Tiger Roll Set for Grand National Hat-Trick Bid

Eddie O'Leary has warned that Tiger Roll will need to be treated similarly to previous Grand National topweights if he is to contest the Aintree showpiece and insisted he and his brother Michael are not playing games with the handicapper. 

The gelding has won the world's most famous chase the past two years, and another success April 4 would equal the record set by the legendary Red Rum, who took the National three times between 1973 and 1977. On Jan. 29, 105 entries were confirmed for the Randox Health-sponsored event, for which Tiger Roll is the general 5-1 favorite.

In November, Michael O'Leary declared the prospects of Tiger Roll getting the opportunity to fulfill his destiny were between "slim and none" if the handicapper didn't give him sufficient leeway.

Now, his brother has doubled down on that, focusing on how the majority of topweights have been handled—and given lower weights than their official marks—throughout the past decade.  

O'Leary said of the Gigginstown House Stud-owned star: "Whether Tiger Roll runs in the Grand National or not very much depends on the handicapper. We're not playing games—not at all. 

"See More Business was compressed eight pounds in 2001, Exotic Dancer was compressed eight pounds in 2009, and in 2010 Alberta's Run was five pounds lower. 

"More recently, Synchronised in 2012 was six pounds lower. In 2013, Tidal Bay was compressed 11 pounds and the following year by seven pounds. 

"In 2015, Carlingford Lough was compressed five pounds, and Bristol De Mai was five pounds lower last year. What does that tell you?"

Throwing the ball firmly in the handicapper's court, O'Leary added: "We would love to see 'Tiger' there. Racing would love to have him, as would Aintree, so it's up to the (British Horseracing Authority) now. They've compressed the race by eight pounds on average for the past 10 years."

Tiger Roll was rated 150 and carried 10 stone and 13 pounds when landing his first Grand National success in 2018, and followed up off a mark of 159 last spring, carrying 11 stone and five pounds to victory. Currently rated 172 over fences, he is set to carry the top weight in the iconic race for the first time in April. 

O'Leary would not be drawn on what mark he and brother Michael would deem acceptable enough to allow Tiger Roll to run in the race but insisted he won't be risked if not treated fairly.

He explained: "I have a figure in my head, but I'm not going to mention it. If he hits that figure, he runs, and if he doesn't, he won't be running. 

"They've given every other topweight a chance, and we have a little sensation on our hands who we've been very open about the fact he will not be asked to run in the race if the weights are not compressed."

O'Leary added: "We don't mind carrying top weight—that's a given. But the weights will need to be compressed in order for Tiger Roll to run."

Tiger Roll had been the subject of an injury scare this season but is understood to be back in rude health at Gordon Elliott's Cullentra House stables. 

According to O'Leary, however, connections are more hopeful than confident that jump racing's star will return in the Feb. 16 Boyne Hurdle at Navan, a race in which he was an ultra-impressive winner 12 months ago.

O'Leary concluded: "He's back galloping, and Gordon seems to be very happy with him. We're hoping he makes the Boyne Hurdle, and, if not, we'll go straight to Cheltenham for the cross-country race."

Of the 105 horses entered in the £1 million contest, 18 are trained by Elliott, who made 22 entries in 2019 and ended up with 11 runners on the day.

A surprise entry is the Trevor Hemmings-owned Vintage Clouds, who has seemed not to take to the National course in two previous ventures and whose lack of affinity for the track was mentioned after he won the recent Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock.

But trainer Sue Smith said: "After careful consideration, we have decided to enter Vintage Clouds for the Grand National. 

"Having discussed it at length with Mr. Hemmings, we decided that having won the Peter Marsh so well, it was worth keeping our options open.

"He has slightly struggled over the Aintree fences, particularly in the Becher, but he jumped superbly in the Peter Marsh and has come out of the race very well."

Paul Nicholls, who has six entries in a race he won with Neptune Collonges in 2012, picked out recent Taunton winner Yala Enki and Give Me A Copper, who took the Badger Beers Trophy at Wincanton in November, as his likely main hopes.  

"Yala Enki is a real stayer, and I've always thought he'd be a National horse," the trainer said.

"Give Me A Copper goes well fresh, as he did at Wincanton, and we're not going to run him beforehand."

Last season's 10-length bet365 Gold Cup winner, Talkischeap, remains on course for Aintree despite not having raced since finishing a remote third behind Santini at Sandown in November.

"He never really traveled that day, and we've had him hobdayed since," trainer Alan King said in his Racing Post Weekender column.

"That operation has not cost him any opportunities as he would not have been racing on the very soft ground anyway.

"He's back cantering and ready to start going into stronger work but he won't be ready to run for a while. The National is his target and he'll have a prep race somewhere."

The weights for the Grand National will be unveiled at a ceremony in Liverpool on Feb. 11.