Tiger Roll tops 89 contenders still on course for Randox Health Grand National

Published 2020/02/26

The 2020 edition of the world's greatest and most valuable chase takes place at Aintree on Saturday, 4 April, the third and final day of the Randox Health Grand National Festival.

Tiger Roll (11st 10lb) is the 11/2 favourite with Betway, official betting partner of the Randox Health Grand National Festival, as he continues his quest for an unprecedented third consecutive Randox Health Grand National victory.

The 10-year-old made a promising reappearance in the G2 Boyne Hurdle at Navan on 16 February, finishing fifth, and is due to line up next in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on 11 March. Tiger Roll won the Cheltenham contest in both 2018 and 2019 before going on to Randox Health Grand National success.

Tiger Roll Tiger Roll's trainer Gordon Elliott accounts for 15 remaining entries in total, the most of any handler, with Alpha des Obeaux (10st 13lb) and Galway Plate victor Borice (10st) also among his team. A formidable Irish challenge is also set to feature Irish Grand National hero Burrows Saint (10st 10lb), one of seven contenders for Willie Mullins, and recent Naas G3 scorer Any Second Now (Ted Walsh, 10st 6lb).

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Any Second Now

Last year's Randox Health Grand National second Magic Of Light (10st 12lb), trained by Jessica Harrington, posted a rare below part effort when last in the Boyne Hurdle. That came on the back of easy victories against her own sex in a Listed chase at Newbury in December and a G2 hurdle at Ascot in January.

Magic Of Light, who is bidding to become the first mare to win Aintree spectacular since Nickel Coin in 1951, could be joined stable companion Jett (10st 13lb).

He has backed up his victory in a G3 chase at Punchestown in October with a series of good efforts, most recently when fourth in the G1 Irish Gold Cup on 2 February.

Harrington said:

"Magic Of Light is in good form. She wasn't as slick at her hurdles in Navan, but I think the ground was just too heavy for her.

"The Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham was an option, but the race looks very competitive - she would have been taking on two talented mares in Benie des Dieux and Honeysuckle if they run. With that in mind, she will go straight to Aintree.

"She has a nice weight for Aintree and we are looking forward to taking her back there.

"Jett is our other contender for the Grand National and the plan would be to run him, provided the ground is suitable.

"He prefers better ground to testing conditions, but he has run some fine races in defeat this season.

"I have been delighted with him and think there is plenty more to come from him.

"He stays very well and is a good jumper and has plenty of tactical speed."

The leading British-trained hopes, according to the betting, are last year's fourth Walk In The Mill (Robert Walford) and Kimberlite Candy (Tom Lacey), who are both set to carry 10st 4lb.

Walk In The Mill landed the G3 Randox Health Becher Handicap Chase over the Grand National course for the second successive year in December, while Kimberlite Candy, runner-up in the Becher, impressed when taking the G3 Classic Handicap Chase at Warwick in January.

Dual Grand National-winning trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies has seven remaining entries to choose from, with his team headed by multiple G1 victor Bristol de Mai (11st 8lb) and Ballyoptic (10st 11lb), who looked as good as ever when landing a Listed handicap chase at Ascot on 15 February.

There is will be more Aintree pointers this weekend with the likes of Definitly Red (Brian Ellison, 10st 10lb), Beware The Bear (Nicky Henderson, 11st), Now McGinty (Stuart Edmunds, 10st 1lb) and Le Breuil (Ben Pauling, 9st 13lb) set to contest either Kelso's Listed Premier Chase or Doncaster's Grimthorpe Handicap Chase. Other leading contenders going forward include Welsh Grand National victor Potters Corner (Christian Williams, 10st 6lb) and wide margin G3 Bobbyjo Chase scorer Acapella Bourgeois (Willie Mullins IRE, 10st 6lb).

Dalko Moriviere (Jerome Larrigade FR, 9st 13lb), one of two French-trained entries, remains engaged. A maximum of 40 runners can line up for the 2020 Randox Health Grand National, with the next scratchings stage on Tuesday, 17 March.

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

11/2 Tiger Roll

10/1 Any Second Now

11/1 Burrows Saint

16/1 Kimberlite Candy, Magic of Light, Walk In The Mill

18/1 Le Breuil

20/1 Acapella Bourgeois, Definitly Red

22/1 Potters Corner

25/1 Anibale Fly, Ballyoptic, One For Arthur, Ramses de Teillee, Total Recall, Yala Enki

33/1 Alpha des Obeaux, Beware The Bear, Bristol de Mai, Dingo Dollar, Elegant Escape, Give Me A Copper, Hogan's Height, Ok Corral, Pleasant Company, Talkischeap, Traffic Fluide, Vintage Clouds

40/1 Atlanta Ablaze, Borice, Chef des Obeaux, Fitzhenry, Kildisart, Lake View Lad, Lord du Mesnil, Mall Dini, Takingrisks, The Storyteller, Top Ville Ben, Valtor

50/1 A Toi Phil, Class Conti, Cogry, Dragon d'Estruval, Fingerontheswitch, Jury Duty, Poker Party, Ravenhill, Regal Encore, Roaring Bull, Snugsborough Benny, Sub Lieutenant, The Hollow Ginge, Vieux Lion Rouge

66/1 Activial, Aso, Cabaret Queen, Dalko Moriviere, Dallas des Pictons, Death Duty, Dounikos, General Principle, Joe Farrell, Moonshine Bay, Now McGinty, Peregrine Run, Prince of Scars, Saint Xavier, Shattered Love, Spider Web, The Young Master, Tout Est Permis, Townshend, Warriors Tale

80/1 Crievehill, Jett, Monbeg Notorious, Out Sam, Romain de Senam

100/1 Ami Desbois, Disco d'Authie, Double Shuffle, Flying Angel, Kilfilum Cross, Scoir Mear, Singlefarmpayment, Soupy Soups

150/1 Outlander, Rathlin Rose