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Tiger Roll must shoulder a joint-top weight of 11st 10lb if he is to record a record-equalling third victory in the   Randox Health Grand National at Aintree on 4 April. 

The mighty Red Rum is the only horse to have previously achieved three wins in the world’s most famous steeplechase, but his record came in non-consecutive years (1973, 1974 and 1977). 

Tiger Roll, who had won the last two renewals of the National, will race off a handicap mark which no previous winner of the race has managed to score off, while connections have expressed their disappointment that the British handicapper has compressed his weight by just 1lb. 

The weights for the Randox Health Grand National are out. Tiger Roll and Delta Work head the handicap: pic.twitter.com/qmlwFQ2fsb

— PA Racing (@PAracing) February 11, 2020

Stablemate Delta Work has also been allotted the welter burden of 11st 10lb by the BHA’s Martin Greenwood after his Irish Gold Cup heroics earlier this month at Leopardstown.   

Both horses are owned by Ryanair supremo Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud. The operation’s racing manager Eddie O’Leary has called into to doubt Tiger Roll’s participation in the race due to the mark he must run off, rating the chances of his participation as “50-50”.  

O’Leary told Sky Sports Racing: “This horse loves the discipline – any horse competing around Aintree loves the discipline, they wouldn’t be there otherwise. These horses come alive at Aintree over the fences, they absolutely love the discipline. It’s not a welfare issue – he was always going to carry 11st 10lb, we understand that, but it’s how he’s compressed in regards to other horses.

“Native River – a Gold Cup winner – hacked up last Saturday. He’s been compressed 2lb and we have to give him 4lb. I see something very unfair there.

“The handicapper has his job to do and he’s done it. We wanted more (compression in the handicap). The decision is now in our hands whether we run or not. Tiger is invaluable to us and we have to look after him.

“He was definitely going to be entered in the Betway Bowl and probably the Punchestown Gold Cup. Hopefully he comes through the Navan test, he’s coming back after a setback – he won’t win, obviously, but if just pulls up with a smile on his face that will do us and then go on to Cheltenham and hopefully show us more there.

“Then we’ll decide, but at the moment it’s 50-50. The Betway Bowl is definitely coming into calculations now.”

Racing fans’ fears over Tiger Roll’s non-participation in the race might be allayed by the face that the Gigginstown House racing manager’s jousting with the British handicapper has become an Aintree tradition in and of itself.

A four-time winner at the Cheltenham Festival, Tiger Roll had a setback earlier in the season and is due to return in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan this weekend.

Ever wondered how the #GrandNational weights are decided? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/yNWn9aT4Qc

— Aintree Racecourse (@AintreeRaces) February 11, 2020

Elliott was far more accepting of Tiger Roll’s rating.

He said: “A blind man would know he’s going to carry 11st 10lb. We were obviously hoping for a pound or two less, but Martin (Greenwood, BHA chase handicapper) and his team have a job to do.

“We’re 4lb worse off with Magic Of Light, who was second in the race last year, so it’s probably fair play – I’ll not be giving out.

“Everyone has got their own opinion. If it’s left to me, he’ll run. He’s a household name and it’s the most famous race in the world.

“The plan is to run at the weekend and we’ll work back from there. Before Aintree he’s hopefully going to have the chance to win at five Cheltenham Festivals. He’s the horse of a lifetime, so if we can get him back to Cheltenham I’ll be happy.”

“I’ve got no bones with it” 🤷🏻‍♂️@gelliott_racing reacts to Tiger Roll carrying top weight on 4 April.#GrandNational pic.twitter.com/joubuYk3Dc

— Aintree Racecourse (@AintreeRaces) February 11, 2020

Tiger Roll trades at between 13-2 and 5-1 for the Grand National with traditional bookmakers, but is available to back at just over 7-1 with the Betfair betting exchange. 

The dual winner and Delta Work are just two of 18 Elliott-trained entries for the Grand National.

Considering his running plans, the Cullentra handler added: “I’d say Delta Work would be an unlikely runner – he’ll be aimed at the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

“I’d be looking forward to running Alpha Des Obeaux (10st 13lb), The Storyteller (10st 12lb) has a nice weight and Jury Duty (10st 8lb) could run well if he got some dry ground.

“There’s Borice (10st) and Champagne Classic (10st 6lb) and Dounikos (10st 5lb). We have numerous other horses in the race and I think we’ll run about half a dozen, but Tiger is the main one.”

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 – Colin Tizzard’s 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Native River (11st 6lb) and the JP McManus-owned Anibale Fly (11st 2lb), fourth in 2018 and fifth in 2019 for trainer Tony Martin.

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) has been handed 10st 12lb as she bids to become the first mare to win the race since Nickel Coin in 1951.

Walk In The Mill (10st 4lb) fared best of the British-trained runners when fourth 12 months ago. Robert Walford’s stable star is also a dual winner of the Becher Chase over the famous fences.

Lucinda Russell’s One For Arthur (10st 2lb) claimed National glory for Scotland off a mark of 148 in 2017 and will return to run off the same rating.

Other leading contenders include the Christian Williams-trained Welsh Grand National victor Potters Corner (10st 6lb), Tom Lacey’s Classic Chase hero Kimberlite Candy (10st 4lb) and Sky Bet Chase winner Ok Corral (10st 9lb), who could bid to prove Nicky Henderson with his first National success.

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