Three in-a-row bid still on for Tiger Roll

Trainer Gordon Elliott is already planning for a three-in-a-row Aintree Grand National bid with Tiger Roll at the 2021 race after it was confirmed yesterday that next month's 2020 race would not take place.

Red Rum won three in the 1970s with the third achieved as a 12-year-old in 1977 and Elliott confirmed that the now 10-year-old Tiger Roll will stay in training to target the race in 2021.

“There is every chance of Tiger Roll competing, he hasn’t got that many miles on the clock and we will be training him for the Grand National again," stated the Summerhill man.

“He’s in good form and he was all set for the National, but unfortunately we’re only one of 40 horses — and so we’ve just got to keep going," he added.

And Elliott got a quick St Patrick's Day boost with winners today at Down Royal and Wexford. 

Elliott saddled the first two home in the Racing TV Chase at Down Royal as Monbeg Notorious and Jury Duty were first and second past the post.

Denis O’Regan partnered the winner while Sean Flanagan, who returned to action from injury last week, was on board Jury Duty (6/5 favourite) with a former Elliott-trained horse, Ned Stark, finishing a close third.

Ned Stark, formerly owned by Navan businessman Noel Moran, was having a first run for Banbridge trainer Sarah Dawson who purchased the 12-year-old for £4,000 at the Ascot December Sale last year. 

"He jumped great and Denis (O'Regan) gave him a good ride and dictated from the front," said Elliott who was also on the mark at Wexford winning a five-runner handicap hurdle with the Cheveley Park Stud-owned Zambezi Fix.