SHY OF THE TIGER
Bookies fear £200m payout if 7/2 favourite wins National
A sheet is drying out damaged grass at 12th fence ON A ROLL Win at Cheltenham BOOKIES are braced for their worst day ever if Tiger Roll becomes the first horse since Red Rum to win backto-back Grand Nationals.
Last year’s winner is the runaway 7/2 favourite for Saturday’s big race at Aintree.
And jubilant punters stand to win £200million if the nineyear-old romps home under jockey Davy Russell, 39, again.
Nicola McGeady, of Ladbrokes, said: “If he does win it will be the worst result in bookmakers’ history with an industry-wide £200million payout giving us sleepless nights. Tiger Roll ticks every box to emulate Red Rum.”
William Hill’s Rupert Adams added: “It could be our worst day in history. We expect to pay out in the region of £17million.”
The legendary Red Rum won in 1973 and 1974, before completing a hat-trick in 1977.
One in four punters are said to be backing Tiger Roll, who is the Irish horse is in better shape than ever, after winning March’s Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
As bets pile up, Tiger Roll may start as the shortest-priced National favourite ever, beating Golden Miller, a 2/1 shot in 1935. The 172nd National starts at 5.15pm.
■ Cheltenham racecourse was granted a permanent High Court injunction banning ticket touts yesterday. owned by Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud and trained by Gordon Elliott.
Ex-jockey AP McCoy 44, who won the 2010 National on Don’t Push It, is among them. He said: “If I could ride anything, he’s the one I would like.” He feels SUPPORT AP McCoy