Tiger Roll officially out of Grand National but Elliott bullish for Cheltenham

Tiger Roll has officially been ruled out of a historic Randox Grand National hat-trick bid, but Gordon Elliott believes the legendary veteran remains the one to beat in this month's Glenfarclas Cross Country if retaining most of his old ability.

Michael O'Leary reaffirmed his stance on Sunday that the dual Grand National hero would not be returning to Liverpool on April 9 due to a "ridiculous rating and unfair weight", but confirmation of the move came on Tuesday when Tiger Roll was officially scratched from the race.

A total of 14 horses were removed from the £1 million spectacular, including fellow Irish-trained entrants Eklat de Rire, Off You Go, The Big Dog, Assemble, Mister Fogpatches, Eurobot and Brace Yourself.

Sam Brown was the highest-rated British-trained contender to be taken out of the contest, as well as El Presente, Kalooki, Uisce Beatha, Elegant Escape and Double Shuffle.

Tiger Roll: the apple of Gordon Elliott's eyeCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Confirmation of Tiger Roll's absence comes as a blow to the world's most famous race, but Elliott is focusing all of his attention on getting the pint-sized performer back to Cheltenham for a record-equalling sixth festival success.

On how much ability he believes Tiger Roll still retains, considering his uninspiring form this season, Elliott said: "There's only one place I care about winning with this horse and it's Cheltenham.

"I'd say his run last time in a handicap hurdle at Navan was equal to what he showed [the previous year] in the Boyne Hurdle, and everyone said he had no chance.

Randox Grand National: betting and entries

"If the ground is good, around that place he's just different. He's getting older, and to say that he is what he was in his pomp is probably hard. If he can turn up at 80 per cent of the form he showed in winning the Cross Country before, he'll take all the beating."

Elliott added of the top-priced 2-1 favourite: "We had him at Cheltenham last week schooling over banks and he was very good. I suppose the one negative I'd have would be if the ground turned up soft. Tiger Roll isn't the same horse on soft ground.

Tiger Roll: roared back to life when landing last year's Glenfarclas Cross Country ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

"The better the ground, the better his chance. I don't think there's a lot of rain expected there over the next few weeks. If the ground dries out, we're very happy with him.

"He's only missed the Cheltenham Festival once [in 2016] since his first win there in the 2014 Triumph Hurdle. He's a great horse and part of the team here - the horse of a lifetime.

"Anyone who comes into this yard - we have kids coming in here from all over the world with Irish parents - and the first horse they want to see is him. The kids want a picture with him, to sit up on him if they can. We probably don't realise how lucky we are to have a horse like him."

Tiger Roll featured among 26 entries for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase on Tuesday, a race in which leading owner JP McManus could have as many as five runners through Prengarde, Easysland, Midnight Maestro, Shady Operator and Champagne Platinum.

Arguably the biggest threat to Tiger Roll could hail from his own stable, as Elliott has revealed that five-time Grade 1 winner Delta Work could make his first start in the cross-country discipline.

Delta Work: Irish Gold Cup winner set for a tilt at the Glenfarclas Cross Country ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann

Elliott said: "He went over to Cheltenham last week and schooled around the cross-country track very well. He was very good, I was delighted with him, but saying that, it's very hard to win on your first try around that track.

"We think it's a nice route to go with him before the Grand National, it might sweeten him up a bit."

Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase

bet365: 2 Tiger Roll, 5 Delta Work, 7-2 Prengarde, 5 Easysland, 8 Shady Operator, Midnight Maestro, 9 Brahma Bull, 12 bar

Willie Mullins dominates Champion Bumper entries

Facile Vega, one of nine for Willie Mullins, and American Mike featured in the possible Weatherbys Champion Bumper field revealed on Tuesday. Irish-trained runners account for 17 or the 29 entries.

Last year's St. James's Place Festival Hunters' Chase hero Porlock Bay will not return to defend his crown at Cheltenham after being absent from the 31 potential runners at Tuesday's entry stage.

Staker Wallace, priced between 8-1 and 14-1, was another notable absentee, but two-time runner-up Billaway remains in contention for the prize, as do Bob And Co, Winged Leader and Pont Aven.

Read more on this subject:

Tiger Roll ruled out of the National over 'ridiculous rating and unfair weight'

Fair or unfair? Two writers argue for and against Tiger Roll's National weight

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