The Tiger or the Fly?
Two Meath-trained horses could fight out the finish of the most famous race in the world on Saturday - the 172nd Aintree Grand National where Tiger Roll will bid to emulate the two-in-a-row achieved by the Irish bred Red Rum in 1974.
Kildalkey man Tony Martin and Summerhill man Gordon Elliott could be the men to follow in Saturday's showpiece where some 40 runners will race away from the start at 5.15pm.
Last year's winner Tiger Roll, one of 13 Elliott-trained runners, is set to go off as one of the shortest-priced favourites in recent years to win the big race.
“I couldn’t be happier with them and I’m looking forward to running them all and hopefully we’ll get a bit of luck, they are in good order and obviously our main chance is with Tiger Roll again,” stated the Summerhill man.
There is also a Meath link to the shortest-priced winner of the famous race - Golden Miller was 2/1 when winning in 1935 - was bred by jockey Barry Geraghty's grandfather, Laurence, in Pelletstown, Drumree.
Heading the handicap is the Martin-trained Anibale Fly, which was fourth to Tiger Roll last year and finished second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month to the Willie Mullins-trained Al Boum Photo.
TRAINER TONY MARTIN
The Elliott-trained Tiger Roll (11st 5lb) will have Davy Russell on board once more for the £1-million contest, run at 5.15pm on Saturday at Aintree Racecourse.
Elliott has 13 runners and last year won the big race for the second time in his career after landing the spoils with the Robbie Power-partnered Silver Birch in 2007
Tiger Roll is now bidding to become the first horse since Red Rum (1973, 1974 and 1977) to win multiple renewals of the four and a quarter-mile handicap chase.
Tiger heads the betting at 4/1 with Betway, official betting partner of the Randox Health Grand National Festival.
The Tiger, with Dunshaughlin man Keith Donoghue on board, enjoyed a fourth victory at the Cheltenham Festival last month with a second success in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. Donoghue will also be on duty for Elliott on Saturday and will partner Outlander.
Pleasant Company failed by a head to claw back Tiger Roll last year and is among six remaining in the race from the Mullins stable along with
Rathvinden, Pairofbrowneyes, Up For Review, Livelovelaugh and Isleofhopendreams.
Barry Geraghty will be on board Anibale Fly.
Gordon Elliott has finalised his jockeys as follows:
Tiger Roll (Davy Russell),
Outlander (Keith Donoghue),
Don Poli (Patrick Mullins),
Mala Beach (Jamie Codd),
Dounikos (Jack Kennedy),
A Toi Phil (Denis O'Regan),
Noble Endeavor (Mark Enright),
Monbeg Notorious (Sean Bowen),
Blow By Blow (Andrew Ring),
General Principle (JJ Slevin),
Jury Duty (Robbie Power),
Folsom Blue (Luke Dempsey),
Bless The Wings (Robbie Dunne).