Tiger Roll ready to roll at Aintree but National bid uncertain

Gordon Elliott said on Monday Tiger Roll will probably launch his season at Aintree on Saturday but again cast doubt on his star seeking a record-equalling third Grand National triumph in April.

Elliott has pencilled his 11-year-old for the Grade Two Many Clouds Chase and indicated he would then run once more, in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan in February, before attempting to retain his Cross-Country Chase crown at the Cheltenham Festival.

Tiger Roll has already won the Cross-Country Chase a record three times and Elliott believes another victory in the race – which would be his sixth overall at the Cheltenham Festival – would be a fitting way to bring the curtain down on the remarkable gelding’s career. He’s a general 6-1 chance in the ante-post betting.

“He’ll probably go to Aintree for the Grade Two at Aintree on Saturday,” said Elliott. "Then he’ll go to the Boyne Hurdle and the cross country at Cheltenham.

“He probably isn’t what he was, but if we can get him back to win another cross country it will be a dream come true.

“He’s a horse of a lifetime. Anyone that comes into the yard at Cullentra, he’s the first you see as he lives in the first stable and to have a horse like him around the place is unbelievable.

“If you’re going to dream, we’d love to go back and win a third Grand National, but the stats don’t lie. It will be three years since he ran in a Grand National (by April 2022).

“It’s not getting any easier for him, he’s not getting any younger and if you were to ask me, I’d love to win another cross country at Cheltenham with him. I think if he won it would bring the roof down.

“He’s a little superstar and I’m very lucky to have him.”

Al Boum Photo, Champ and Native River are among 13 entries for the Many Clouds.

Elliott will be hoping Escaria Ten and Ravenhill can advance their Grand National claims in the Becher Chase, run 35 minutes after the Many Clouds.

Escaria Ten finished a close third to Galvin in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last season, while Ravenhill won that race in 2020.

“I think Aintree will suit them, although it’s more April we are thinking about," Elliott said. “We’ll see how they get on, and take to the fences.”

Not all trainers of Grand National aspirants target the Becher Chase, and surprisingly no runner in the race, first run in 1992, has gone on to win the big race later in the season.

Eliott said: “Everyone’s different, and there’s no right or wrong way to train horses. I just don’t think there’s any harm to go and have a look. If they don’t take to it, we can always take a different route.”

A total of 26 remain in the Unibet Becher Chase, including Henry de Bromhead’s Chris’s Dream. Scottish National winner Mighty Thunder, Kimberlite Candy and Lord Du Mesnil others of note.

The trainer also gave an update on his jockeys Jack Kennedy and Jordan Gainsford, who ended up in hospital within 24 hours of each other early this month after falls. The luckless Kennedy, who has suffered a catalogue of injuries, broke his arm, while Gainsford fractured his wrist.

Elliott said: “Both jockeys are hoping to be back at Christmas. They are two great young fellows and I am looking forward to having them back. Both of them are in the yard every day of the week.

“Anyone that knows Jack, knows this will not faze him. He’s the most laidback person you could ever met. He’s a world-class jockey and this [another bad injury] will not affect him at all. He’s all these horses to come back and ride, and I’m behind him 100 per cent behind him. Hopefully, he’s going to be with me a long time.”