'I think he'll win the National' - Ellison eager for Aintree with Definitly Red

Were you watching, Tiger Roll? Definitly Red had trainer Brian Ellison predicting his horse “will win the National" and deny the dual winner a famous third victory after bolting up in his Aintree prep run at Kelso.

Ellison's stable star scored by 14 lengths in the William Hill Premier Chase, a contest that Auroras Encore and Ballabriggs, the last two Grand National winners from the north of England, had both run in without winning.

Defeat never looked likely for the evens favourite and Ellison was extraordinarily bullish for April 4, when Definitly Red will carry 10st 10lb meaning he will be getting 14lb from Tiger Roll, the 2018 and 2019 hero who is bidding to match Red Rum's record three successes.

Definitly Red's odds were cut to 14-1 (from 20-1) by Paddy Power, with a best price 20-1 on offer with Betfred and Unibet, which is no worry to his trainer who is already on at 33s. Tiger Roll heads the market at 11-2 with Betway and Unibet.

Definitly Red: ears pricked after his Kelso successCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"I think he'll win the National," Ellison said. "I've always thought he would. Tiger Roll won't give us a stone, no chance. I'm not a big gambler – I just have £20 or £30 on – but I backed him at 33-1.

"You need luck, don't you? But he jumped brilliantly when he finished fourth in the Becher Chase, he's a great stayer, he's on 10st 10lb and he has everything going for him. All I need is good to soft ground, not bottomless. Today was not his ground, it's not his track, so that was grand.

"The main thing now is to get him there. He'll have an easy time for a week and he's not a horse that needs a lot of galloping."

Watch the replay of Definitly Red's win at Kelso

Jockey Danny Cook reckons Definitly Red is better than the bare form of his Premier Chase demolition job, as missing out the last two fences due to low sun hindered the horse's concentration.

"The fences being out in the home straight didn't help because he was having a good look around," Cook said. "I was struggling to get him to run for me because he had nothing to keep him going forward.

"But that will have put him spot on and is a nice stepping stone to Aintree. He's a good honest horse, he's been brilliant for me, the owner Phil Martin and for Brian and he's a proper, good horse – I hope we'll have another good day with him in April."

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