Tiger Roll 10/1* to win third Grand National in 2021
Tiger Roll has been installed as the 10/1* favourite with the bookmakers to win the 2021 Randox Health Grand National at Aintree.
The dual winner was denied the opportunity to win the race for the third time in three years due to the cancellation of the race. However, he is expected to line up in the marathon contest next year.
Although racing is still taking place for now in Ireland behind closed doors, it is very unlikely Tiger Roll will feature again this season. Instead, he is set to be given a rest until the start of the 2020/21 National Hunt campaign.
Gordon Elliott revealed his disappointment the 2020 contest had been lost, but was optimistic about this superstar’s chances in 2021.
He said: “It’s disappointing but everyone at Aintree and involved with it has to do what’s right to get everything back on track. We’re all on the one team.
“There’s every chance of Tiger Roll competing next year. He doesn’t have many miles on the clock.
“We’ll be training him back for the Grand National again and I’ll be taking it day by day. There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and then. We’ll be keeping our head up and keeping him going.
“All we can do is dream. You never know what can happen. He’s in good form and was all set for the National. But we’re only one of 40 horses and we just have to keep going.”
Jockey Davy Russell on Tiger Roll (L) leads Jockey David Mullins on Pleasant Company over the last fence on his way to winning the Grand National horse race on the final day of the Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, northern England on April 14, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS
Connections will ponder 2020/21 path
Elliott’s runner did not appear until February this season due to a couple of setbacks at home. If everything goes smoothly for the horse on the gallops, he could make his seasonal reappearance much earlier, with the Open Meeting at Cheltenham a possibility for the chaser.
Tiger Roll made two appearances on the track this year. He was the runner-up in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last week behind Easysland, a race he was trying to win for the third straight renewal.
Although he was unable to land the most unique contest at the Festival, the Irish horse was 17 lengths clear of the rest of the pack when crossing the line at Prestbury Park.
Elliott said he was very happy with that run and that he expected his horse to improve for it.
Chance to match Red Rum’s feat too big to turn down
Only one horse in history has won the Grand National three times – Red Rum who completed the feat 1977. The chance to match it will still be open to Tiger Roll in 2021.
Red Rum’s third win came three years after his second success. He was also placed in the race on two occasions before that final victory in 1977.
Tiger Roll will be 11 years old when the race takes place in April 2011. As long as he stays fit and healthy, age should not be a problem for him as many horse have been successful at that stage of their careers.
Top weight likely again in 2021
It is likely Tiger Roll will need to carry top weight in 2021. The weights will be revealed in February and it will be interesting to see if the handicapper adjusts his allocation of 11st-10lb.
No horse since Red Rum in 1977 has won off top weight in the Aintree feature. Unless a higher-rated horse is entered in 2021, Tiger Roll will have to end that wait if he is to taste success again.
For now, horse racing fans will have to patiently wait for the world’s most famous steeplechase to come around in the spring of next year.
*Odds subject to change
After the cancellation of the Grand National 2020, this year we will watch a Virtual Grand National. The event will start at around 17:15 on Saturday the fourth of April 2020. Discover the horses to see if Tiger Roll will be a Virtual Grand National runner.
