Aintree Racecourse is gearing up for what is set to be one of the most spectacular Grand Nationals in living memory. We’re less than two months away from the 2021 event and already the action is hotting up, with fans eager to find out whether Tiger Roll will return for a chance to win a hat-trick of consecutive victories. In doing so, Tiger Roll would become the first horse ever to achieve the feat, with Red Rum’s three Grand National wins coming over a period of five years.
Tiger Roll is owned by the Gigginstown House Stud in Ireland, co-owned by Ryanair owner Michael O’Leary and his brother Eddie. The latter has long been concerned about the horse being penalised by the race handicappers, with top weight an issue over the last two years. Eddie O’Leary even warned last year that he was prepared to withdraw Tiger Roll from the race entirely if he was given top weight again.
Tiger Roll still looks heavy at 11st 9lb
The weighting has been announced this week by the race handicappers for the 2021 Grand National, and Tiger Roll is just one pound off top weight for this year’s event. Stablemate Presenting Percy has also been given the 11st 9lb weighting, with only three horses confirmed as top weight (11st 10lb) in the form of Easysland, Santini and Bristol De Mai.
Tiger Roll’s relatively high weight is likely to have an impact on his odds in the list of runners for the ante-post market, with the Trevor Hemmings-owned Cloth Cap the primary market mover from 25/1 into favouritism at 12/1.
Tiger Roll’s long-time trainer Gordon Elliott was philosophical about the weight, admitting it was “hard to see him having much less” given that he has become something of a “specialist” around Aintree. Elliott said that the final decision on whether Tiger Roll races at the 2021 Grand National will rest on Michael O’Leary, but Elliott was confident that he could “do [the stable] proud”.
The race handicapper Martin Greenwood insisted that he wouldn’t bow to the pressure of the horse’s owners. He said that although the O’Leary family were “perfectly entitled” to have their say on Tiger Roll’s weighting, he was equally entitled “not to listen to it”. Greenwood did admit spending “a bit of time” deciding a fair weight for Tiger Roll, considering that he’s two years older since last winning at Aintree.
Could Trevor Hemmings make it four Grand National wins?
Cloth Cap looks to be a stiff rival for Tiger Roll’s crown this year. The nine-year-old won the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury at a canter under jockey Tom Scudamore, and the advantageous allotted weight of just 10st 5lb makes him a prime candidate to be in the leading pack. Trevor Hemmings is no stranger to the winners’ enclosure at Aintree. He’s won the ultimate price in jump racing three times before with Many Clouds, Hedgehunter and Ballabriggs. It’s no surprise to see the early money flowing for Cloth Cap.
The tide could begin to turn back in Tiger Roll’s favour if he demonstrates some kind of form in his upcoming races at Navan and Cheltenham. Tiger Roll has been entered into the Boyne Hurdle at Navan and, all being well, will be entered into the Cross Country at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.
There’s also considerable interest in a progressive nine-year-old, Kimberlite Candy, who looks a good age and sort to be at the front of the pack at Aintree. Kimberlite Candy has been upgraded to a career-high rating of 153 and is up 16lbs in weight based on his previous three runs. Nevertheless, there is a sense that he is lightly raced and has plenty of stamina in the tank to thrive in the most iconic test in horseracing. Most importantly, he has proven experience around Aintree already, having finished second twice in the three mile two furlong Becher Chase. On both occasions, he looked like he could run much further and has real potential as a Grand National stayer.
Whatever happens, the likely field for the 2021 Grand National promises to be one of the most competitive for some years, with plenty of contenders vying for Tiger Roll’s throne.
