Micheal O’Leary says he has “no confidence” in Tiger Roll winning the 2019 Grand National.
The owner of the 2018 winner was speaking ahead of the gelding trying to defend his title at Aintree and become the first back-to-back winner of the National since Red Rum 45 years ago.
Tiger Roll is the shortest priced favourite in 100 years, coming to the Grand National on the back of winning his second successive Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month.
Yet despite many saying the nine-year-old is in even better form this year than when he won the National 12 months ago, O’Leary does not share their confidence.
“If he starts now he won't win. He has too much weight,” he told ITV Racing. “He's a small horse. He had his day last year.
“I think if I have a chance today it will be something down at the lower end of the weights, maybe General Principle, Doukonis or A Toi Phil.
“He's a terrific horse and it's a great story, but I really worry about him. He didn't come back in one piece (from Cheltenham) and I kind of worry now he'll fall here.
“I'd have no confidence in him winning today.”
