Tiger Roll handed surprise handicap hurdle entry at Navan on Saturday

Tiger Roll could line up in his first handicap hurdle since the 2016 Punchestown festival after being handed a surprise entry for the Grade B Navan Handicap Hurdle over 2m4f on Saturday (1.40).

Gigginstown racing manager Eddie O'Leary told the Racing Post on Tuesday that a definite plan for the Cheltenham Festival and Grand National legend had yet to be finalised, stressing that trainer Gordon Elliott would ultimately make a decision on his participation at Navan this weekend.

Tiger Roll seemingly did not hold a published hurdles rating when making his most recent start in this sphere in last season's Boyne Hurdle, trailing the field on unsuitably soft ground.

He was rated 156 over hurdles a year earlier when lining up in the same race and finishing a safely held fifth.

Tiger Roll: charting a path back to the Glenfarclas Cross Country ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

Of those with published marks in the 23 entries for Saturday's €45,000 contest, the 141-rated Duffle Coat is currently the top-rated runner.

"I haven't spoken to Gordon yet about the plan for him but he's got an entry and it'll be up to Gordon on whether he wants to run him," said O'Leary.

"I know the plan had been the Boyne Hurdle [on February 20]. He doesn't have a published hurdles mark, but at least the Irish handicapper has been fair to him in terms of his chase rating of 155 over here.

"He's still stuck on a higher mark in Britain and they don't publish his rating over there. He doesn't appear in the end-of-year classifications either despite having a high enough mark to do so."

Tiger Roll hasn't been in either of the last two years of Anglo-Irish Jumps Classifications for chasers, having featured in the listings for 2018-19 when rated 172.

A spokesperson for the BHA told the Racing Post that was due to cross-country performances not being included in the classification but the Grand National is. Tiger Roll was included when winning at Aintree in 2019.

Tiger Roll: electric around in Aintree in his two Randox Grand National triumphsCredit: Edward Whitaker

The classification is based solely on performances during a single season rather than a horse's official rating. This means the now 12-year-old essentially did not perform to a high enough level in either season to be included, other than in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham, which is not included.

Tiger Roll was rated 165 over fences in Britain when pulling up in the Grade 2 Unibet Many Clouds Chase at Aintree last month.

It was also revealed on Tuesday that top-notch talent Allaho could warm up for his Ryanair Chase repeat at Thurles on Sunday after he featured among ten runners entered for the Grade 2 Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase (3.15).

The Willie Mullins-trained performer edged out stablemate Elimay in the same race last year on his way to blitzing his Ryanair rivals at Cheltenham by 12 lengths.

Allaho: could return to Thurles after featuring in the entries for Sunday's Grade 2 highlightCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Earlier this month it was suggested by Cheveley Park Stud's managing director Chris Richardson that Allaho could go straight back to the festival, having been forced to dig deep when making a winning comeback in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown last month.

Should the high-class eight-year-old make an appearance at Thurles en route to the festival, he could face last season's Ryanair runner-up Fakir D'Oudairies and a trio of Gigginstown-owned Grade 1 winners in Notebook, Battleoverdoyen and Samcro.

Top-level winner Franco De Port has also been handed an entry for the 2m4f race, registered as the Kinloch Brae Chase, with the potential field completed by Sizing Pottsie, Daly Tiger, Alohamora and Scheu Time.

We were treated to an excellent running of the Grade 2 Coolmore NH Sires Mogul Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase (2.40) on the same card last season, but there doesn't appear to be the same amount of quality in this year's entries.

Minella Melody and Jeremys Flame are arguably the standout pair among eight entries, having seen Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase heroine Colreevy get the better of Kim Muir winner Mount Ida in the same race a year ago.

Elsewhere on the card, last season's St James's Place Festival Hunters' Chase runner-up Billaway could make his belated return to action in the concluding Thurles Racecourse Hunters Chase (4.15).

Read more . . .

Cross-country star Easysland to be trained by Jonjo O'Neill

Gordon Elliott: Tiger Roll fine after Aintree and could go to Navan next

For all our exclusive free bet offers and must-have daily promotions click the free bets button or go to racingpost.com/freebets