Bookies running scared as Tiger Roll gets go-ahead for Grand National repeat bid

Bookmakers on Tuesday predicted victory for Tiger Roll in the Randox Health Grand National would be their worst in the history of the race and were given no comfort by the official handicapper who described last year's Aintree hero as being "8lb well in".

BHA senior handicapper Martin Greenwood has raised Tiger Roll's official rating by that amount after his Cheltenham Festival win and admitted that might even be a conservative figure.

His assessment only heightened the confidence of trainer Gordon Elliott, who cut the image of a proud father as Tiger Roll led his string on the Cullentra gallops on Tuesday morning and confirmed the modern-day phenomenon would bid to become the first horse since Red Rum to win back-to-back Grand Nationals.

After Tiger Roll's Cross Country win at Cheltenham owner Michael O'Leary had expressed doubts about his participation at Aintree.

But speaking at the launch of the Boylesports Irish Grand National, for which Tiger Roll was also handed an entry, Elliott admitted the world famous chase on April 6 at Aintree was very much plan A for a horse he believed was in even finer fettle than when winning the race by a head from Pleasant Company 12 months ago.

"He's a horse of a lifetime," Elliott said on Tuesday about the nine-year-old, who won for the fourth time at the Cheltenham Festival last week when coasting home by 22 lengths from Josies Orders in the Cross Country. He was on Tuesday a top-priced 11-2 to win a second National.

Elliott said: "He's come out of Cheltenham very well and the plan is to go for the National. Obviously I'll have to discuss it with Eddie and Michael [O'Leary] but I can't see any reason why he won't be running there next.

"I spoke to the English handicapper yesterday and he said he put him up 8lb for winning the Cross Country, and he might have been easy on him giving him that, as he could have put him up 10lb or more. But, because it was the Cross Country race, he only put him up 8lb."

And in an ominous warning for Tiger Roll's Aintree opponents, he added: "It looks like he's a different horse this year than he was last year."

Greenwood said: "Tiger Roll has looked an even better horse since his break, sluicing up over hurdles at Navan before barely coming off the bridle in last week's Cross Country at Cheltenham. Tiger Roll's new mark is now 167, which may still be underestimating him.

"Obviously Tiger Roll will run off his early-closing mark of 159 in the National, which makes him 8lb well in."

Tiger Roll could go off the shortest-priced National favourite since Hedgehunter and Clan Royal started at 5-1 in 2006.

Shortest-priced Grand National favourites this century

Hedgehunter and Clan Royal started 5-1 joint-favourites in 2006. Both ran blinders, but Numbersixvalverde, trained by Martin Brassil, had their measure from the last.

Seabass, sent off 11-2 favourite in 2013, was attempting to go two places better than when third to Neptune Collonges the previous year. He finished a tired 13th after holding every chance three out.

Shutthefrontdoor, the mount of AP McCoy, looked like justifying 6-1 favouritism for a long way in 2015, but weakened after the last to finish fifth behind Many Clouds.

Nicola McGeady, of Ladbrokes, who have him priced at 5-1, said: "Tiger Roll fever has hit punters as he looks to follow in the footsteps of Red Rum. He has made the day for punters time and time again and if he completes the Grand National double we believe it will be the worst result in the history of the race for bookmakers."

Novice chasing is the plan next season for SamcroCredit: Alain Barr

Key workout for Samcro

Things could not be going better for Tiger Roll but stablemate Samcro faces a key workout on Friday to determine whether or not he runs again this season.

Last season's Ballymore Novices' Hurdle winner was found to have a lung infection after finishing a disappointing fifth in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown in December and, after making a full recovery, Elliott hinted in the build-up to this year's Cheltenham Festival that a tilt at the Stayers' Hurdle could be on the cards.

However, a decision was made to sidestep Cheltenham and Elliott is not ruling out drawing a line through this winless season altogether, stating that he is entirely focused on a novice chase campaign with the horse.

He explained on Tuesday: "Samcro rode out this morning – Shane [McCann] rode him and was happy. He's going to work on Friday and then I'll see what we'll do. I'm in no panic. The O'Learys have left it completely up to me about what to do and, to be honest, I'm not going to put myself under any pressure with him.

"He's a good horse and once we have him back chasing next year that's all we want. Nothing's in concrete with him."

Apple's Jade should be fit enough to run at Punchestown, according to the trainer. After disappointing in the Champion Hurdle behind Espoir D'Allen, the ten-time Grade 1 winner was found to have scoped dirty, but Elliott is hoping to have her firing on all cylinders for her next target.

Elliott added: "Apple's Jade scoped dirty after the Champion Hurdle. We thought she was in great form going over there but, to me, she was beaten after two hurdles. She stepped into the second hurdle and never seemed to be happy at all afterwards. She'll be back for Punchestown all being well.

"Take nothing away from Espoir D'Allen. I'm not sure anything would have beaten him on the day – he was very, very impressive."

Elliott on….

The 2019 Cheltenham Festival
We had three winners and if you'd have told me that going over I'd have taken that. If it was last year, the way things were going for us, we very easily could have had more but we hit the crossbar a couple of times and had lots of seconds and thirds. All in all, I was very happy with how they ran.

Delta Work
On a different day, Delta Work probably could have won the RSA. He was neither here nor there during the race but he's come out of it well and we're happy with him. I'd imagine he'll go for one of the novice races at Punchestown.

Battleoverdoyen
He never seemed to handle the track at all in the Ballymore. After two hurdles you could see him changing his legs. He scoped clean as a whistle after the race, he just never handled the track. Jack [Kennedy] was right to pull him up.

Envoi Allen and Malone Road
Envoi Allen is in good form and came out of the Champion Bumper well. I'm not sure if I'll bother to run him again as I don't think he needs to do much more for the year as he's won his Grade 1 and three bumpers. I'm not going to rush Malone Road back. He's a good horse who missed the festival. A speedier horse than Envoi Allen, he's a nice one to look forward to going novice hurdling next year.

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