Tiger Roll assigned top weight for the Grand National
The formidable Tiger Roll will have to overcome weight of 11 st. 10 lbs. (164 lbs.) if he is to record an unprecedented hat-trick of three consecutive wins in the Aintree Grand National. Tiger Roll’s owner, Gigginstown House Stud, has warned that the stable’s star chaser will not run if it believes the gelding has been unfairly treated in terms of weight. The 10-year-old Tiger Roll has been raised 11 lbs. in the official ratings but will be carrying just 5 pounds more than last year.
Once the dust has settled, it seems almost certain that Tiger Roll will run on April 4. He finally reappeared on track over hurdles at Navan in February, racing keenly until tiring in the closing stages to finish fifth. Yet trainer Gordon Elliott was delighted with that run, considering it to be a prep for the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham, which he will try to win for a third straight year. If all goes to plan, Tiger Roll will certainly start as the favorite in his quest to become the first horse in history to achieve a three-peat in the Country Chase. His 2019 win was by an easy 22 lengths.
Gigginstown House Stud also entered Delta Work in the Grand National, who it believes has a realistic chance to win the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 13. Delta Work has been allotted the same weight as Tiger Roll.
Magic Of Light up 7 lbs. from last year
2019 Grand National runner-up Magic Of Light and fourth-placed Walk In The Mill have been raised 7 lbs. and 6 lbs., respectively, for the 2020 race.
Magic Of Light, a 9-year-old mare, made a costly mistake at the final fence in the 2019 Grand National, so she has a shot at turning the tables on Tiger Roll. The last mare to win the race was Nickel Coin way back in 1951. Magic of Light has already won at Newbury and Ascot this year.
A recent run over hurdles has kept Robert Walford’s Walk in the Mill on track for Aintree. Walk in the Mill’s prospects were covered in late January by HorseRacingBusiness.com. A recent run over hurdles has kept the gelding on schedule for Aintree.
Multiple factors go into finding the ideal bet for the Grand National. To assist in handicapping the race, the Grand National Guide provides extensive analysis and betting trends as well as best bets. Last year, the Guide forecast two placed horses from four headline selections and the experts will once again be doing their homework to predict the 2020 Grand National winner.
Burrows Saint a strong tip from Ireland
Stamina is certainly a key factor in finding the Grand National winner and there is no better trial than the Irish Grand National. Willie Mullins sent out Burrows Saint to win the race last year and a repeat has been his target ever since. The horse is now 12 lbs. higher but is only seven years of age so could still be improving. Mullins’ entries finished 1-2-3 in the 2019 Irish Grand National.
Another to watch is Potters Corner, who stayed on to win the Welsh Grand National in heavy ground in December. Trainer Christian Williams believes his horse can be effective on faster ground but the more rain the better for his supporters. Williams rode Royal Auclair to finish second in the 2005 Grand National so a victory as a trainer would be a significant addition to his resume.
Grand National betting is hugely popular in the United Kingdom and bookmakers will be offering special enhanced terms for the big race. These can include each-way betting down to sixth or even seventh place. If a bettor places an ante-post wager on the Grand National, he or she should make sure that the bookmaker is offering the “Non-Runner/No Bet” guarantee. This ensures that if the horse wagered on is withdrawn for any reason, the bettor will be reimbursed.
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