Elliott plays the numbers game in Grand National assault

Headed by last year’s winner Tiger Roll, Elliott will eclipse the previous record for the number of runners in the race from one trainer which was held by his mentor Martin Pipe who fielded 10 horses in the 2001 running of the race. In theory he could have almost a third of the field, and his main patron Gigginstown House Stud with 9 runners will make up almost a quarter. It is an astonishing assault on the race and has been questioned in some quarters with the suggestion that the amount of runners per trainer and even owner should be limited but, as the rules currently stand everything is legitimate. and as all are entitled to run then the Irish trainer will roll the dice and let the fates decide the result.

As it currently stands Tiger Roll the current 9-2 favourite could also break another record by going off the shortest priced horse in a 100 years as he bids to win back to back Nationals, the only horse to do this since the legendary Red Rum managed the feat in 1973 and 1974. Interestingly “Rummy” never went off shorter than 9-1 for any of his 3 triumphs, an indication of the confidence behind the 4 times Cheltenham festival winner.

The Elliott team in full: 

Tiger Roll (Davy Russell)
Outlander (Keith Donoghue)
Don Poli (Patrick Mullins)
Mala Beach (Jamie Codd)
Dounikos (Jack Kennedy)
A Toi Phil (Denis O'Regan)
Jury Duty (Robbie Power)
Noble Endeavor (Mark Enright)
Monbeg Notorious (Sean Bowen)
Blow By Blow (Andrew Ring)
General Principle ( J J Slevin)
Folsom Blue (Luke Dempsey) 
Bless The Wings (Robbie Dunne)