Sherwood: Many Clouds better equipped to carry National burden than Tiger Roll

The Grand National victory of Many Clouds under the steadier of 11st 9lb in 2015 proves that a horse can win jump racing’s most famous prize with a huge weight on its back.

However, Oliver Sherwood, who trained Many Clouds, believes that his former stable star was particularly well equipped to do as he was a big, strapping horse; less powerfully built animals might struggle to carry such a burden.

Watch: Many Clouds triumph in the 2015 Grand National

Sherwood’s thoughts come in the wake of Michael O’Leary’s claim that dual Grand National hero Tiger Roll is unlikely to bid for a record-breaking third consecutive win at Aintree next spring if he is given a massive weight to carry.

Quoted in Wednesday’s Racing Post, O’Leary, who owns Tiger Roll, said: “He is the fourth highest-rated staying chaser in England and Ireland. Is he going to carry 11st 10lb in a Grand National, with Gold Cup seconds and thirds getting 6-8lb off him? No, he is not.”

Many Clouds pictured jumping one of Aintree's famous fencesCredit: Mark Cranham

Many Clouds recorded the best Grand National weight-carrying performance since Red Rum’s victory under 11st 8lb in 1977.

He returned 12 months later to defend his crown with 11st 10lb on his back, but could finish only 16th behind Rule The World on very testing ground.

Sherwood said: “Many Clouds and Tiger Roll are two totally different horses. Many Clouds was a great, big horse who was built to carry weight. I wouldn’t have been bothered if Many Clouds had 12st to carry.

“I don’t know Tiger Roll, but from what I gather he isn’t particularly big. Perhaps Tiger Roll isn’t built to carry a big weight like Many Clouds was, but life is all about opinions. I have the utmost respect for him.”

Tiger Roll: may not be suited to carrying a very heavy weight in the 2020 Grand NationalCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Many Clouds was sent off 8-1 joint-favourite to defend his crown, so plenty of punters felt carrying 11st 10lb would not be a problem.

Sherwood said: “The ground went against him that second time. It poured with rain, and we discovered a soft-palate problem afterwards.

“We had it cauterised and he came back the following season to run arguably his best ever race when he won the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham.

“The fact that he carried 11st 10lb in that second National wasn’t the reason why he didn’t perform on the day.”

Neptune Collonges: got the better of Sunnyhillboy in a thrilling finish to the 2012 Grand NationalCredit: John Grossick

Neptune Collonges, winner in 2012, is the only horse in the last 42 years apart from Many Clouds and Red Rum to have carried 11st 6lb or more to victory in a National.

Tiger Roll was successful under 11st 5lb this year.

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