Grand National: Tiger Roll given 'nice' weight for Aintree race

Tiger Roll could be aimed at a record-equalling third Grand National win at Aintree in April after the weights were announced for the race.

The 2018 and 2019 victor has been allocated 11st 4lb, the same as last year's winner Minella Times and 6lb below top weights Conflated and Galvin.

Tiger Roll is set to bid for a sixth Cheltenham Festival win next month.

«He has a nice weight so the Grand National could be on the agenda,» said trainer Gordon Elliott.

Tiger Roll, owned by Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud, was only the second horse after Red Rum to secure back-to-back Grand National wins.

There was no race in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and Tiger Roll was pulled out from last year's contest in March because of what the owners called «an unfair weight» of 11st 9lb.

He won carrying 10st 13lb in 2018 and 11st 5lb a year later.

The decision to withdraw came after a photo appeared on social media of Elliott sitting on a dead horse, for which he was given a six-month ban.

Elliott is aiming 12-year-old Tiger Roll at the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival before a decision on Aintree is made.

«There is still a more in him and we are certainly not finished yet,» said Elliott, whose other entries include Conflated and Galvin.

The National is a handicap chase where weights are allocated according to each runner's rating.

There are 104 entries at this stage for the 174th running of the race on 9 April, although a maximum of 40 will line up on the day.

Former Welsh National winners Potters Corner and Secret Reprieve are listed at 86 and 87, so are highly unlikely to run.

Last year's Midlands Grand National winner Time To Get Up, trained by Jonjo O'Neill, is out after failing to run in enough races over fences to