Tiger could be ready to Roll for Grand National treble tilt

Having won the race in 2018 and, a year later, backed it up for the first time since Red Rum did so in 1974, he was denied an attempt on completing a hat-trick when the Covid-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 renewal.

Last year, his owners Gigginstown Stud opted not to run their superstar. Having just won the cross-country chase at Cheltenham for a third time, they stuck to the argument made after the Grand National weights were published, saying that he had been allotted too much weight. Instead, they ran him in the Grade 1 Betway Bowl, where he was fourth to Clan Des Obeaux.

Now 12, Tiger Roll has been well beaten on both his starts this season.

Among Elliott's other possibles are Galvin, winner of the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last year and successful in the Grade One Savills Chase in December, and Samcro.

Last year's winner, the Henry de Bromhead-trained Minella Times, could try to repeat the feat that saw Rachael Blackmore become the first female rider to take the world's most famous steeplechase.

Any Second Now, trained by Ted Walsh, is another leading fancy having finished third in 2021.

The horses who finished fourth to eighth respectively - Burrows Saint, Farclas, Blaklion, Discorama and Jett - could also try again.

The Jonjo O'Neill-trained Cloth Cap, who was pulled up last April when sent off favourite, is on the list once more. Among others of note are the O'Neill-trained Easysland, Warwick Classic Chase victor Eclair Surf, Irish Grand National scorer Freewheelin Dylan, Scottish National winner Mighty Thunder and Becher Chase heroine Snow Leopardess.

The first two home in the Ladbrokes Trophy, Cloudy Glen and Fiddlerontheroof, are in the mix as is Windsor Avenue, who landed the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster on Saturday.

Welsh National victor Iwilldoit and Castlebawn West, winner of the 2020 Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown, were both prominent in the market but have not been entered.

Charlie Longsdon is looking to get Snow Leopardess back on the track in the next few weeks ahead of a possible trip to Aintree.

The Chipping Norton handler wants rain to ease the ground before committing the 10-year-old mare one of three options.

Firstly, she is in the Virgin Masters Handicap Chase at Sandown on Saturday, with the Virgin Bet Mares' Chase at Exeter on February 13 and the William Hill Grand National Trial at Haydock on February 19 other possible engagements. Longsdon's slight preference is the Exeter contest over three miles.

"It needs to be slower ground (for Sandown). If she doesn't do that, there's a Listed mares' chase at Exeter the weekend after," he said.

"She could go there or if the ground doesn't slow down a bit between now and then, she'd have to wait. She has an entry in the Grand National Trial at Haydock the week after that, but I'd like to go either this weekend or, slightly preferably, to Exeter the following weekend.

"She's great form, absolutely fantastic form. She has an entry in the Grand National and then we'll see what happens."