Gordon Elliott has Grand National in mind for new recruit Presenting Percy

Gordon Elliott has said a tilt at the Grand National with Presenting Percy is at the back of his mind and is surprised his high-class recruit is as big as 33-1 for the spring highlight.

Presenting Percy won a red-hot running of the RSA Chase in 2018, in which two-time Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo was well beaten when coming down at the last, but has not won over fences since and left Pat Kelly's stable this year to join Elliott.

The nine-year-old fell two out in the Gold Cup last season when still in contention and is priced between 20-1 and 28-1 for next March's showpiece, which Elliott says is his principal target again.

Speaking on Betfair’s Racing Only Bettor Podcast, Elliott said: "Presenting Percy is not your typical big three-mile chaser. He's a short-coupled horse but he's got a real deep girth, so loads of room there for oxygen, and a good heart.

"We're happy with what he's shown us at home. He's being trained for the Gold Cup at the moment, but I definitely have the English Grand National in the back of my mind.

"I think he's the type of horse who would suit the race. He's got a lot of class. He travels. He jumps. 33-1? Yes, that wouldn't be bad. It could be a lot shorter on the day if he turns up."

If Presenting Percy lines up at Aintree in April, he is likely to have two-time winner Tiger Roll to deal with.

Gordon Elliott: Tiger Roll 'absolutely bouncing'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Elliott said: "It was a very rushed preparation to get Tiger Roll to Cheltenham last year as he got a little setback, as everyone knows. He was very tired after Cheltenham. He had a hard race and he was stiff and sore after the race. If you watch the re-run again, he loses his hind-end a little bit turning in, and he was sore.

"I think it might have been a blessing in disguise [no Grand National run]. He's a fresh horse this year. He's absolutely bouncing at the moment. I'm not sure where I'm going to start him off yet, but he's definitely going to have an entry in Down Royal in the big chase because if the ground turned up quick, you'd be nervous about running Presenting Percy or Delta Work.

"The cross-country at Cheltenham is a big priority for me and he'll be trained for Cheltenham, number one, and the Aintree Grand National, number two."

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