British bookmakers took a pounding on Saturday in what has been described as “the most expensive Grand National in history”.
Tiger Roll, who won his first Grand National last year at 10-1, did it this time at 4-1. Davy Russell was in the saddle of Gordon Russell’s brilliant charge as it raced to a near three-length victory.
We have to go back to 1973 /1974 to find the last back-to -back winner of the Grand National. It was Red Rum, who attempted to win the first-ever triple a year later but failed.
Highly revered punters friend Tiger Roll has already been given 8-1 odds by some bookies to pull off the triple. However this may not come about.
Right now his owner, Michael O’Leary, isn’t keen to let him run in the 173rd Grand National next year. O’Leary fears that carrying extra weight will put Tiger Roll at risk in this famous race, with its many grueling jumps.
Tiger Roll may not race in Grand National again
“He will be carrying top weight and he is a small horse. Every time he runs now I get nervous,” O’Leary told Racing TV’s Luck on Sunday show. “I would hate anything unfortunate to happen to him.”
Universally the book makers will welcome such a move. Over the years he has cost them dearly and never more so than at Aintree on Saturday.
Alan Alger, of Aintree’s official betting partner Betway, feels that Tiger Roll’s win produced the worst ever result for bookmakers.
He said: “The quarter-of-a-billion-pound bombshell has landed. Tiger Roll has gone back to back and inflicted the most expensive result in Grand National history.
“People have been backing this horse since he got his head in front here last year, and he will go down as the greatest ever for punters.
“There have been a few favorable results across the week for us bookies. But it was always going to come down to the National – and we’ve been well and truly wiped out.”
Ladbrokes’s Nicola McGeady agreed the race was a heavy defeat for the bookies.
She believes, however, that two of the other three horses first past post had softened the blow for them. They were Magic of Light at 66-1 which finishing second and Walk in The Mill at 25-1 which finished 4th
“Tiger Roll is the most popular Grand National winner since Red Rum,” McGeady said. “Time and time again he has rewarded punters, and today’s victory is his sweetest yet.
“It’s never good for the bookies when the favorite wins – but thanks to the places, we avoided taking too heavy a beating.”
Fred Done of Betfred admitted the Grand National had cost him plenty, but said he was happy to see the horse attain greatness.
“I’ve been mauled by a Tiger,” he lamented, “But sometimes when you witness history you just have to pay out with a smile.”
Rupert Adams of international sportsbook giant William Hill said “Tiger Roll winning is clearly not the best result, but fortunately for us he was not that well-backed on the day.”
“We have probably seen the greatest horse in Grand National history, and I for one will be backing him next year.”
William Hill, which has a large footprint in New Jersey, is one of the bookies offering 8-1 on a third Tiger Roll triumph.
