2021 Grand National Weights - Cloth Cap new favourite as Tiger Roll gets 11-9

National Hunt racing fans waited with bated breath on Wednesday, as the weights for the 2021 Grand National were announced. The Grand National is the only race in Britain where the head handicapper uses his own discretion to decide the weights and ratings. This year, it was Martin Greenwood who had that unenviable task.

When the official card was updated, viewers quickly scrolled down to Tiger Roll, to see what rating Greenwood had handed the two-time defending champion. 

Prior to the announcement, Gigginstown Stud head-honcho Michael O'Leary stated the Tiger would only run if he was "treated fairly" by the British Handicapper. Tiger Roll last won the Grand National off a rating of 159, with Davy Russell shouldering 11-5. Despite four defeats since then, Greenwood decided Tiger Roll was was still a 166-rated horse, and he will have to carry 11-9, should he return to Aintree.

With punters fearing Tiger Roll might not make it to Aintree, the former favourite drifted out to 20/1 in the latest Grand National betting. Replacing Gordon Elliott's star at the head of the market is Cloth Cap, who was last seen winning the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury.

Owned by the great Trevor Hemmings, a four-time Grand National-winning owner, Cloth Cap will have to shoulder just 10-5 if he made his Aintree debut, and punters were quick to back Jonjo O'Neill's star into 16/1.

When the initial entries were revealed, I put up Burrows Saint and Kimberlite Candy as the two to back at the ante-post stage. They will have to shoulder 10-13 and 10-10 respectively, and both have been backed since the weights were revealed.

Magic Of Light is four pounds higher than she was when following Tiger Roll home in 2019. Any Second Now has been handed a mark just one pound higher than his rating in Ireland, while Santini, Bristol De Mai and Presenting Percy have all been given a rating lower than their official mark.

Welsh Grand National winner, Secret Reprieve is another who's been supported since yesterday's announcement. At number 66 on the list of entries, Evan Williams' Chepstow hero will need 26 of the names above him to withdraw, in order to get a run in this year's Grand National.