Tiger set for Aintree
(169) Mrs R Carr 4 9-12 (CD) (18) J Balding 4 9-7 (23)JWard49-6(D) (219) B Ellison 9 9-5 (D4) (15)MissTWaggott89-4(CD6)..BenCurtis (15) Julie Camacho 6 9-4 (BF, D) (187) Roger Fell 4 9-3 (163) P Midgley 4 9-3 (15) J Goldie 6 8-13 (C, D3) (55) Suzzanne France 5 8-9 (D) BETTING: 5-2 Windforpower, 4 Spirit Of Wedza, 9-2 Star Cracker, 7 Suwaan, 12 Gloriux, Presidential, Pea Shooter, Caesar’s Comet, 14 Others. 5-2fav Chased leading pair, hung left and went 2nd over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Newcastle 5f hcp (6) beating Berlios by 1l, 7 ran. 5-2fav Led 1f, with leader, led again halfway, ridden and headed inside final furlong, weakened and lost 2 places towards finish, 4th of 7, 1 3/4l behind Windforpower at Newcastle 5f hcp (6). 7-1 Slightly off the pace in 4th, pushed along halfway, headway under pressure over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Windforpower at Newcastle 5f hcp (6). 6-1 Pressed leaders, ridden 2f out, faded inside final furlong, 7th of 14, 2 3/4l behind Sandra’s Secret at Newcastle 5f hcp 0-80 (4) in Oct. 25-1 Mid-division on outside, pushed along halfway, some late headway, never involved, 8th of 14, 4l behind Paddy Power at Windsor 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Oct. Going: Standard Draw: No advantage in the draw AWESOME ALLAN STREET POET PERCY THROWER SOTOMAYOR CUSTARD THE DRAGON JEREMY’S JET THREE-TIME Cheltenham Festival winner Tiger Roll will spearhead Gordon Elliott’s team in the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree.
With stamina no issue, having landed the four-mile National Hunt Chase last season, the 2014 Triumph Hurdle winner showed he has the aptitude for something different when successful in this season’s Glenfarclas Chase on the Cheltenham cross-country track.
“He’s had a great preparation. That cross-country race has been a lucky stepping-stone over the years,” said Elliott.
“He’s in great form, he’s well and the more the ground dries out between now and Aintree, the better the chance he’ll have.
“He’s a horse who when he’s on song he’s very good. It’s the Grand National. If you’re not in you can’t win and it’s definitely the plan.
“Soft ground wouldn’t suit him. We haven’t any firm plans who’ll ride but it will be either Davy Russell or Jack Kennedy.”
Elliott’s Cause Of Causes won the Glenfarclas Chase last year and beat all bar One for Arthur at Aintree. He was pulled up at Cheltenham this year, though, and his participation is not yet certain.
“Cause Of Causes was a bit sore after Cheltenham, we’ll have to see how he is over the next couple of weeks,” Elliott told At The Races.
A third possible is Ucello Conti. The 10-year-old was sixth two years ago but came down at Becher’s Brook on the second circuit when still going well last year.
Elliott said: “He was travelling very well last year when he came down. If there’s a horse in our yard who deserves to win a big one it’s him - he’s been placed in all the big handicaps.
“The ground was very soft the last time he ran but on his run behind Anibale Fly in the Paddy Power he’s got a very good chance.”
Paul Nicholls is favouring letting Vicente bid for a record-equalling third Coral Scottish Grand National rather than take in the Aintree version.
He has won the last two renewals at Ayr under Sam Twiston-Davies off the same mark of 146 but is rated 150 this year.