TIGER Roll may be a short-priced favourite, but I think he full deserves to be.
He really has developed into a legend of a horse, and the sheer versatility of his CV is pretty jaw-dropping.
He may not be the biggest but to have won a Triumph Hurdle, a National Hunt Chase and the Cross-Country twice at the Festival is something else, but add in his win in this race last year and you have to say he is a phenomenal talent.
He is 9lb higher than for his narrow defeat of Pleasant Company last April and carrying 11st 5lb round here in soft ground could be a tough task for a horse of his stature, but he continues to deliver and he has looked better than ever this season.
How many National winners would win a Grade 2 hurdle over 2m5f the way he did at Navan in February?
None that I can think of.
It could well be a re-run of last year’s race as I think Pleasant Company has solid claims once again, while Joe Farrell could prove very dangerous having snuck in at the bottom of the weights.
The ground may not be ideal for him, but he has won on soft and the Scottish National winner will stay and has relatively few miles on the clock for a 10yo.
Ramses De Teillee will love the ground, has Welsh National form, and I think he will stay all right. He could well defy the stats and run a huge race as just a 7yo.
Singlefarmpayment is a horse close to my heart and if ever a horse has deserved a big prize it is him. I know Tom has always thought he was an ideal type for this race, but he could have done without the rain.
That comment could also apply to Go Conquer but I can see really see him taking to these fences, while Walk In The Mill won the Becher in soft ground here in December and should run a solid race. In fact, he would be my third choice.
But it’s Tiger Roll for me to create his own little piece of history with back-to-back wins.
AS UNIBET ARE PAYING SEVEN PLACES ON THE GRAND NATIONAL, HERE'S MY IDEA OF THE FIRST SEVEN HOME:
1.Tiger Roll, 2. Pleasant Company, 3. Walk In The Mill, 4. Ramses De Teillee, 5. Joe Farrell, 6. Singlefarmpayment, 7. Go Conquer
