Tiger Roll in 'great form' ahead of Aintree bid Three-time Cheltenham Festival winner Tiger Roll will spearhead Gordon Elliott's team in the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree. With stamina no issue, having landed the four-mile National Hunt Chase last season, the 2014 Triumph Hurdle winner showed he has the aptitude for something different when successful in this season's Glenfarclas Chase on the Cheltenham cross-country track. "He's had a great preparation. That cross-country race has been a lucky stepping stone over the years," said Elliott. "He's in great form, he's well and the more the ground dries out between now and Aintree, the better the chance he'll have. "He's a horse who when he's on song he's very good. It's the Grand National. If you're not in you can't win, and it's definitely the plan. "Soft ground wouldn't suit him. We haven't any firm plans who'll ride but it will be either Davy Russell or Jack Kennedy." Elliott's Cause Of Causes won the Glenfarclas Chase last year and beat all bar One For Arthur at Aintree. He was pulled up at Cheltenham this year, though, and his participation is not yet certain. "Cause Of Causes was a bit sore after Cheltenham, we'll have to see how he is over the next couple of weeks," Elliott told At The Races. A third possible is Ucello Conti. The 10-year-old was sixth two years ago but came down at Becher's Brook on the second circuit when still going well last year. Elliott said: "He was travelling very well last year when he came down. If there's a horse in our yard who deserves to win a big one it's him - he's been placed in all the big handicaps. "The ground was very soft the last time he ran but on his run behind Anibale Fly in the Paddy Power, he's got a very good chance." Paul Nicholls is favouring letting Vicente bid for a record-equalling third Coral Scottish Grand National rather than take in the Aintree version. He has won the last two renewals at Ayr under Sam Twiston-Davies off the same mark of 146 but is rated 150 this year. Last year connections went to Aintree first but he was an early casualty which enabled him to return to Scotland. But Nicholls is unlikely to send him to Merseyside this time unless the ground is good. "I've got Vicente, As De Mee and Warriors Tale in the National," said the Ditcheat handler. "Vicente has got to have a question mark over his style of jumping, whether he would jump round there unless the ground was really good. "He is in it still, but he has got Ayr the week after. Trevor (Hemmings, owner) has also got Warriors Tale now so we will make a plan nearer the time. "Vicente wouldn't be going to Aintree if it was soft - that is an absolute certainty. If it was good ground and it dried a fraction he could go, but he has Ayr too."
