It is reasonable for Tiger Roll’s owners to expect a reduction in their horse’s rating for Aintree but 8lb may be asking too much
Tiger Roll’s chance of winning a third Grand National hangs in the balance and will do so until the weights are unveiled for the famous race at a ceremony in
Liverpool 12 days from now. I’m very much afraid that his owners are not going to be given everything they want by the official handicapper and there is therefore the distinct possibility that the horse may be withdrawn before the race itself in early April.
Eddie O’Leary, who runs the ownership operation on behalf of his brother, Michael, made it clear in quotes reported by the Racing Post this morning that the setting of the Grand National weights will determine whether Tiger Roll lines up, having won the race for the past two years. “I have a figure in my head but I’m not going to mention it,” O’Leary said. “If he hits that figure, he runs, and if he doesn’t he won’t be running.”