OWNER Michael O'Leary has reiterated Tiger Roll is "very unlikely" to bid for a third Randox Health Grand National next April following his historic second triumph at Aintree on Saturday.

The diminutive nine-year-old became the first horse since the great Red Rum in 1973/74 to win back-to-back renewals of the world's most famous steeplechase on a glorious afternoon on Merseyside.

Red Rum, of course, added a third National to his CV in 1977 - but Ryanair and Gigginstown House Stud supremo O'Leary is not keen on the idea of asking Tiger Roll to carry the likely burden of top-weight in 12 months' time.

Speaking on Racing TV, O'Leary said: "It's very unlikely that he'll come back and run in it again next year.

"He will be carrying top-weight, he is a small horse and every time he runs now I get nervous – I'd hate for anything unfortunate to happen to him while he's racing.

"For his sake and for the sake of the race, I really wouldn't want to bring him back shouldering huge lumps of weight.

"There's no reason to emulate Red Rum's feat. Red Rum saved the Grand National and put it back on the map at a time when it was struggling.

"Tiger Roll isn't Red Rum – he's Tiger Roll – and I feel no pressure to go back and try to win a third time.

"There's huge public affection for him and I think we're duty-bound to mind him now."

Just as he did last season, the Gordon Elliott-trained Tiger Roll warmed up for the Grand National by winning the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival – his fourth Festival success overall having also won the Triumph Hurdle and the National Hunt Chase.

O'Leary believes if his charge can make it five wins in the Cotswolds next March, it would be a fitting swansong.

"His main target this year was the cross-country in Cheltenham and I think that will probably be his main target again next year," he said.

"I would be strongly of the view that if he was to win the cross-country in Cheltenham next year for a third time – which would be his fifth win in Cheltenham – I would see no reason not to retire him at that point in time and let him go out on a high."

Reflecting on the acclaim Tiger Roll received at Aintree, O'Leary continued: "The way the public have latched on to Tiger Roll has been incredible.

"Everyone was set up for disappointment. History tells you that they don't come back and win two Grand Nationals.

"I thought the atmosphere was terrific. There was a general sense of joy in the occasion and without wishing ill on any other horse, the right horse won the race."