Tiger Roll out of Grand National due to ‘unfair weight’ amid Elliott controversy
Tiger Roll has been pulled out of the Grand National due to an “unfair weight” complaint – the same week as trainer Gordon Elliott has come under fire for a photo sitting on a dead horse.
The Gigginstown horse, owned by Michael O’Leary, was preparing to try and win the Aintree race for a historic third time.
But the thoroughbred’s perceived weight carry was put seven pounds higher by the Handicapper when the caps were unveiled last month – despite being 11 years old.
And this was deemed by the Irish stud as “unfair and unwarranted”, removing Tiger Roll from the race.
It comes just as Tiger Roll’s trainer Elliott has been forced to apologise after a photo of him sitting on a dead horse went viral.
The 42-year-old is under investigation by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board and has now lost an association with Betfair.
He trained the horse for the first Grand National win in 2018, beating Pleasant Company by just a head and carrying 10st 13lb.
And Tiger Roll won again at Aintree, with eight pounds more and cruising to a 2 3/4 length win.
Both O’Leary and Elliott has previously threatened to pull the horse out of the race previously if “not treated fairly” – and have kept to their word.
A statement from the Gigginstown reads: “We believe this is patently unfair, unjustified and does not reflect the horse’s age or his form over the past two seasons.
“We made it clear that it Tiger Roll was rated ‘in the 150’s’ [i.e. where he was two years agio] which is what his form and age now warrants, he would be allowed to run this year’s National and go for a historic ‘three in a row’.
Top trending sport stories right now
“However, the Handicapper has decided to rate him on his reputation rather than his form – which we fully accept is his prerogative – but we have a cut of care to Tiger, and so we will not ask him to carry an unfair weight burden especially as he gets old and his form declines.
“We hope he will run next as planned in the Cross Country race at Cheltenham, where we hope he will enjoy himself and run well.
“After that, we will consider his future wellbeing, which may involve retirement if his handicap mark is not adjusted to more fairly reflect his age and form over the past two seasons.
“We fully respect the Handicapper’s right to determine the Grand National weights as he so chooses, but we respectfully believe that he is mistaken in allocating an unfair and unwarranted weight to Tiger Roll.”
READ MORE:Horse racing trainer Gordon Elliott under investigation over 'dead horse' photo
READ MORE:Disgraced jockey Rob James sorry for stupidity jumping on dead horse in video
Source: Read Full Article