Poll reveals majority of fans at odds with O'Leary's Grand National stance

Michael O’Leary’s decision to withdraw Tiger Roll from this year’s Randox Grand National has dismayed British and Irish horseracing fans, with 90 per cent of those taking part in a poll wanting to see the 12-year-old try to emulate Red Rum at Aintree in April.

O’Leary said on Sunday the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on March 16 would be Tiger Roll’s final race and that he would be removed from the Grand National, which the legendary Red Rum won three times, at the next forfeit stage for the race on Tuesday.

The owner, who outlined in 2019 his intentions to scale back his Gigginstown House Stud racing vehicle by 2024, blamed the decision not to run Tiger Roll at Aintree on BHA handicapper Martin Greenwood, stating he had allotted the dual Grand National winner a “ridiculous rating and unfair weight”.

Michael O'Leary (left) with Gordon ElliottCredit: Caroline Norris

However, a poll of 1,522 racing fans in Britain and Ireland conducted for bookmaker Paddy Power by Bounce Insights found 45 per cent of respondents agreed with the statement O’Leary was "throwing his toys out of the pram because he didn’t get the weight he wanted".

O’Leary’s position was backed by only 28 per cent of those who took part in the survey, while 90 per cent of respondents said they would like to see Tiger Roll run in the National this year.

Tiger Roll was allocated a mark of 161 for this season's marathon, 2lb higher than he won off in 2019. He did not run last year after being rated 166 and instead ran in the Grade 1 Betway Bowl at the track.

"He won’t hack up at the Cross Country," said O'Leary. "You won't defy age, many athletes have tried. He won't be in the Grand National by the time he runs in the Cross Country.

"He's 12 and I have no intention of asking this horse, who is like a fifth child to me, to carry 11st 8lb or 11st 10lb around Cheltenham or Aintree at the age of 12. It's not happening because he hasn't been fairly treated by the handicapper.

"Thankfully, the Tiger Roll controversy will never be told again because he'll be retired after the Cross Country at Cheltenham."

O'Leary added that Conflated, who also is trained by Gordon Elliott, could switch to the Ryanair Chase if stablemate and top contender Galvin lines up in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The eight-year-old, who landed the Irish Gold Cup by six and a half lengths from Minella Indo this month, is available at 9-1 for the Ryanair, in which he would take on defending champion Allaho, who won by 12 lengths last year for Willie Mullins.

Ryanair Chase: entries and betting

Conflated is around 10-1 for the Gold Cup but appears unlikely to take his chance due to the presence of the Ronnie Bartlett-owned Galvin, who trails only A Plus Tard in the market after beating him by a short head in the Grade 1 Savills Chase.

O'Leary, the long-serving chief executive of Ryanair, told Sky Sports Racing: "If Galvin runs in the Gold Cup for Gordon, then I think we'll switch Conflated to the Ryanair Chase.

"I'd love to see Ronnie Bartlett win a Gold Cup and I don’t think Conflated would beat Galvin. It makes sense from Gordon’s point of view to split the two and then take on Willie Mullins in the Ryanair."

O'Leary and Gigginstown have twice won the Gold Cup, striking with War Of Attrition in 2006 and the Elliott-trained Don Cossack in 2016.

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