Hopes Tiger Roll can go for National hat-trick

GORDON ELLIOTT admits it will be disappointing should Tiger Roll not run in the Randox Grand National after being allotted 11st 9lb – but underlined the final decision will rest with owner Michael O’Leary.

The diminutive 11-year-old was denied the chance to win the race three times in a row – something not even Red Rum managed – by the Covid-19 pandemic, but Elliott is training him to peak on April 10.

However, it has been well documented that O’Leary and his brother Eddie felt he needed plenty of help from handicapper Martin Greenwood for him to stand any chance of winning the race again, warning he would not run if he was rated “in the 160s or 170s”. Tiger Roll won in 2018 from a mark of 150 and defied a 9lb rise 12 months later. This year he is off 166, despite pulling up on his last appearance at Cheltenham in November.

“He has got 166 and he won off 159 two years ago when the race was last run. He seems in good form at home and we are looking forward to the race,” said Elliott.

“You are always hoping you are going to be a couple of pounds less than what you have been given, but to be honest we will just smile and take it.

“I have to concentrate on training the horse and I just hope his owner lets the horse run in the race for the public. Everyone will be looking forward to seeing the horse run again in the Grand National, but Michael will make that decision.

“It will be disappointing for everyone if he doesn’t turn up, but as you know he makes the decisions. He is 7lb higher than what he won off before, but it is probably fair enough.

“If you look at him he is not the biggest horse in the world, but he really seems to enjoy those fences.”