Tiger Roll will head for Aintree

JACK Kennedy could get the leg up on Tiger Roll for the first time since October 2017 when the dual Grand National winner runs in the Betway Bowl at Aintree.

Speculation over where the fivetimes Cheltenham Festival winner would next run ended yesterday morning when he was not declared for the Boylesports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday.

The 11-year-old returned to top form at Cheltenham when running out a comfortable winner of the cross country chase, pictured, his third victory in the race.

However, he had already been scratched from next week’s Randox Grand National as his connections felt his handicap mark was “unfair”. Gigginstown House Stud racing manager Eddie O’Leary said: “He’s come out of Cheltenham great.

“His weight at Fairyhouse had no bearing on this decision. Our thinking is let’s run him in the Bowl and let the handicapper see.

“Keith (Donoghue) tends to only ride him in the cross country, so I would imagine Jack Kennedy will be riding him – but we haven’t had that confirmed. Mind you, the Bowl doesn’t look a very good race this year, it’s likely to be a very small field.”

Tiger Roll’s withdrawal from the

Fairyhouse marathon leaves Latest Exhibition heading the weights for the Irish Grand National.

Gigginstown will still have four Irish National runners – Coko Beach, Mortal, Run Wild Fred and Roaring Bull, plus one of the three reserves, Eurobot.

The absence of Tiger Roll means the Paul Nolan-trained novice Latest Exhibition now carries top weight of 11st 10lb.

The eight-year-old steps into handicap company for the first time after finishing second to Monkfish in a couple of Grade One contests at Leopardstown over the winter.

He sidestepped another clash with Willie Mullins’ exciting prospect at last month’s Cheltenham Festival to wait for this weekend.

Mullins is well-represented with a quintet – Brahma Bull, Salsaretta, Agusta Gold, Dragon D’estruval and Robin De Carlow.

Among other fancied runners to stand their ground are Sempo and The Big Dog. Escaria Ten, third in the National Hunt Challenge Cup at Cheltenham, is one of four entries for Denise Foster.

Somerset-trained Jerrysback, for Philip Hobbs, is the only English runner.

Cazoo, the online car retailer, is the new sponsor of the Derby at Epsom. Cazoo are to sponsor eight races at the Derby Festival.