Tiger Roll May Skip Historic Grand National Bid

Dual Grand National hero Tiger Roll may skip a historic attempt to become the second horse to win the race three times and instead contest the Irish version, his owner Michael O'Leary has said.

O'Leary, who owns the legendary 11-year-old under his Gigginstown House Stud banner, spoke to Nick Luck on Luck On Sunday and confirmed Tiger Roll's main objective this season will be the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, with a bid at the Grand National unlikely if the British handicapper does not ease him in the weights.

While he said that retirement could beckon for the Gordon Elliott-trained star following his Cheltenham exploits, O'Leary added that Tiger Roll, who is currently rated 168, may be rerouted to the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse, which takes place on April 5.

"The options are we are possibly looking at retirement or we may look at an entry in the Irish Grand National, where I think he'd be more fairly weighted where his rating should be," he said.

"The handicapper has unfairly weighted Tiger Roll for the last two years in the UK. He's rated around 170 there and last won the Grand National off 159, and he's run four times since and not finished in the frame.

"He was beaten by Easysland at Cheltenham last year by 17 lengths off level weights—he is now rated 167 and yet somehow Tiger Roll is rated higher than he is.

"If the handicapper rates him fairly somewhere in the 150s then he'll run (at Aintree), but if he rates him in the 160s or 170s he won't. The plan has always been to go for the cross country."

The news that Tiger Roll, who would be bidding emulate the great Red Rum in winning three Grand Nationals, may not turn up at Aintree will disappoint the racing public.

However, alongside his criticism of the British handicapper, O'Leary said he feels a duty to look after the horse's welfare after his recent performances, including a lifeless effort when pulled up in the Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham's November meeting.

"We feel a responsibility to the horse, he owes us nothing. He's getting older and may not even run again after Cheltenham," he added.

"His last couple of runs have suggested he's not in love with the game any more and the priority at this time is minding Tiger Roll. He's a small horse, we're not going to ask him to lump huge amounts of weight around Aintree."