Tiger Roll and stablemate Delta Work, with respective ratings of 170, have been allotted top weight of 11st 10lb for the 2020 Randox Health Grand National at Aintree on Saturday, 4 April, details of which are revealed today.

With a prize fund of £1 million, the Randox Health Grand National is the world’s richest Jump race and takes place for the 173rd time this year at 5.15pm on day three of the Randox Health Grand National Festival.

Tiger Roll, who is trained by Gordon Elliott and owned by Gigginstown House Stud, is aiming to emulate the legendary Red Rum as a three-time winner of the Randox Health Grand National and, if victorious, would become the first horse to do so in consecutive years. He is the 13/2 favourite with Betway, official betting partner of the Randox Health Grand National.

The 10-year-old had an official rating of 150 in the 2018 Randox Health Grand National and defied a rating of 159 in last year’s edition.

Delta Work, who like Tiger Roll is owned by Gigginstown House Stud and trained by Gordon Elliott, is among the leading contenders for the G1 Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup, following his victory in the G1 Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on 2 February.

Ten horses have been given 11st or more. They include Bristol de Mai (11st 8lb), one of seven contenders for dual Grand National-winning handler Nigel Twiston-Davies, 2018 Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Native River (Colin Tizzard, 11st 6lb) and J P McManus’ Anibale Fly (Tony Martin IRE, 11st 2lb), fourth in 2018 and fifth in 2019.

Elliott has 18 entries in total, more than any other trainer, as he chases a record equalling fourth Grand National, with his team also featuring promising novice Champagne Classic (10st 6lb) and 2019 Galway Plate victor Borice (10st).

Fellow Irish handler Willie Mullins, successful with Hedgehunter in 2005, has impressive Irish Grand National victor Burrows Saint (10st 10lb) among his nine contenders.

Last year’s runner-up Magic Of Light (Jessica Harrington IRE) has been handed 10st 12lb. Nickel Coin in 1951 is the most recent mare to win the Aintree spectacular. The other mares engaged are Shattered Love (Gordon Elliott IRE, 10st 6lb), Atalanta Ablaze (Henry Daly, 9st 13lb), Cabaret Queen (Willie Mullins IRE, 9st 13lb).

Fourth-placed Walk In The Mill (Robert Walford, 10st 4lb) fared best of the British-trained runners in 2019. He continued his excellent record over the famous fences by winning the Randox Health Becher Handicap Chase for the second successive year in December.

The 2017 victor One For Arthur (Lucinda Russell, 10st 2lb) is the other previous Grand National winner among the entries. His rating of 148 is the same as he carried in 2017.

Welsh Grand National victor Potters Corner (Christian Wiliams) has been given 10st 6lb, while Scottish Grand National scorer Takingrisks (Nicky Richards) has been handed 10st 1lb.

Other names to note are Kimberlite Candy (Tom Lacey, 10st 4lb), winner of the G1 Classic Handicap Chase at Warwick, and Listed Sky Bet Chase victor Ok Corral (Nicky Henderson, 10st 9lb). Both horses are owned by J P McManus.

British Horseracing Authority chase handicapper Martin Greenwood, who framed the weights for the second time this year and has total discretion for the Randox Health Grand National, said: “I have made Tiger Roll and Delta Work joint top-weights for the Randox Health Grand National.

“This decision was made essentially on two factors – historical compression which was brought in by Phil Smith and has been used for the last 10 years or so. On the other hand, I have to give Tiger Roll this mark based on his efforts over the national fences at Aintree where he is of course unbeaten.

"Tiger Roll was rated 172 at the end of last year and obviously there is no recent evidence to go on because of his fitness issues, so his handicap mark has been unquantifiable since. He is therefore coming down 2lb and carries the same weight as Suny Bay did when he was second in the 1998 Grand National. No other horse has carried that rating since. Many Clouds won off 11st 9lb, but he did not have as high a rating.

"It must be remembered that Tiger Roll ran in the race off a rating of 159 but was actually rated 167 at the time due to his win in the Cross Country at Cheltenham.

"Tiger Roll has also not yet qualified for this year’s Grand National. Whilst he may run in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan (Sunday, 14 February), he still has to run in a chase to qualify. There are about 15 horses overall who currently do not qualify because they have either not run over fences this season or not yet finished in the first four in a race over 23 and a half furlongs in their career. A high-profile example would be Cadmium, a Topham Chase winner.

"Delta Work is a potential Cheltenham Gold Cup contender and, in order to keep as many of the horses in the handicap, he is also off 170. Other horses towards the top include Bristol de Mai and Native River. Bristol de Mai was rated 173 when entered last year and that figure has been downgraded since to 168. I have dropped Native River 2lb to 166 as Bristol De Mai has finished in front of him the last couple of times they have met, and I thought he was workmanlike when winning at Newbury on Saturday.

"This year, 73% of the horses entered are in the handicap. Similarly, from a starting rating of 140, there are more horses than ever in the modern era entered for the race - 92 in total.

"The race is full of top-class individuals and boasts the winners of races such as the Grand National, Irish National, Welsh National, Rowland Meyrick Chase, Cheltenham Gold Cup and much more. It is as good a staying handicap as would be run anywhere.

"You could argue that it is the highest quality Grand National in modern history.”

Randox Health Grand National – prices from Betway, official betting partner of the Randox Health Grand National

13/2 Tiger Roll

14/1 Kimberlight Candy

16/1 Burrows Saint, Native River, Walk In The Mill

20/1 Magic Of Light

22/1 Le Breuil, Potters Corner

25/1 Anibale Fly, Defintly Red, Elegant Escape, One For Arthur, Pleasant Company, Talkischeap

33/1 Alpha Des Obeaux, Any Second Now, Beware The Bear, Champagne Classic, Delta Work, Give Me A Copper, Hogan’s Height,Total Recall, Vintage Clouds, Yala Enki

40/1 Acapella Bourgeois, Ballyopti, Borice, Cadmium, Chef Des Obeaux, Fitzhenry, Lake View Lad, Missed Approach, Ok Corral, Ramses De Teillee, Takingrisks, The Storyteller

50/1 As De Mee, Class Conti, Cogry, Dingo Dollar, Dragon Destruval, Fingerontheswitch, Jury Duty, Kildisart, Lord Du Mesnil, Mall Dini, Poker Party, Ravenhill, Regal Encore, Roaring Bull, Shattered Love, Snugsborough Benny, Sub Lieutenant, The Hollow Ginge, Top Ville Ben, Valtor, Vieux Lion Rouge

66/1 A Toi Phil, Acting Lass, Activial, Aso, Atlanta Ablaze, Cabaret Queen, Crievehill, Dalko Moriviere, Dallas Des Pictons, Death Duty, Dounikos, General Principle, Heron Heights, Joe Farrell, Mister Whitaker, Monbeg Notorious, Moonshine Bay, Noble Endeavor, Now Mcginty, Peregrine Run, Prince Of Scars, Romain De Senam, Saint Xavier, Spider Web, The Young Master, Tout Est Permis, Townshend, Traffic Fluide, Voix Du Reve, Warriors Tale

80/1 Kilfilum Cross, Out Sam, Singlefarmpayment

100/1 Ami Desbois, Disco Dauthie, Double Shuffle, Flying Angel, Jett, Scoir Mear, Soupy Soups, Steely Addition

150/1 Outlander, Rathlin Rose

200/1 Princeton Royale

The Randox Health Grand National

Grade 3 handicap chase, £1 million total prize fund. Aintree, 5.15pm Saturday, April 4, 2020. 4m 2f 74yds over the Grand National fences. For seven-year-olds and upwards who, prior to March 17, have started in a 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 9. Horses which 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 9 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 (105 entries, 2 subsequently scratched), weights revealed February 11, first scratchings deadline February 25, second scratchings deadline March 17, five-day confirmations March 30, final declarations 10am April 2. Maximum field of 40 plus four reserves.

 

	Horse	Age	Wgt		Owner	Trainer
1	Delta Work (FR)	7	11-10	170	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
2	Tiger Roll (IRE)	10	11-10	170	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
3	Bristol de Mai (FR)	9	11-08	168	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nigel Twiston-Davies
4	Native River (IRE)	10	11-06	166	Brocade Racing	Colin Tizzard
5	Anibale Fly (FR)	10	11-02	162	J P McManus	Tony Martin IRE
6	Aso (FR)	10	11-02	162	The Bellamy Partnership	Venetia Williams
7	Cadmium (FR)	8	11-02	162	In Our Element Syndicate	Willie Mullins IRE
8	Elegant Escape (IRE)	8	11-02	162	J P Romans	Colin Tizzard
9	Top Ville Ben (IRE)	8	11-02	162	Harbour Rose Partnership	Philip Kirby
10	Beware The Bear (IRE)	10	11-00	160	G B Barlow	Nicky Henderson
11	Chris's Dream (IRE)	8	11-00	160	Robcour	Henry de Bromhead IRE
12	Alpha des Obeaux (FR)	10	10-13	159	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
13	Jett (IRE)	9	10-13	159	G M McGrath	Jessica Harrington IRE
14	Peregrine Run (IRE)	10	10-13	159	V Byrne	Peter Fahey IRE
15	Total Recall (IRE)	11	10-13	159	Slaneyville Syndicate	Willie Mullins IRE
16	Magic of Light (IRE)	9	10-12	158	Ann & Alan Potts Limited	Jessica Harrington IRE
17	The Storyteller (IRE)	9	10-12	158	Mrs Pat Sloan	Gordon Elliott IRE
18	Voix du Reve (FR)	8	10-12	158	Andrea & Graham Wylie	Willie Mullins IRE
19	Ballyoptic (IRE)	10	10-11	157	Mills & Mason Partnership	Nigel Twiston-Davies
20	Talkischeap (IRE)	8	10-11	157	Charles Dingwall	Alan King
21	Yala Enki (FR)	10	10-11	157	Hills of Ledbury Ltd	Paul Nicholls
22	Burrows Saint (FR)	7	10-10	156	Susannah Ricci	Willie Mullins IRE
23	Definitly Red (IRE)	11	10-10	156	Phil & Julie Martin	Brian Ellison
24	Ok Corral (IRE)	10	10-09	155	J P McManus	Nicky Henderson
25	Sub Lieutenant (IRE)	11	10-09	155	Gigginstown House Stud	Henry de Bromhead IRE
26	Tout Est Permis (FR)	7	10-09	155	Gigginstown House Stud	Noel Meade IRE
27	Crievehill (IRE)	8	10-08	154	Highclere T'Bred Racing- Crievehill	Nigel Twiston-Davies
28	Jury Duty (IRE)	9	10-08	154	Sideways Syndicate	Gordon Elliott IRE
29	Lake View Lad (IRE)	10	10-08	154	Trevor Hemmings	Nick Alexander
30	Vintage Clouds (IRE)	10	10-08	154	Trevor Hemmings	Sue Smith
31	Pleasant Company (IRE)	12	10-07	153	Malcolm Denmark	Willie Mullins IRE
32	Acapella Bourgeois (FR)	10	10-06	152	Slaneyville Syndicate	Willie Mullins IRE
33	Any Second Now (IRE)	8	10-06	152	J P McManus	Ted Walsh IRE
34	Champagne Classic (IRE)	9	10-06	152	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
35	Mister Whitaker (IRE)	8	10-06	152	Tim Radford	Mick Channon
36	Potters Corner (IRE)	10	10-06	152	All Stars Sports Racing & J Davies	Christian Williams
37	Shattered Love (IRE)	9	10-06	152	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
38	Death Duty (IRE)	9	10-05	151	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
39	Dounikos (FR)	9	10-05	151	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
40	Kildisart (IRE)	8	10-05	151	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Ben Pauling
41	Ramses de Teillee (FR)	8	10-05	151	John White & Anne Underhill	David Pipe
42	Acting Lass (IRE)	9	10-04	150	Nigel & Barbara Collison	Harry Fry
43	Double Shuffle (IRE)	10	10-04	150	Crossed Fingers Partnership	Tom George
44	Kimberlite Candy (IRE)	8	10-04	150	J P McManus	Tom Lacey
45	Saint Xavier (FR)	8	10-04	150	David Maxwell Racing Limited	Paul Nicholls
46	Valtor (FR)	11	10-04	150	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nicky Henderson
47	Walk In The Mill (FR)	10	10-04	150	Baroness Harding	Robert Walford
48	Warriors Tale	11	10-04	150	Trevor Hemmings	Paul Nicholls
49	Chef des Obeaux (FR)	8	10-03	149	Sullivan Bloodstock Limited	Willie Mullins IRE
50	Class Conti (FR)	8	10-03	149	P Joubert	Willie Mullins IRE
51	Traffic Fluide (FR)	10	10-03	149	Galloping On The South Downs	Gary Moore
52	One For Arthur (IRE)	11	10-02	148	Two Golf Widows	Lucinda Russell
53	Romain de Senam (FR)	8	10-02	148	Chris Giles & Dan Macdonald	Paul Nicholls
54	Snugsborough Benny (IRE)	10	10-02	148	R Loughnane	Liam Cusack IRE
55	Dallas des Pictons (FR)	7	10-01	147	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
56	Give Me A Copper (IRE)	10	10-01	147	Done, Ferguson, Mason, Nicholls & Wood	Paul Nicholls
57	Lord du Mesnil (FR)	7	10-01	147	Paul Porter	Richard Hobson
58	Now McGinty (IRE)	9	10-01	147	The Garratt Family	Stuart Edmunds
59	Poker Party (FR)	8	10-01	147	Robcour	Henry de Bromhead IRE
60	Steely Addition (IRE)	8	10-01	147	Step By Step	Philip Hobbs
61	Takingrisks (IRE)	11	10-01	147	Frank Bird	Nicky Richards
62	Borice (FR)	9	10-00	146	Simon Munir/Isaac Souede	Gordon Elliott IRE
63	Heron Heights (IRE)	11	10-00	146	Barry Maloney	Henry de Bromhead IRE
64	Hogan's Height (IRE)	9	10-00	146	Foxtrot Racing: Hogan's Height	Jamie Snowden
65	Regal Encore (IRE)	12	10-00	146	J P McManus	Anthony Honeyball
66	Activial (FR)	10	9-13	145	Roger Brookhouse	Tom George
67	Atlanta Ablaze	9	9-13	145	The Last Man Standing	Henry Daly
68	Cabaret Queen	8	9-13	145	SyndicatesRacing	Willie Mullins IRE
69	Dalko Moriviere (FR)	7	9-13	145	Ecurie Sagara	Jerome Larrigade FR
70	Dragon d'Estruval (FR)	7	9-13	145	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nicky Henderson
71	Le Breuil (FR)	8	9-13	145	Mrs Emma Palmer	Ben Pauling
72	Outlander (IRE)	12	9-13	145	GOWING'S ELEVEN	Richard Spencer
73	A Toi Phil (FR)	10	9-12	144	Teme Valley 2	Gary Moore
74	Cogry	11	9-12	144	Graham and Alison Jelley	Nigel Twiston-Davies
75	Dingo Dollar (IRE)	8	9-12	144	M Warren J Holmes R Kidner & J Wright	Alan King
76	Flying Angel (IRE)	9	9-12	144	R J Rexton	Nigel Twiston-Davies
77	The Hollow Ginge (IRE)	7	9-12	144	The Ginge Army	Nigel Twiston-Davies
78	The Young Master	11	9-12	144	Mike Burbidge & The Old Masters	Neil Mulholland
79	Mall Dini (IRE)	10	9-11	143	Philip J Reynolds	Patrick Kelly IRE
80	Monbeg Notorious (IRE)	9	9-11	143	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
81	As de Mee (FR)	10	9-10	142	The Stewart Family & Judi Dench	Paul Nicholls
82	Fitzhenry (IRE)	8	9-10	142	J P McManus	Paul Nolan IRE
83	Joe Farrell (IRE)	11	9-10	142	M Sherwood, N Morris & J Turner	Rebecca Curtis
84	Ravenhill (IRE)	10	9-10	142	Try Ravenhill Syndicate	Gordon Elliott IRE
85	Roaring Bull (IRE)	7	9-10	142	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
86	Townshend (GER)	9	9-10	142	J D Neild	Nigel Twiston-Davies
87	Vieux Lion Rouge (FR)	11	9-10	142	Prof Caroline Tisdall & John Gent	David Pipe
88	Ami Desbois (FR)	10	9-09	141	The Reserved Judgment Partnership	Graeme McPherson
89	Missed Approach (IRE)	10	9-09	141	Alan & Andrew Turner	Warren Greatrex
90	Moonshine Bay (IRE)	7	9-08	140	Ann & Alan Potts Limited	Jessica Harrington IRE
91	Noble Endeavor (IRE)	11	9-08	140	Chris Jones	Gordon Elliott IRE
92	Out Sam	11	9-08	140	D Charlesworth	Gordon Elliott IRE
93	Fingerontheswitch (IRE)	10	9-07	139	Cahill, Atwell & Crofts	Neil Mulholland
94	Singlefarmpayment	10	9-07	139	N T Griffith & H M Haddock	Tom George
95	Kilfilum Cross (IRE)	9	9-06	138	Andy Bell & Fergus Lyons	Henry Oliver
96	Soupy Soups (IRE)	9	9-06	138	Equi ex Incertis Partners	Neil Mulholland
97	General Principle (IRE)	11	9-05	137	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
98	Spider Web (IRE)	9	9-05	137	J P McManus	Tom Mullins IRE
99	Princeton Royale (IRE)	11	9-03	135	D Nott, P Beadles, R Clarke	Neil King
100	Scoir Mear (IRE)	10	8-12	130	J P McManus	Tom Mullins IRE
101	Rathlin Rose (IRE)	12	8-10	128	Fergus Wilson	David Pipe
102	Disco d'Authie (FR)	11	8-07	125	Mme Magalen Bryant	David Cottin FR
103	Prince of Scars (IRE)	10	8-07	125	Simon Munir/Isaac Souede	Gordon Elliott IRE

 

103 entries remain – Sizing John & Yorkhill (IRE) scratched

43 Irish-trained

2 French-trained

Breakdown of entries by trainer with past successes in the Randox Health Grand National

18 entries

Gordon Elliott IRE (2007 Silver Birch, 2018 & 2019 Tiger Roll)

Delta Work 11-10

Tiger Roll 11-10

Alpha des Obeaux 10-13

The Storyteller 10-12

Jury Duty 10-08

Champagne Classic 10-06

Shattered Love 10-06

Death Duty 10-05

Dounikos 10-05

Dallas des Pictons 10-01

Borice 10-00

Monbeg Notorious 9-11

Ravenhill 9-10

Roaring Bull 9-10

Noble Endeavor 9-08

Out Sam 9-08

General Principle 9-05

Prince of Scars 8-07

9 entries

Willie Mullins IRE (2005 Hedgehunter)

Cadmium 11-02

Total Recall 10-13

Voix du Reve 10-12

Burrows Saint 10-10

Pleasant Company 10-07

Acapella Bourgeois 10-06

Chef des Obeaux 10-03

Class Conti 10-03

Cabaret Queen 9-13

7 Entries

Nigel Twiston-Davies (1998 Earth Summit, 2002 Bindaree)

Bristol de Mai 11-08

Ballyoptic 10-11

Crievehill 10-08

Cogry 9-12

Flying Angel 9-12

The Hollow Ginge 9-12

Townshend 9-10

6 Entries

Paul Nicholls (2012 Neptune Collonges)

Yala Enki 10-11

Saint Xavier 10-04

Warriors Tale 10-04

Romain de Senam 10-02

Give Me A Copper 10-01

As de Mee 9-10

4 Entries

Henry de Bromhead IRE

Chris's Dream 11-00

Sub Lieutenant 10-09

Poker Party 10-01

Heron Heights 10-00

Nicky Henderson

Beware The Bear 11-00

Ok Corral 10-09

Valtor 10-04

Dragon d'Estruval 9-13

3 Entries

Tom George

Double Shuffle 10-04

Activial 9-13

Singlefarmpayment 9-07

Jessica Harrington IRE

Jett 10-13

Magic of Light 10-12

Moonshine Bay 9-08

Neil Mulholland

The Young Master 9-12

Fingerontheswitch 9-07

Soupy Soups 9-06

David Pipe (2008 Comply Or Die)

Ramses de Teillee 10-05

Vieux Lion Rouge 9-10

Rathlin Rose 8-10

2 Entries

Alan King

Talkischeap 10-11

Dingo Dollar 9-12

Gary Moore

Traffic Fluide 10-03

A Toi Phil 9-12

Tom Mullins IRE

Spider Web 9-05

Scoir Mear 8-12

Ben Pauling                    

Kildisart 10-05

Le Breuil 9-13

Colin Tizzard

Native River 11-06

Elegant Escape 11-02

1 Entry

Nick Alexander

Lake View Lad 10-08

Mick Channon

Mister Whitaker 10-06

David Cottin FR

Disco d'Authie 8-07

Rebecca Curtis

Joe Farrell 9-10

Liam Cusack IRE

Snugsborough Benny 10-02

Henry Daly

Atlanta Ablaze 9-13

Stuart Edmunds

Now McGinty 10-01

Brian Ellison

Definitly Red 10-10

Peter Fahey

Peregrine Run 10-13

Harry Fry        

Acting Lass 10-04

Warren Greatrex

Missed Approach 9-09

Philip Hobbs

Steely Addition 10-01

Richard Hobson

Lord du Mesnil 10-01

Anthony Honeyball 

Regal Encore 10-00

Patrick Kelly IRE

Mall Dini 9-11

Neil King

Princeton Royale 9-03

Philip Kirby

Top Ville Ben 11-02

Tom Lacey

Kimberlite Candy 10-04

Jerome Larrigade FR

Dalko Moriviere 9-13

Tony Martin IRE

Anibale Fly 11-02

Graeme McPherson

Ami Desbois 9-09

Noel Meade IRE

Tout Est Permis 10-09

Paul Nolan

Fitzhenry 9-10

Henry Oliver

Kilfilum Cross 9-06

Nicky Richards

Takingrisks 10-01

Lucinda Russell (2017 One For Arthur)

One For Arthur 10-02

Sue Smith (2013 Auroras Encore)

Vintage Clouds 10-08

Jamie Snowden

Hogan's Height 10-00

Richard Spencer

Outlander 9-13

Robert Walford

Walk In The Mill 10-04

Ted Walsh IRE (2000 Papillon)

Any Second Now 10-06

Venetia Williams (2009 Mon Mome)

Aso 11-02

Christian Williams

Potters Corner 10-06