Tiger Roll has a new half-sister who is 'all quality'

Last month's Grand National hero Tiger Roll has a new half-sister.

His dam, the Listed-placed mare Swiss Roll, produced a chestnut filly by Exceed And Excel on April 27 for owner Gerry O'Brien.

The newborn is a half-sister not only to one of the most popular jumps horses around – Tiger Roll having also scored at three Cheltenham Festivals for trainer Gordon Elliott – but also to Group 2 Lonsdale Cup winner Ahzeemah and to a very exciting Flat performer indeed.

That progressive individual is the Mark Johnston-trained three-year-old Austrian School, who scored in two races last year and was an impressive winner at Chelmsford on his seasonal debut this month.

Austrian School is set to continue his rise through the ranks when he takes in a handicap at Chester's May meeting on Thursday.

Speed influence Exceed And Excel, a son of Danehill, marked a departure for Swiss Roll, as Tiger Roll and Austrian School are by grandsons of Sadler's Wells in Authorized and Teofilo.

The next mating for the 18-year-old Entrepreneur mare Swiss Roll is a return to Teofilo, to produce a full-sibling to Austrian School and another foal bred 3x3 to Sadler's Wells.

O'Brien said: “The foal is a lovely filly; all quality. I'm absolutely delighted. Swiss Roll is going back to Teofilo – I thought I'd better stick with the Sadler's Wells inbreeding as it seems to work.”

The proud breeder added that he had received plenty of attention since the Grand National and a colourful interview published in the Racing Post in the aftermath.

“I've never had as many phone calls as in the last few weeks,” O'Brien said. “I've reconnected with friends I hadn't heard from for about 15 years.”

The Tiger Roll family has been in O'Brien's care for several generations. He bred Swiss Roll as well as her brother Berenson, who finished second in the National Stakes, and half-brother, the useful jumper Khachaturian.

Swiss Roll and her siblings were in turn out of the smart dual-purpose performer On Air, whom O'Brien bought as a breeding prospect.

'Michael O'Leary's choice of the word 'rat' to describe Tiger Roll is very much misplaced' - read our interview with Gerry O'Brien