First colours for Tiger Roll but don't be feeling down if your fancy wears blue

Tiger Roll will wear the first colours of Gigginstown House Stud in Saturday's Randox Health Grand National, but racing manager Eddie O'Leary indicated on Wednesday punters would be wise to note the jockey sporting their blue cap.

Gigginstown, who have won the race for two of the last three years with Rule The World [2016] and Tiger Roll [2018], have nine of the 40 horses guaranteed a run this year, with their various shades of caps to be distributed after declarations on Thursday.

O'Leary is convinced blue is their lucky colour, and that was the cap worn by David Mullins aboard Rule The World.

"You wouldn't believe the number of big races and Grade 1s we've won with blue caps – it seems to be our lucky colour," said O'Leary.

"We'll give Tiger Roll the first colours, then decide after declarations what the rest of them will wear. In Ireland HRI usually sort the caps for us but the BHA have asked us to allocate them for the National so that's what we'll do."

Among those to have worn the 'lucky' blue cap in the past has been Jack Kennedy aboard Monbeg Notorious, when winning the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park last year. Sean Bowen takes the ride on him in the National on Saturday, for which he is a 66-1 chance.

Tiger Roll and Monbeg Notorious are part of Gordon Elliott's planned 13-strong assault on the National, and while much of the statistical focus has been on that record-breaking number, nine runners for a single owner is also highly noteworthy – not to mention a potential headache for commentators.

Gigginstown had ten in last year's Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse, but race callers had 'only' 30 runners to cope with there.

There were no defections from the Grand National on Wednesday, leaving connections and backers of plunge horse Joe Farrell on tenterhooks, with the 20-1 shot first reserve.

The cut-off point for reserves getting a call-up in the event of any non-runners after declarations is 1pm on Friday.

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