Saturday's Grand National at Aintree after it was announced Caribean Boy and Farclas will not run.
Caribean Boy, trained by Nicky Henderson and previously priced at 80/1, pulled a hamstring while last year's fifth-placed horse Farclas (28/1) was withdrawn by Gordon Elliott.
A field of 40 horses and four reserves have now officially been named including Eclair Surf, giving the Dominic Burke & Tim Syder owned bay gelding a shot at glory. A market mover over the last few days as several horses were forced to pull out, Emma Lavelle's chaser moved up to 43rd in the list at the start of the week and now lines up for the most famous prize in racing.
Read more: Delta Work eyes 8/1 Grand National success after Cheltenham triumph
Speaking to the Racing Post, Lavelle said: "He's got a very good profile but the only concern is the fact he can miss the odd fence. Clearly, in the National you don't get that chance," she said. "He's got better and better as the season has progressed though. He's jumped beautifully over National fences at home too."
Lavelle also commented that Eclair Surf is in "brilliant form" which reads 1418-F312. Though the eight-year-old has only recorded three wins from 12-lifetime hurdle races, an each-way bet remains terrific value at around 12/1.
Punters had been hoping for Grand National dropouts and had already piled on the cash for Eclair Surf to place in Aintree, even before he was announced in the line-up. Thrashing subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Corach Rambler by 20 lengths at Warwick in January, then an impressive run at Newcastle which saw Win By Wings beat him by just two lengths, made punters sit up and take notice.
Expect odds of an Eclair Surf triumph to shorten considerably heading into Grand National day, after once being as far out at 33/1.
