Five of the best performances from Cheltenham and Aintree hero Tiger Roll

JT McNamara National Hunt Challenge Cup, Cheltenham, March 14, 2017

Tiger Roll reignited his faltering career with novice chase wins at Ballinrobe and Kilbeggan in the summer of 2016, but it was his 20-1 victory in the Munster National at Limerick in October that offered a hint of what was to come for the 2014 Triumph Hurdle winner.

Lisa O'Neill after winning the National Hunt ChaseCredit: Harry Trump

Given a break by Gordon Elliott after 13 runs between March and October, Tiger Roll was fresh when he returned to Cheltenham the following year for the National Hunt Chase under Lisa O'Neill.

He shrugged off a couple of minor errors, demonstrating his agility, athleticism and stamina. He led at the third-last and was in command at the final fence, which he jumped with a lead of around five lengths over fellow Irish challenger Edwulf, who had to be pulled up. Tiger Roll was left clear and not seriously threatened by Missed Approach.

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Randox Health Grand National, Aintree, April 14, 2018

Victory in the 2018 Glenfarclas Chase underlined Tiger's Roll versatility. It elicited a memorable remark from owner Michael O'Leary. "He's a little rat of a thing, but he has a heart of a lion".

If the first half of the sentence was pejorative, the second made the him a credible contender for the Grand National the following month.

Tiger Roll and Davy Russell win the 2018 Grand National from Pleasant CompanyCredit: John Grossick

With Davy Russell aboard for the first time since his juvenile hurdling days and carrying 10st 13lb, he was sent off 10-1 joint second- favourite in a 38-runner field.

Adapting to the fences like a natural, Tiger Roll coasted through most of the race and began to shadow fellow Irish challenger Pleasant Company from three out. He jumped to the front before the last and reached the Elbow with a six-length advantage.

In the last 100 yards he began to look vulnerable, but kept going just long enough to resist the rallying Pleasant Company by a head.

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Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle, Navan, February 17, 2019

Carrying a big weight, Tiger Roll made a lowkey start to the 2018-19 seasib when fourth of seven behind Enda Bolger's Josies Orders in a handicap over the cross-country course at Cheltenham in November.

Three months later Elliott sent him to Navan to complete his preparation for Cheltenham in the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle.

Ignored by punters who assumed this was just a warm-up race, Toger Roll was a 25-1 chance in a six-strong field headed by the Willie Mullins-trained Bachasson.

After being held up at the back, he began to make headway early in the straight and travelled smoothly into the lead just before the second-last. With Bachasson struggling, he skipped clear to win by a comfortable four lengths from Off You Go, winner of a valuable Leopardstown handicap 15 days earlier.

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Randox Health Grand National, Aintree, April 6, 2019

Tiger Roll returned to Aintree for his date with destiny on a mark 9lb higher than in 2018. However, having won at Cheltenham for a second time with remarkable ease the previous month, he had a theoretical 8lb in hand.

Starting 4-1 favourite, he gave Russell a few anxious moments in the preliminaries but soon settled into a rhythm. His jumping technique would have been a problem at the Aintree of old but was almost tailor-made for the contemporary fences and he survived a mistake at the fourth-last.

Tiger Roll: winner of the 2019 Grand NationalCredit: Grossick Racing 07710461723

He travelled smoothly into the lead between the last two, and started to go clear at the Elbow. Once again he idled in the closing stages but 66-1 shot Magic Of Light never looked like pegging him back.

Thoughts immediately turned to the prospect of an unprecedented three successive Nationals, an opportunity declined by connections even before the global Covid-19 pandemic intervened to cancel the event.

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Glenfarclas Chase, Cheltenham, March 17, 2021

The Cross Country at the Cheltenham Festival played a major part in the Tiger Roll legend. His first victory in 2018 owed much to the groundwork laid in schooling sessions by Keith Donoghue, whose career he revived.

A year later he was at his most authoritative, sauntering home 22 lengths clear of Josies Orders. In 2020 he was no match for the French-trained Easysland, who returned to defend his crown 12 months later as an even-money favourite after Tiger Roll had blotted his record, having been pulled up over the course and distance at the November meeting and tailed-off last of six in the Boyne Hurdle.

Tiger Roll: in command in the 2019 Glenfarclas ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

There was a distinct impression time was catching up with him. Not at all. From an early stage of the race he looked rejuvenated.

Donoghue was confident enough to send him to the front at the 22nd of 32 obstacles. Easysland never looked like making any impression and was 18 lengths adrift at the finish. Asked by the stewards to explain Tiger Roll's improved form, Elliott's representative said he "seemed to appreciate the return to Cheltenham in spring". Not much arguing with that on a joyful St Patrick's Day.

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