Graham Lee rides Amberleigh House to victory last year

A total of 107 horses remain entered in the 9 April race, including 27 challengers from Ireland.

The first three horses home in 2004 - Amberleigh House, Clan Royal and Lord Atterbury - are among the entries.

And there is a chance a woman could ride the winner for the first time - with Carrie Ford aboard Forest Gunner.

Ford had given birth to a baby girl just 10 weeks before she landed last season's Fox Hunters Chase over the National fences on Forest Gunner.

She partnered the 11-year-old, who won the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock on 19 February, in a workout at Aintree Racecourse on Tuesday and is looking forward to riding in the big race.

If I can keep him in one piece and get him here on the Saturday I will be a happy man Richard Ford, Forest Gunner's trainer

"The fact that he won at Haydock answered a few questions and I will be working hard so that I can do him justice. He has a live chance and that makes me work harder," she said.

Ford's husband Richard, who trains Forest Gunner, added: "He's a horse that has never done a lot of racing but it is so far so good.

"Everything this season has gone to plan and hopefully he will get a run."

For safety reasons, there will be a maximum of 40 runners on the day itself.

Some 68 entries are still in the handicap, the weighting system which decides which horses will line up.

The weight cut-off point for the maximum field of 40 is currently 10st 4lb.

Last year's runner-up Clan Royal could bid to atone for a disappointing season for trainer Jonjo O'Neill and is one of no less than 15 J P McManus-owned entries still in the field.

Others include the Enda Bolger-trained Spot Thedifference, the winner of the Sporting Index Handicap Chase at Cheltenham a week ago who finished fifth in the 2004 John Smith's Grand National.

But O'Neill's Keen Leader, second behind Kelami in the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase at the Festival, has been taken out.

With all the leading contenders standing their ground, we're set for a fabulous race Charles Barnett, Aintree managing director

Other Irish runners could include the Willie Mullins-trained Hedgehunter, for owner Trevor Hemmings.

The weights are still headed by Grey Abbey, who finished fifth behind Kicking King in the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.

Gold Cup runner-up Take The Stand, third-placed Sir Rembrandt and Royal Auclair - who finished fourth - also remain in the National.

Joly Bey, partnered by his owner David Dunsdon, will bid to become the first amateur-ridden winner of the National since Mr Frisk in 1990.

The three remaining French-trained entries include Kelami, trained by Francois Doumen for Amberleigh House's owner John Halewood, and stablemate Innox, who was recently purchased by J P McManus.