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Gordon Elliott described the 11st 9lbs allotted to Tiger Roll in this year’s Randox Health Grand National as “fair” when the weights were revealed without their usual fanfare at a Liverpool landmark but, like so many things in the last year, on a Zoom call on Tuesday.
That, 1lb off the top-weight of 11st 10lbs (a burden which would be shared by Bristol de Mai, Easysland and Santini if they all turn up) equates to a rating of 166. Tiger Roll won his first National off 150, his second off 159 and would have run off 170 had the race taken place last year.
The announcement drew a somewhat cooler ‘no comment’ from Eddie O’Leary, brother and racing manager to the 11-year-old’s owner Michael O’Leary, and it remains to be seen whether the owner goes ahead with his threat to run the horse in the Irish National or retire Tiger Roll instead of having a crack at Red Rum’s record of three Grand Nationals.
“No comment on Tiger Roll,” said Eddie O’Leary. “But we’re happy enough that we’ve got 10 that would make the cut and we’ll see which of them runs at the next stage.”
After he returned home lame after being pulled up at half-way in the Glenfarclas Cross-Country at Cheltenham in November, Elliott said Tiger Roll was back in good form and, providing it is not bottomless, could be out this weekend at Naas or Navan.
“I think with age he wants better ground,” explained the trainer. “I only train him, I don’t own him and Michael will make the final decision. It would be disappointing if he didn’t turn up for the third in a row. I rarely query a decision of the handicapper, he has his job to do, I have my job to do. I respect his decision.”
Martin Greenwood, the BHA senior jumps handicapper, described rating Tiger Roll as a “tricky one”.
He said: “He’s had four runs since this time last year which has yielded nothing except a second at Cheltenham. His rating is the same as that given to Many Clouds when he went back a year after winning. It’s a downgrade from last year.”
Speaking about O’Leary’s outspoken rant on Luck on Sunday 10 days ago, Greenwood added: “I get my underwear from Kevlar. He’s perfectly entitled to his opinion and I’m perfectly entitled not to listen. I go about the job like any other race and I’m not influenced by anyone questioning my ratings. It’s like Schrodinger’s Cat – he’ll either run or he won’t, it’s out of my control.”
Of course there is much water to yet to flow under the Aintree bridge before April 10 but a number of unexposed horses lower down the weights stand out.
Cloth Cap, the runaway Hennessy winner bidding to give Trevor Hemmings a fourth win, is vying for favouritism at about 16-1 with Tiger Roll after he was given 10st 5lbs while Secret Reprieve, the Welsh National winner, is set to carry 10st 1lbs. Kimberlite Candy has already proven his liking for the course looks attractively weighted off 10st 10lbs.
Grand National 2021 current runners and weights
As of February 16 2021
1 Bristol de Mai (FR) 10 11 10 167 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nigel Twiston-Davies
2 Easysland (FR) 7 11 10 167 Mr John P. McManus D. Cottin FR
3 Santini (GB) 9 11 10 167 Mr & Mrs R. Kelvin-Hughes Nicky Henderson
4 Delta Work (FR) 8 11 9 166 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
5 Presenting Percy (GB) 10 11 9 166 Philip J. Reynolds Gordon Elliott IRE
6 Tiger Roll (IRE) 11 11 9 166 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
7 The Storyteller (IRE) 10 11 8 165 Mrs Pat Sloan Gordon Elliott IRE
8 Chris’s Dream (IRE) 9 11 7 164 Robcour Henry de Bromhead IRE
9 Battleoverdoyen (IRE) 8 11 5 162 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
10 Yala Enki (FR) 11 11 3 160 Hills of Ledbury Ltd Paul Nicholls
11 Ballyoptic (IRE) 11 11 1 158 Mills & Mason Partnership Nigel Twiston-Davies
12 Definitly Red (IRE) 12 11 1 158 Phil & Julie Martin Brian Ellison
13 Lake View Lad (IRE) 11 11 0 157 Mr Trevor Hemmings N. W. Alexander
14 Ajas (FR) 7 10 13 156 Mr Ulf Sjoberg D. Cottin FR
15 Burrows Saint (FR) 8 10 13 156 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE
16 Magic of Light (IRE) 10 10 13 156 Ann & Alan Potts Limited Mrs J. Harrington IRE
17 Acapella Bourgeois (FR) 11 10 12 155 Slaneyville Syndicate W. P. Mullins IRE
18 Anibale Fly (FR) 11 10 12 155 Mr John P. McManus A. J. Martin IRE
19 Aso (FR) 11 10 12 155 The Bellamy Partnership Venetia Williams
20 Mister Malarky (GB) 8 10 12 155 Wendy & Malcolm Hezel Colin Tizzard
21 Talkischeap (IRE) 9 10 12 155 Mr Charles Dingwall Alan King
22 Tout Est Permis (FR) 8 10 12 155 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade
23 Bellshill (IRE) 11 10 10 153 D & D Armstrong Ltd & Mr L Westwood Sandy Thomson
24 Beware The Bear (IRE) 11 10 10 153 Mr G. B. Barlow Nicky Henderson
25 Kimberlite Candy (IRE) 9 10 10 153 Mr John P. McManus Tom Lacey
26 Pym (IRE) 8 10 10 153 Mrs Patricia Pugh Nicky Henderson
27 Alpha des Obeaux (FR) 11 10 9 152 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
28 Al Roc (FR) 10 10 9 152 Comedy Club Partnership Dr Richard Newland
29 Any Second Now (IRE) 9 10 9 152 Mr John P. McManus T. M. Walsh IRE
30 Balko des Flos (FR) 10 10 9 152 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE
31 Brahma Bull (IRE) 10 10 8 151 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE
32 Champagne Classic (IRE) 10 10 8 151 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
33 Ok Corral (IRE) 11 10 8 151 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson
34 Articulum (IRE) 11 10 7 150 Martin McDonagh/Paul G Murphy/M J Nixon Terence O’Brien IRE
35 Jett (IRE) 10 10 7 150 Mr Robert Waley-Cohen Mrs J. Harrington IRE
36 Shattered Love (IRE) 10 10 7 150 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
37 Takingrisks (IRE) 12 10 7 150 Mr Frank Bird Nicky Richards
38 The Jam Man (IRE) 8 10 7 150 Ronan M. P. McNally Ronan M. P. McNally IRE
39 Class Conti (FR) 9 10 6 149 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins IRE
40 Discorama (FR) 8 10 6 149 Thomas Friel/Andrew Gemmell Paul Nolan IRE
41 Lord du Mesnil (FR) 8 10 6 149 Mr Paul Porter & Mike & Mandy Smith Richard Hobson
42 Milan Native (IRE) 8 10 6 149 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
43 Potters Corner (IRE) 11 10 6 149 All Stars Sports Racing & J Davies Christian Williams
44 The Conditional (IRE) 9 10 6 149 Mr P. J. Cave David Bridgwater
45 Cabaret Queen (GB) 9 10 5 148 Syndicates.Racing W. P. Mullins IRE
46 Cloth Cap (IRE) 9 10 5 148 Mr Trevor Hemmings Jonjo O’Neill
47 Minellacelebration (IRE) 11 10 5 148 Mr Nick Elliott Katy Price00
48 Robin des Foret (IRE) 11 10 5 148 Byerley Racing Syndicate W. P. Mullins IRE
49 Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 12 10 5 148 Prof Caroline Tisdall & Mr John Gent David Pipe
50 Canelo (IRE) 8 10 4 147 Mr John P. McManus Alan King
51 Give Me A Copper (IRE) 11 10 4 147 Done, Ferguson, Mason, Nicholls & Wood Paul Nicholls
52 Glen Forsa (IRE) 9 10 4 147 Mr T. P. Radford Mick Channon
53 The Long Mile (GB) 7 10 4 147 Mr John P. McManus J.P.Dempsey IRE
54 Yorkhill (IRE) 11 10 4 147 D & D Armstrong Ltd & Mr L Westwood Sandy Thomson
55 Agusta Gold (IRE) 8 10 3 146 K.Leavy/F.W.Healy/L.Cribbin/Ms Mullins Ms Margaret Mullins IRE
56 Farclas (FR) 7 10 3 146 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
57 Hogan’s Height (IRE) 10 10 3 146 Foxtrot Racing: Hogan’s Height Jamie Snowden
58 Minella Times (IRE) 8 10 3 146 Mr John P. McManus Henry de Bromhead IRE
59 Sub Lieutenant (IRE) 12 10 3 146 Ms G. Howell Georgie Howell
60 Ami Desbois (FR) 11 10 2 145 The Reserved Judgment Partnership Graeme McPherson
61 Blaklion (GB) 12 10 2 145 Darren & Annaley Yates Dan Skelton
62 Double Shuffle (IRE) 11 10 2 145 Crossed Fingers Partnership Tom George
63 Gold Present (IRE) 11 10 2 145 Mr and Mrs J. D. Cotton Nicky Henderson
64 Keeper Hill (IRE) 10 10 2 145 McNeill Family Warren Greatrex
65 Moyhenna (IRE) 9 10 2 145 Mr R. V. Hennelly Denis G. Hogan B IRE
66 Death Duty (IRE) 10 10 1 144 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
67 Secret Reprieve (IRE) 7 10 1 144 Mr & Mrs William Rucker Evan Williams
68 Some Neck (FR) 10 10 1 144 Some Neck Partnership John McConnell IRE
69 Rocky’s Treasure (IRE) 10 10 0 143 Mr J. Perriss Kim Bailey
70 Cap du Nord (FR) 8 9 13 142 The Can’t Say No Partnership Christian Williams
71 Deise Aba (IRE) 8 9 13 142 Mr Trevor Hemmings Philip Hobbs
72 Fagan (GB) 11 9 13 142 Mr Ben Brackenbury Alex Hales
73 Golan Fortune (IRE) 9 9 13 142 P Middleton, M Lowther Phil Middleton
74 Jerrysback (IRE) 9 9 13 142 Mr John P. McManus Philip Hobbs
75 Kauto Riko (FR) 10 9 13 142 Mr and Mrs J.Dale and Partners Tom Gretton
76 Saturnas (FR) 10 9 13 142 Mr Nick Peacock W. P. Mullins IRE
77 Storm Control (IRE) 8 9 13 142 Mr Will Roseff Kerry Lee
78 Valtor (FR) 12 9 13 142 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson
79 Another Venture (IRE) 10 9 11 140 Racing For Maggie’s Partnership Kim Bailey
80 Captain Drake (IRE) 8 9 11 140 Gary Stevens and Brian and Sandy Lambert Harry Fry
81 Crievehill (IRE) 9 9 11 140 Highclere T’Bred Racing- Crievehill Nigel Twiston-Davies
82 Run Wild Fred (IRE) 7 9 11 140 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
83 The Hollow Ginge (IRE) 8 9 11 140 The Ginge Army Nigel Twiston-Davies
84 Fitzhenry (IRE) 9 9 10 139 Mr John P. McManus Paul Nolan IRE
85 Flying Angel (IRE) 10 9 10 139 Mr R. J. Rexton Nigel Twiston-Davies
86 Le Breuil (FR) 9 9 10 139 Mrs Emma Palmer Ben Pauling
87 Prime Venture (IRE) 10 9 10 139 Mrs Janet Davies Evan Williams
88 Achille (FR) 11 9 9 138 Mrs Vida Bingham Venetia Williams
89 A Toi Phil (FR) 11 9 9 138 Teme Valley 2 Gary Moore
90 Dounikos (FR) 10 9 9 138 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
91 Hold The Note (IRE) 7 9 9 138 Mr T. P. Radford Mick Channon
92 Plan of Attack (IRE) 8 9 9 138 Mr A. Halsall Henry de Bromhead IRE
93 Roaring Bull (IRE) 8 9 9 138 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
94 Musical Slave (IRE) 8 9 8 137 Mr John P. McManus Philip Hobbs
95 Soupy Soups (IRE) 10 9 8 137 Equi ex Incertis Partners Neil Mulholland
96 Treacysenniscorthy (IRE) 9 9 8 137 Paula Widger Robert Widger IRE
97 Beau Bay (FR) 10 9 7 136 Mr Peter Green & Dr RDP Newland Dr Richard Newland
98 Hear No Evil (IRE) 9 9 7 136 Mr Patrick Joseph McCartan Noel C. Kelly IRE
99 Shantou Flyer (IRE) 11 9 7 136 David Maxwell Racing Limited Paul Nicholls
100 Monbeg Notorious (IRE) 10 9 6 135 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
101 Aforementioned (FR) 8 9 5 134 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
102 Saint Xavier (FR) 9 9 5 134 Mr D. W. Fox Richard Hobson
103 Fingerontheswitch (IRE) 11 9 3 132 Cahill, Atwell & Crofts Neil Mulholland
104 One Style (FR) 11 9 3 132 The Four Bosses Venetia Williams
105 Bellow Mome (FR) 10 9 2 131 Mrs Audrey Turley W. P. Mullins IRE
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