Defending champion Tiger Roll 8lb well-in as 81 remain on Randox Grand National trail

 

Wednesday, March 20, 2019 – There is just over a fortnight until the 172nd running of the world’s greatest and most valuable chase, the £1-million Randox Health Grand National.

A total of 81 horses, up from 73 at the same stage in 2018, remain engaged in the famous four mile, two furlong and 74-yard handicap chase, which takes place at Aintree at 5.15pm on Saturday, April 6, day three of the Randox Health Grand National Festival.

 

Tiger Roll (Gordon Elliott, 11st 1lb) captured the 2018 Randox Health Grand National and appeared in the form of his life when sauntering to a facile 22-length in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham on March 13. The Gigginstown House Stud-owned nine-year-old won the same contest in 2018 ahead of his Aintree victory.

 

If successful at Aintree on April 6, Tiger Roll would become the first back-to-back winner of the great race since Red Rum in 1973 and 1974. He is the 5/1 favourite with Betway, official betting partner of the Randox Health Grand National Festival.

 

The weights continue to be headed by Bristol De Mai (Nigel Twiston-Davies, 11st 10lb, 20/1 with Betway) and Anibale Fly (Tony Martin, 11st 6lb, 12/1). Both horses contested the G1 Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 15, with Anibale Fly finishing the two and a half-length runner-up to Al Boum Photo, with Bristol De Mai another three and three-quarter lengths back in third.

 

Other Randox Health Grand National aspirants to have run at Cheltenham include the Trevor Hemmings-owned pair of Vintage Clouds (Sue Smith, 10st, 12/1) and Lake View Lad (Nick Alexander, 10st 11lb, 18/1), who both performed well when second and third respectively in the G3 Ultima Handicap Chase.

 

Hemmings has already tasted Randox Health Grand National success three times through Hedgehunter (2005), Ballabriggs (2011) and Many Clouds (2015). If successful in 2019, he will become the most successful owner of all-time in the world’s greatest chase.

 

Ireland’s champion Jump trainer Willie Mullins finally broke his Cheltenham Gold Cup hoodoo last week when saddling Al Boum Photo to success. Mullins, who tasted Aintree glory with Hedgehunter in 2005, has a strong team of seven going forward, including last year’s head runner-up Pleasant Company (10st 11lb, 25/1), recent Leinster National victor Pairofbrowneyes (10st, 25/1) and G2 Bobbyjo Chase scorer Rathvinden (10st 10lb, 12/1).

 

If saddling the winner at Aintree this year, Mullins would become the first trainer to win both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National in the same season since Fred Rimell in 1976, who scored at Cheltenham with Royal Frolic and at Aintree with Rag Trade.

 

Senior BHA chase handicapper Martin Greenwood handicapped the Randox Health Grand National for the first time in 2019 following the retirement of Phil Smith, who officiated from 1999 to 2018.

 

The Randox Health Grand National is the only race in the calendar where Greenwood is allowed to deviate from official ratings and the weights for the 172nd Randox Health Grand National at Aintree were revealed at the iconic Cunard Building in Liverpool on February 12.

 

With the Cheltenham Festival and other leading Grand National trials now having been run, Greenwood gave his thoughts on how ratings for some horses have changed since the weights were revealed. No penalties are applied to horses who have won since the publication of the weights.

 

Greenwood said: “In total, over 50 per cent of the ratings have changed one way or another since the weights came out. This includes over 50 per cent of horses who are currently in the top 40.

 

“Working downwards from the top of the weights, I thought Bristol De Mai ran very well in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He possibly didn’t get home over such a stiff track and is 4lb well-in for Aintree.

 

“Anibale Fly ran a personal best to finish second in the Gold Cup and is going to be 8lb well-in, with his rating now 172. He was 9lb well-in last year, when finishing fourth, but, as I said at the time, I think he ran better than the bare result suggests.

 

“I have possibly underestimated Tiger Roll’s win in the Cross Country, putting him up another 8lb to a rating of 167. His hurdle success before Cheltenham (the G2 Boyne Hurdle at Navan on February 17) suggested that he was on the way back and his Cheltenham performance has backed that up.

 

“Looking further down the weights, I thought Vintage Clouds and Lake View Lad both ran excellent races in the Ultima Handicap Chase. I have put up Lake View Lad 3lb and Vintage Clouds 5lb. As things stand, Vintage Clouds needs five horses above him to come out to get a run in the Randox Health Grand National. There are currently five horses on a rating of 144, but three of those have already dropped in the ratings which will work in Vintage Clouds’ favour.

 

“Rathvinden ran a personal best when winning the Bobbyjo Chase. He has never actually run in handicap and is 8lb well-in.

 

“An under the radar horse could be Jury Duty (Gordon Elliott, 10st 7lb, 33/1) who won at Down Royal on Saturday (a conditions chase over three and a quarter miles). He won in America last year (the G1 Grand National Hurdle at Far Hills) and is going to be 6lb well-in.

 

“Ramses De Teillee (David Pipe, 10st 5lb, 33/1) is 5lb well-in following his second in the G3 Grand National Trial at Haydock, while Ms Parfois (Anthony Honeyball, 10st 2lb, 25/1) is 7lb well-in for her excellent second in the G3 Midlands Grand National last weekend.

 

“Pairofbrowneyes is 10lb well-in after hacking up at Naas and. other than Potter’s Corner (Christian Williams, 9st 2lb, 50/1), who is 13lb well-in but very unlikely to get a run, is the horse who has seen his rating rise the most since the weights were published.”

 

Looking ahead in general terms to the 2019 Randox Health Grand National, Greenwood continued: “What already looked a hot race, now looks even hotter if you take all the well-in horses into account.

 

“If I was a punter, I am not sure where I would go as you could make a case for so many horses.

 

“At the moment, 10st 2lb (a rating of 146) is the cut-off point. You would imagine some horses will come out. I suggested at the weights launch that a rating of 142ish would be required to obtain a run and I think the horses down there still have a sneak of getting in.

 

“Tiger Roll is a very short price and, as I say, I could have underrated him - Cross County races are probably the most difficult to assess. He never came off the bridle at Cheltenham and it was an incredibly impressive performance.

 

“His claims for a second Grand National look very strong, although you could argue there are several other horses in the race with strong claims given what they have achieved since the weights came out.”

 

The next acceptance stage for the 2019 Randox Health Grand National is at the five-day stage at noon on Monday, April 1. The maximum permitted field size is 40 runners, with four reserves.

 

Randox Health Grand National, Betway prices:

5/1 Tiger Roll

12/1 Anibale Fly, Rathvinden, Vintage Clouds

18/1 Lake View Lad

20/1 Bristol De Mai

25/1 Rock the Kasbah, Pairofbrowneyes, Minella Rocco, General Principle, Mall Dini, Step Back, Up for Review, Ms Parfois, Pleasant Company, Walk in the Mill, One for Arthur

33/1 Jury Duty, Blaklion, Dounikos, Ramses De Teillee, Valtor, Abolitionist, Captain Redbeard, Carole's Destrier, Alpha Des Obeaux

40/1 Folsom Blue, Impulsive Star, The Young Master, Go Conquer, Vieux Lion Rouge, Out Sam, Noble Endeavor, Warriors Tale

50/1 Ultragold, Baie Des Iles, Mala Beach, Don Poli, Cogry, Potters Corner, Livelovelaugh, Yala Enki, Borice, Isleofhopendreams, The Storyteller, Ballyoptic, Sandymount Duke, Joe Farrell, Daklondike, Shattered Love, Singlefarmpayment, Monbeg Notorious

66/1 Blow by Blow, Sub Lieutenant, Tea for Two, Regal Encore, Red Infantry, Polidam, Outlander, Mr Diablo, Valseur Lido, Fact of the Matter, Milansbar, Measureofmydreams, Vieux Morvan, Magic of Light, Bless the Wings, A Toi Phil          

80/1 Call it Magic, Looking Well, Shantou Village

100/1 Ziga Boy, Kilcrea Vale, Kingswell Theatre, Highland Lodge, Splash of Ginge, Scoir Mear, Exitas, Just A Par

150/1 Morney Wing, Rathlin Rose

Each-Way ¼ odds – 1, 2, 3, 4

 

Randox Health Grand National

Grade 3 handicap chase, £1 million total prize fund. Aintree, 5.15pm Saturday, April 6, 2019. 4m 2f 74y over the Grand National fences. For seven-year-olds and upwards who, prior to March 19 have started in a steeple chase during the current season and been placed first, second, third or fourth in a chase with an official distance description of two miles seven and a half furlongs' or more at any time during the horse's career, Horses must also be allotted a rating of 125 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including February 10. Horses who are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain or Ireland at closing may also be entered. Such horses may be eligible for a weight providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances up to and including February 10 would merit a minimum rating of 125. To qualify, horses must have run at least three times in chases run under the Rules of Racing of the same Recognised Racing Authority up to and including February 10. At the Handicapper's discretion, such horses may be allocated a rating. The decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final. Entries closes January 29, entries revealed January 30 (112 entries - 2 not qualified), weights revealed February 12, first scratchings deadline February 26 (100 remained), second scratchings deadline March 19 (84 remained, 3 not qualified), five-day confirmations April 1, final declarations 10am April 4. Maximum field of 40 plus four reserves.

 

	Horse	Age	Wgt	Rtg	Owner	Trainer
1)	BRISTOL DE MAI (FR)	8	11-10	168	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nigel Twiston-Davies
2)	ANIBALE FLY (FR)	9	11-06	164	J P McManus	Tony Martin IRE
3)	ALPHA DES OBEAUX (FR)	9	11-04	162	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
4)	THE STORYTELLER (IRE)	8	11-03	161	Pat Sloan	Gordon Elliott IRE
5)	VALTOR (FR)	10	11-02	160	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nicky Henderson
6)	TIGER ROLL (IRE)	9	11-01	159	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
7)	OUTLANDER (IRE)	11	11-00	158	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
8)	DON POLI (IRE)	10	10-13	157	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
9)	SUB LIEUTENANT (IRE)	10	10-13	157	Gigginstown House Stud	Henry de Bromhead IRE
10)	GO CONQUER (IRE)	10	10-13	157	Paul & Clare Rooney	Nigel Twiston-Davies
11)	MALA BEACH (IRE)	11	10-12	156	Chris Jones	Gordon Elliott IRE
12)	YALA ENKI (FR)	9	10-12	156	Hills of Ledbury (Aga)	Venetia Williams
13)	BLAKLION	10	10-12	156	Darren & Annaley Yates	Philip Kirby
14)	MINELLA ROCCO (IRE)	9	10-11	155	J P McManus	Jonjo O'Neill
15)	LAKE VIEW LAD (IRE)	9	10-11	155	Trevor Hemmings	Nick Alexander
16)	PLEASANT COMPANY (IRE)	11	10-11	155	Malcolm Denmark	Willie Mullins IRE
17)	BALLYOPTIC (IRE)	9	10-11	155	Mills & Mason Partnership	Nigel Twiston-Davies
18)	DOUNIKOS (FR)	8	10-10	154	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
19)	RATHVINDEN (IRE)	11	10-10	154	Ronnie Bartlett	Willie Mullins IRE
20)	ONE FOR ARTHUR (IRE)	10	10-10	154	Two Golf Widows	Lucinda Russell
21)	SHATTERED LOVE (IRE)	8	10-10	154	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
22)	ROCK THE KASBAH (IRE)	9	10-09	153	Diana Whateley	Philip Hobbs
23)	WARRIORS TALE	10	10-09	153	Trevor Hemmings	Paul Nicholls
24)	REGAL ENCORE (IRE)	11	10-08	152	J P McManus	Anthony Honeyball
25)	MAGIC OF LIGHT (IRE)	8	10-07	151	Ann & Alan Potts Limited	Jessica Harrington IRE
26)	A TOI PHIL (FR)	9	10-07	151	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
27)	JURY DUTY (IRE)	8	10-07	151	Sideways Syndicate	Gordon Elliott IRE
28)	NOBLE ENDEAVOR (IRE)	10	10-06	150	Chris Jones	Gordon Elliott IRE
29)	SANDYMOUNT DUKE (IRE)	10	10-06	150	Ronnie Wood	Jessica Harrington IRE
30)	MONBEG NOTORIOUS (IRE)	8	10-06	150	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
31)	RAMSES DE TEILLEE (FR)	7	10-05	149	John White & Anne Underhill	David Pipe
32)	TEA FOR TWO	10	10-05	149	Jane Williams & Len Jakeman	Jane Williams
33)	MALL DINI (IRE)	9	10-04	148	Philip Reynolds	Patrick Kelly IRE
34)	DAKLONDIKE (IRE)	7	10-04	148	Prof Caroline Tisdall	David Pipe
35)	STEP BACK (IRE)	9	10-03	147	Cracker and Smodge Partnership	Mark Bradstock
36)	ULTRAGOLD (FR)	11	10-03	147	Brocade Racing John Romans Terry Warner	Colin Tizzard
37)	MS PARFOIS (IRE)	8	10-02	146	Martyn Chapman	Anthony Honeyball
38)	PAIROFBROWNEYES (IRE)	10	10-02	146	Fibbage Syndicate	Willie Mullins IRE
39)	BLOW BY BLOW (IRE)	8	10-02	146	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
40)	UP FOR REVIEW (IRE)	10	10-02	146	Andrea & Graham Wylie	Willie Mullins IRE
41)	SINGLEFARMPAYMENT	9	10-02	146	Neal Griffith & Heather Haddock	Tom George
42)	VIEUX LION ROUGE (FR)	10	10-02	146	Prof Caroline Tisdall & John Gent	David Pipe
43)	VALSEUR LIDO (FR)	10	10-02	146	Gigginstown House Stud	Henry de Bromhead IRE
44)	ABOLITIONIST (IRE)	11	10-01	145	Mark Albon, John Provan & Chris Stedman	Dr Richard Newland
45)	VINTAGE CLOUDS (IRE)	9	10-00	144	Trevor Hemmings	Sue Smith
46)	GENERAL PRINCIPLE (IRE)	10	10-00	144	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
47)	LIVELOVELAUGH (IRE)	9	10-00	144	Susannah Ricci	Willie Mullins IRE
48)	WALK IN THE MILL (FR)	9	10-00	144	Baroness Harding	Robert Walford
49)	FOLSOM BLUE (IRE)	12	10-00	144	Core Partnership	Gordon Elliott IRE
50)	BLESS THE WINGS (IRE)	14	9-13	143	Adrian Butler & Stephen O'Connor	Gordon Elliott IRE
51)	CAPTAIN REDBEARD (IRE)	10	9-13	143	Stuart Coltherd	Stuart Coltherd
52)	POLIDAM (FR)	10	9-13	143	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Willie Mullins IRE
53)	JUST A PAR (IRE)	12	9-12	142	Mark Scott	James Moffatt
54)	THE YOUNG MASTER	10	9-12	142	Mike Burbidge & The Old Masters	Neil Mulholland
55)	BAIE DES ILES (FR)	8	9-12	142	Zorka Wentworth	Ross O'Sullivan IRE
56)	ISLEOFHOPENDREAMS	12	9-12	142	Kilbroney Racing	Willie Mullins IRE
57)	EXITAS (IRE)	11	9-12	142	Phil Middleton, Mark Lowther	Phil Middleton
58)	JOE FARRELL (IRE)	10	9-12	142	Mark Sherwood, Nigel Morris & Rebecca Curtis	Rebecca Curtis
59)	RED INFANTRY (IRE)	9	9-12	142	Rob Little	Ian Williams
60)	SHANTOU VILLAGE (IRE)	9	9-12	142	Jane Gerard-Pearse	Neil Mulholland
61)	COGRY	10	9-10	140	Graham and Alison Jelley	Nigel Twiston-Davies
62)	OUT SAM	10	9-10	140	Danny Charlesworth	Gordon Elliott IRE
63)	FACT OF THE MATTER (IRE)	9	9-10	140	The Sandylini Racing Partnership	Jamie Snowden
64)	VIEUX MORVAN (FR)	10	9-10	140	M L Bloodstock Limited	Joseph O'Brien IRE
65)	MR DIABLO (IRE)	10	9-09	139	Aidan Glynn	Philip Dempsey IRE
66)	IMPULSIVE STAR (IRE)	9	9-09	139	Robert Waley-Cohen & Men Holding	Neil Mulholland
67)	KINGSWELL THEATRE	10	9-09	139	John J Murray	Michael Scudamore
68)	CAROLE'S DESTRIER	11	9-08	138	Carole Skipworth	Neil Mulholland
69)	MILANSBAR (IRE)	12	9-08	138	Robert Bothway	Neil King
70)	BORICE (FR)	8	9-07	137	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Gordon Elliott IRE
71)	MEASUREOFMYDREAMS (IRE)	11	9-07	137	Tom Howley Jnr/Mouse O'Ryan/Dave McDonnell	Gordon Elliott IRE
72)	ZIGA BOY (FR)	10	9-07	137	Axom LI	Alan King
73)	SPLASH OF GINGE	11	9-07	137	John Neild	Nigel Twiston-Davies
74)	HIGHLAND LODGE (IRE)	13	9-05	135	Cheveley Park Stud	James Moffatt
75)	CALL IT MAGIC (IRE)	9	9-05	135	Zorka Wentworth	Ross O'Sullivan IRE
76)	KILCREA VALE (IRE)	9	9-05	135	Alan Spence	Nicky Henderson
77)	LOOKING WELL (IRE)	10	9-03	133	David Wesley Yates	Nicky Richards
78)	POTTERS CORNER (IRE)	9	9-02	132	All Stars Sports Racing & Jonathan Davies	Christian Williams
79)	MORNEY WING (IRE)	10	8-13	129	The Steeple Chasers	Charlie Mann
80)	RATHLIN ROSE (IRE)	11	8-12	128	Fergus Wilson	David Pipe
81)	SCOIR MEAR (IRE)	9	8-11	127	J P McManus	Thomas Mullins IRE

 

81 entries remain after the March 19 scratchings’ deadline

3 NOT QUALIFIED: WOODS WELL (IRE), NED STARK (IRE), VAN GOGH DU GRANIT (FR)

37 Irish-trained

 

THE FOLLOWING 16 HORSES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED: ELEGANT ESCAPE (IRE), EDWULF, BLACK CORTON (FR), AMERICAN (FR), TRAFFIC FLUIDE (FR), SIZING CODELCO (IRE), TOTAL RECALL (IRE), ROYAL VACATION (IRE), MASTER DEE (IRE), THE LAST SAMURI (IRE), SOME NECK (FR), GIVE ME A COPPER (IRE), WILLIE BOY (IRE), BALLYHILL (FR), BALLYDINE (IRE), BACK TO THE THATCH (IRE)

 

About Aintree Racecourse / The Jockey Club

Aintree is home to The Randox Health Grand National, the most famous horse race in the world which is the climax to a three-day Festival meeting in April every year. The racecourse hosts five other fixtures and is a leading conference centre in the north west of England.

 

More information is available at aintree.thejockeyclub.co.uk

 

Aintree is part of The Jockey Club which stages thrilling sporting occasions including The Randox Health Grand National, The Cheltenham Festival and The Investec Derby. Millions of people every year enjoy the special experiences we offer through racing, music, food and entertainment. Governed by Royal Charter, every penny we make goes back into British Racing to help the sport thrive. We were founded in 1750 and today we are the largest commercial group in Britain's second-biggest spectator sport, operating 15 racecourses nationwide, The National Stud, Jockey Club Estates, Jockey Club Catering, Jockey Club Live and our charity, Racing Welfare.

 

For more information visit www.thejockeyclub.co.uk

 

For further information please contact:

 

Grant Rowley, Regional Communications Manager, The Jockey Club (North West) on 07884 655990 or email: Grant.Rowley@thejockeyclub.co.uk

 

Jessica Dalgliesh, Senior Communications Executive, The Jockey Club (North West) on 07464 491507 or email: Jessica.Dalgliesh@thejockeyclub.co.uk