From Tuco to Tiger Roll: the 17-year rise of Gigginstown

Michael O’Leary has never made any secret of the fact that buying horses to try to win Graded races has always been his policy. It’s a policy that has paid handsome dividends with acquiring potential Grade 1 staying chasers always the ultimate objective.

Based near Mullingar in County Westmeath, the Gigginstown operation began with two horses in training, one of whom was Tuco I, trained by David Wachman and ridden by Mark Grant.

Tuco I carried the now famous maroon and white colours of Gigginstown House Stud to victory in a maiden hurdle at Thurles on February 14, 2002, beating Hedgehunter, who went on to win the Grand National three years later, into second place.