Both the Cheltenham festival and Grand National are getting ever nearer as connections put the final preparations in place for their horses. The National as ever looks to have a very open look to it, with a large number of horses appearing to have a realistic chance. Here we cover the credentials of the three horses at the top of the market.
Credit: Horse Racing Ireland (@GoRacing on Twitter)
Tiger Roll
The Gordon Elliott trained nine year old heads the betting at a best priced 12/1, as he looks to defend his national crown. He put in a very impressive performance last season to win the race, so must have a strong chance in doing so again, off a 9lb higher mark. Tiger Roll has won 10 of his 33 starts under rules, that includes three Cheltenham festival victories. He is plotting the same path as last season, as he goes to Cheltenham for the Cross Country chase, in which he will start as one of the shortest priced horses of the week. Following this it will be the national as he looks to emulate Red Rum in becoming the first horse to defend their crown since back in 1974.
TIGER ROLL WINS THE #GRANDNATIONAL!
A tiger with the heart of a lion! pic.twitter.com/HTRpVLFAJz— ITV (@ITV) April 14, 2018
Rathvinden
Second in the betting and a horse who has come in for a lot of support recently is the Willie Mullins trained Rathvinden. He is a best priced 14/1 for the race following his eye catching return in the Bobbyjo chase. He is another horse who has appeared to have returned better than ever, having also landed last season’s National hunt chase at the Cheltenham festival. He looks to have got in off a nice weight of 10 stone 10lb, from a mark of 154, so rates a solid upcoming contender for the race.
The #CheltenhamFestival race replay of the day is #Rathvinden in the National Hunt Chase. 🙌
On day 1️⃣ of last years festival Patrick Mullins steered #Rathvinden to an exciting victory for his father @WillieMullinsNH. 🏇💪#InTheGreenCorner 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/pj65pwaAcs
— Horse Racing Ireland (@GoRacing) February 25, 2019
Elegant Escape
The final horse who can be supported at a best priced 20/1 in places, is the Colin Tizzard trained seven year old, Elegant Escape. He ran third in the RSA chase last season, but has continued to improve and will now be heading to the Gold Cup at the festival. He is a very talented young staying chaser, that also saw him land the Welsh Grand National earlier since season. He landed a big gamble in the process and also posted an RPR of 164. He recently ran second to Frodon in the Cotswold chase at Cheltenham, when again flying at the finish, proving stamina is his forte. He has now won six of his 17 starts under rules and will be running off a weight of 11 stone 4lb, due to a BHA rating of 162.
