Tiger Roll is owned by Easyjet airline boss Michael O’Leary and his brother Eddie.
Trainer Gordon Elliot said of the decision on the weight, “It was hard to see him having much less being such a specialist. We have what we have – hopefully, he can do us proud,”
Bristol De Mai, Easysland and Santini will all carry the maximum weight of 11st 10lb.
Last year’s Grand National was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, a televised Virtual Grand National was held. Bookmakers took bets with all profits going to NHS Charities Together.
Before the Grand National was cancelled last year, Tiger Roll had been the favourite to win the race for a historic three times in-a-row. Red Rum famously won the race three times in 1973,1974, and 1977 but finished in second place in 1975 and 1976.
Last year, Tiger Roll’s co-owner Michael O’Leary had threatened to withdraw the horse from the race after officials gave the horse top weight. O’Leary said at the time, “Delta Work is our Gold Cup horse and the handicapper thinks Tiger Roll is as good as him, that makes no sense to me at all.
“Tiger Roll is a brilliant, brilliant horse and he is completely invaluable to us, but we have to do our best by the horse.”
Michael O’Leary has not so far commented on the weight given to the horse for this year’s event.
In early betting for the April event, Cloth Cap is the early favourite. A 14/1 win would see owner Trevor Hemmings claim a record fourth victory in the Grand National. Hemmings currently jointly holds the record after wins with Hedgehunter (2005), Ballabriggs (2011) and Many Clouds (2015). Hemmings could also be represented by Lake View Lad and Deise Aba at Aintree. Lake View Lad won the Grade Two Many Clouds Chase in December at this course. 83-year-old Hemmings recently received his first Co-vid 19 vaccination, increasing the owner’s chances to attend in-person to watch his horses run.
Secret Reprive is the bookies second favourite, priced @ 16/1. The Evan Williams trained seven-year-old won the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow while priced as 5/2f after winning the trials for the same race. The horse was not guaranteed to race, but owners William and Angela Rucker confirmed the race. The pair have never won the Grand National but have placed seven times with State Of Play, Cappa Bleu and Alvarado.
Three other horses are tied with Tiger Roll on 20/1, Kimberlite Candy, Any Second Now and Burrows Saint.
