SFA PLAN TO HAVE 12,000 AT HAMPDEN FOR EUROS

...but Dublin’s in doubt as FAI fail to guide UEFA

TIGER ROLL returns to Aintree today – two days earlier than many would initially have expected.

Much has been written and said about the decision of owners Gigginstown House Stud to miss Saturday’s Randox Grand National with their equine great – but he certainly adds a layer of intrigue to the Betway Bowl. Gigginstown’s gripe with the handicapper was the fact that the dual Grand National winner had the rating of a Grade One horse – and he is about to get the chance to prove who is right.

Tiger Roll is in the care of Denise Foster, and the current incumbent at Cullentra House Stables said: “He’s 11 years old, and it will be a big ask for him.

Really we’re just hoping for a nice run from him.

“We can’t be too confident – I am wary of the fact that he is 11. That’s really all you can say about him. He left here in good form, and we’ll just have to see what happens. It’s all a bit of a question mark.”

With Davy Russell still sidelined by injury, Jack Kennedy comes in for the mount.

Another popular 11-year-old is lining up in opposition, in the shape of Colin Tizzard’s 2018 Gold Cup winner Native River.

He does so, though, without the aid of his old ally Richard Johnson – who retired on Saturday. The four-time champion jumps jockey has been replaced by Jonjo O’Neill jnr, who won the Denman Chase on Tizzard’s stable star last season.

Native River finished fourth, best of the British, in the Gold Cup last month.

“It’s strange going into a race without Richard – but Jonjo has won on him, so that helps a bit,” said owner Garth Broom.

“We had been dithering a bit about the ground – and while it won’t be ideal, hopefully it will be safe, and on Thursday’s it’s likely to be at its softest.”