The Grand National is at 1545 BST/1445 GMT on Saturday 7 April.

The 2000 Grand National winner Papillon is to lead the Irish charge at the Martell Grand National after all.

It had been thought Irish horses would not be allowed to travel because of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

But a U-turn has meant they can take part, although one contender Feathered Leader withdrew on Tuesday.

His connections were not keen on the horse spending a prolonged period in the UK after the race.

The Irish government banned racing in February and asked trainers not to travel to England due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom.

But the Irish Department of Agriculture ruled on Monday that horses could travel to Liverpool for the annual four-and-half mile spectacular.

They will have to spend a period in the UK afterwards before going back to Ireland.

Willie Mullins, chairman of the Irish Racehorse Trainers' Association, said: "The Department of Agriculture has changed its stance and they are allowing horses to go over to Aintree.

"At the moment they won't be allowed back in the foreseeable future."

There were seven Irish-trained horses left in the Grand National field after Monday's confirmation stage.

Magnificent seven

They are: Papillon, Rathbawn Prince, Inis Cara, Hollybank Buck, Merry People and Delgany Royal.

Once travel permits have been granted by the Irish Ministry of Agriculture, they will be transported in one horsebox on Thursday.

Charles Barnett, Aintree's managing director, said: "We are really pleased to have some Irish representation at the Martell Grand National meeting."

Aintree has offered stabling at the course after the meeting is over as well as accommodation for staff.

Bookmakers Ladbrokes had reintroduced Papillon, who is trained in Ireland by Ted Walsh, into their betting at 8-1.

Walsh was delighted to hear that the horses could travel.

He said: "It was a surprise - a very pleasant surprise. It looks as though we'll be coming to Aintree now.

"The horse is well and Ruby (Walsh) will ride him."

Walsh is not looking beyond Saturday for his 10-year-old who will have to remain in the UK for the foreseeable future.

There has been no racing in Ireland since Naas on 25 February.

A re-start has been delayed and the Fairyhouse Irish Grand National meeting scheduled to be held over Easter (15/18 April) has been postponed.

It is hoped that the fixture may be re-fixed for late April.

Aintree's three-day meeting starts on Thursday and continues until Saturday, with the Grand National the highlight.