Grand National 2019: your ultimate guide to the world's most famous race

Roll up, roll up, for the greatest race on earth and the question burning bright: can anyone tame the Tiger?

No horse since Red Rum has won back-to-back Grand Nationals but no horse since then has been quite like Tiger Roll.

If races were run on faith alone, then Tiger Roll would be past the post already, such is the confidence with which he has been supported this spring.

In 1974 Red Rum was 11-1 to follow up his epic win over Crisp, but punters will be lucky to get half that price about Tiger Roll, who has been as short as 7-2 in the build-up to this year’s Randox Health-backed contest.

Bookmakers have even voiced fears that the remarkable nine-year-old could become the shortest-priced National winner in history, eclipsing 11-4 shot Poethlyn, who won in 1919.

Like Red Rum, who was trained on the beach at Southport by Ginger McCain, there is something of the underdog about Tiger Roll, despite the colours of the well-heeled Gigginstown House Stud that will be worn by Davy Russell. Small in size but not in spirit, it is hard not to have fallen for the star of Gordon Elliott’s yard.

A winner off 10st 13lb last year, when beating Pleasant Company by a head, Tiger Roll has 11st 5lb to shoulder this time. Since Red Rum’s third National victory in 1977 only four horses, Grittar, Don’t Push It, Neptune Collonges and Many Clouds have carried at least that much to victory.

The late great Many Clouds could not win the National the following year, underlining the scale of Tiger Roll’s task in seeking to emulate Red Rum.

But he looked better than ever in a thumping defeat of Josies Orders in the cross-country chase last month, his fourth success at the Cheltenham Festival and, now nine – the age of five National winners this century – he might well prove to be.

Tiger Roll: cemented his status as a Cheltenham legend with a fourth festival win after landing back-to-back Cross Country Chases under Keith DonoghueCredit: Patrick McCann

One of those Cheltenham wins came in the National Hunt Chase, a race that offers a big pointer to future Grand National players.

Tiger Roll’s success came a year before landing the National and that is the path Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh are hoping to tread with 2018 winner Rathvinden, whose only outing this season has been an easy success in the Bobbyjo Chase in Fairyhouse at February.

Rathvinden is one of four chances for Mullins, successful in 2005 with Hedgehunter, who carried the famous green and yellow quarters of Trevor Hemmings.

Ballabriggs and Many Clouds have won since for Hemmings, who has three shots at becoming the most successful owner in the history of the race with Vintage Clouds and Lake View Lad, second and third in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, and Warriors Tale.

Each has a different coloured cap, although allotting them must have been easy compared with Gigginstown House Stud, who had to sort out seven.

Tiger Roll, one of a record-breaking 11 runners for Elliott, has the maroon-and-white headwear denoting first colours, but the other one to pay special attention to is Monbeg Notorious.

He has the blue cap, which Gigginstown racing manager Eddie O’Leary thinks is lucky and was on the head of David Mullins when he won the National on Rule The World three years ago.

Back for more

Tiger Roll is not the only Grand National winner in the line-up. One For Arthur returns for another crack at the race he won by four and a half lengths from Cause Of Causes in 2017 for trainer Lucinda Russell and rider Derek Fox.

Unlike Tiger Roll, things have not gone so smoothly since his victory. One For Arthur missed the race last year and has unseated on his two starts this season.

It will be the first match-up between two National winners in the race since Mon Mome and Ballabriggs seven years ago.

How good was that?: One For Arthur talks Lucinda Russell through his Grand National exploitsCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The name game

No outright favourite has landed the Grand National since Comply Or Die in 2008 and since then there have been winners at 100-1 and 66-1, and two each at 33-1 and 25-1.

So just picking a name could be the answer and in this Brexit mess there are plenty to choose from.

Step Back and Up For Review will tempt Remainers and, while Exitas failed to make the final cut, Brexiteers might still like the sound of Go Conquer.

But after three years of Brexit chaos no winner would be more apt than Blow By Blow.

152 not out

Plenty of the 40 runners will get a first taste of Becher’s Brook, the Canal Turn, Valentine's and the Chair, but not Vieux Lion Rouge, who has his seventh run over the National fences.

He has tackled the Grand National and shorter Becher Chase three times each and successfully jumped all 152 fences.

Vieux Lion Rouge (nearest) lands the Becher Chase over the Grand National fencesCredit: John Grossick

The ten-year-old, trained by David Pipe, has covered more than 22 miles around the National course, finishing seventh, sixth and ninth in his three goes at the big one.

Tom Scudamore had the chance to ride more fancied stablemate Ramses De Teillee but opted to stick with his old pal.

Punters should take early price

On a day when the nation goes betting barmy, punters are advised to take a price when wagering on the National, rather than rely on SP, with the table below underlining how the pick of the prices in the morning beats SP.

The figures relate to bookmakers’ profit margins – the higher they are, the better for bookmakers. If a best-priced percentage ever dips below 100, it would theoretically be possible to back every runner and still make a profit. So the closer to 100, the better for punters.

Get On Early
How the National value deteriorates through the course of the day

Year Morning % / SP %
2018 125 / 153**
2017 110 / 154
2016 108 / 149*
2015 112 / 165*
2014 108 / 151
2013 114 / 148
2012 114 / 152
2011 123 / 155
2010 119 / 155
2009 115 / 146

*39 runners
**38 runners

Apple's a treat

Three years ago Apple’s Jade announced her brilliance with a 41-length defeat of Triumph Hurdle winner Ivanovich Gorbatov.

She's not been back to Aintree since then but now gets the chance to remind the place just how good she is in the Ryanair Stayers Hurdle.

Apple's Jade: the 10-time Grade 1 winner will start back in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan on SundayCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Apple’s Jade was not herself when running nothing like a favourite should in the Champion Hurdle and looked likely to be kept for Punchestown.

She's been pleasing trainer Gordon Elliott, however, and her presence at Aintree feels like an extra treat on a day already laden with excitement.

A flat track and three miles will suit, but with Cheltenham Festival winners William Henry and Roksana as rivals, as well as Stayers’ Hurdle runner-up Sam Spinner, she'll have to be bang on form again.

Stat of the day

33-1: Average starting price of the last ten Grand National winners.

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