Last year's winner Don't Push It heads 74 remaining entries for the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree on April 9.
Jonjo O'Neill's 11-year-old gave multiple champion jockey Tony McCoy an emotional first success in the world's most famous steeplechase last year, but will be forced to concede weight all round to his rivals this time.
Ante-post favourite is the Willie Mullins-trained The Midnight Club, while Backstage, Ballabriggs, the Sir Alex Ferguson-owned What A Friend and Big Fella Thanks are other major players.
The Evan Williams-trained Deep Purple is one of eight to have been taken out, along with Tatenen, Tricky Trickster, Dream Alliance, Snowy Morning, Gullible Gordon, Meanus Dandy and The Sliotar.
Big Fella Thanks, fourth last year when trained by Paul Nicholls, enjoyed a gentle canter alongside the course at an Aintree press day, joined by stablemate Watch My Back.
His current trainer, Ferdy Murphy, is thrilled with the condition of the track and feels his charge is better equipped to handle the marathon four-and-a-half-mile trip this season.
The Yorkshire-based handler said: "It's nice to get them away for the day, it keeps them on their toes and gives them an important change of scenery. The ground is fantastic and I'd hope they'd keep it exactly the same for the big day.
"He's strengthened up a lot more this year and his two prep runs went according to plan. He looks fantastic and I think he would have a very good chance.
"I think we will ride him more conservatively this year. To be fair to Barry (Geraghty), he was thrust into the race after Ruby (Walsh) got injured and the horse ran with the choke out a little bit.
"Hopefully we'll ride him the same way Graham (Lee) did when he won on Amberleigh House - that is to hunt away and leave it late. Graham will definitely be prepared for him this year."
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