Tiger Roll no Red Rum – McCain

Donald McCain says Tiger Roll would not have been able to jump round Aintree if he had been running in Red Rum’s era.

McCain’s father, Ginger, trained the legendary Red Rum to three Grand National victories in 1973, 1974 and 1977 – the only horse that has landed the prestigious title three times.

The Gordon Elliott-trained Tiger Roll became the first horse since Red Rum to win the Aintree spectacle in back-to-back years when storming to glory in 2019, and the 10-year-old is the favourite with several bookies to create history by making it three victories on the bounce in April.

However, although delighted to see the exploits of the Gigginstown House Stud-owned charge, McCain is adamant Tiger Roll would not have been able to get round the National course back in the day.

Speaking to the Racing Post, he said: “Is it the same race? No, not in a million years. What you have now is a horse that is the most efficient jumper of the new type of Grand National fence. He only gets three-quarters of the way up, he almost jumps them like a bullfinch.

“Could he do that round the old National fences? No. The race has changed beyond all recognition. You have to remember in those days it used to be 6-1 just to get round.”

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