Can anything tame Tiger Roll in his hat-trick attempt?

4.10 CheltenhamGlenfarclas Chase Cross Country Chase (Class 2 ) | 3m6f | 5yo+ | Live on ITV/RTV

The magnificent Tiger Roll attempts a third straight Cross Country Chase victory, while trainer Gordon Elliott is on a four-timer, having also saddled 2017 winner Cause Of Causes.

Dual Grand National hero Tiger Roll, of course, needs no introduction, and will be rated one of the week’s bankers by many punters.

Sent off 5-4 favourite last year, he had matters in safe-keeping after drawing clear of his rivals before two out to slam Josies Orders by 22 lengths.

Both the runner-up and third, Urgent De Gregaine, reoppose but it’s hard to find any logical reason why either should manage to turn the tables.

View Tiger Roll's spectacular win in last year's Cheltenham cross country

Tiger Roll pleased Elliott with his Cheltenham warm-up, a seasonal reappearance fifth to Cracking Smart in a Grade 2 hurdle at Navan last month, and he has been trained specifically for the cross country and Grand National double once again.

Easysland, winner over Cheltenham’s cross-country course in December, was firmly on top at the finish that day and is clear second-best in the market.

Might Bite and Yanworth, who were both top-class during their heyday, rate intriguing contestants but have significant questions to answer.

The 2018 Gold Cup runner-up Might Bite wasn’t disgraced when third behind Native River at Newbury last month, but still looks a pale shadow of his former self.

Yanworth, beaten favourite in the 2017 Champion Hurdle, has never been the most consistent of performers and needs to take a significant step forward on his last-time-out Punchestown third to tame Tiger Roll.
Analysis by Richard Birch

Tiger Roll reported in rude health as he seeks fifth festival success

Different year. Different preparation. Same result?

Tiger Roll arrived here this time last year after a stylish victory in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan. This time he comes to Cheltenham after finishing fifth in the same race. Should his huge fan club be worried? Gordon Elliott doesn't think so.

Elliott said: "You’d have to be happy with the way Tiger Roll shaped at Navan and I was particularly delighted with the way he popped over a few fences around the cross-country track a few weeks ago.

"That was great to see. He’s had a different sort of preparation this year compared to 12 months ago, but Cheltenham brings out the best in him and let’s hope it does so again this time. I’m thrilled with him."

Gordon Elliott: 'Cheltenham brings out the best in him and let’s hope it does so again this time'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Keith Donoghue is itching to get back on Tiger Roll and believes him to be just as lively as he was heading into the contest last year.

Donoghue said: "I can't wait to have another go on Tiger Roll. He's a little legend, isn't he? He's bucking and kicking and acting the maggot and that's exactly the way you would like him to be.

"I'm really looking forward to riding him. It's probably a better race this year than last year but I'm hoping he can do the business again."

On Out Sam, Elliott added: "He's in good form but he's a bit in and out and has a big task against Tiger Roll."

Could French spoil the party and continue their clean sweep of cross-country races?

Two races run over the Cheltenham cross-country course so far this season have both ended in a French-trained one-two and, with the exception of the high-class Might Bite, it is those returning visitors who dominate the opposition to Tiger Roll.

Chief among them, according to the market, is Easysland, who sluiced up here in December and is now unbeaten in his last six races.

Bought by JP McManus before his most recent victory in the Grand Cross de Pau, Easysland is a horse who takes a bit of knowing and so will once again be ridden by Jonathan Plouganou.

JP McManus: bought Easysland before his most recent victory in the Grand Cross de PauCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

David Cottin achieved one ambition which eluded him during his riding career when Easysland became his maiden Cheltenham success, and the rising force in the French training ranks is pleased with the six-year-old’s form.

Cottin said: “He had plenty of time to unwind after Pau before building his work back up. I’ve had no problems with his preparations and I have him just how I want him. I think he is at least as well as in December and at the top of his form.”

Emmanuel Clayeux has become a regular fixture at Cheltenham and Urgent De Gregaine heads a team of three, having been second and third in the last two Glenfarclas Chases at the festival.

On Tuesday Clayeux was typically downplaying his chances but here is a trainer who does not travel to Britain unless he believes he has his horses in top shape.

“Urgent is in good form but he is 12 years old now and I just hope that he isn’t getting sick of running around here,” said Clayeux of his veteran, who will be the mount of Felix de Giles. “If not I think he has a good chance.”

Diesel D’Allier beat his stablemate when in receipt of 22lb over course and distance in November and although Clayeux expects him to give Charlie Deutsch another good round, is realistic about running off level weights.

“He is over his fall at Pau and is well in himself,” said Clayeux. “I hope he is up to carrying the weight because he is not very big but apart from that I have no worries with him.”

Ten-year-old Arlequin D’Allier teams up with Derek O’Connor for a first British foray, having run in chases in France.

Clayeux said: “He should handle the course because, apart from the bank, there are no really tricky obstacles like you would find on a French cross-country course. He should stay and has one of the best riders.”
Reporting by Scott Burton

What the connections say

Enda Bolger, trainer of Josies Orders and Yanworth
It’s an extraordinary race this year with Tiger Roll and Easysland in the line-up. You’d have to say it looks a two-horse race, but my boys are in great form.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Might Bite
Despite the ground, this is what we've decided to do and he's just fallen in love with jumping these obstacles, so we'll let him do it. It's all good experience for him and this will be our agenda next season. He's been to Cheltenham twice recently to school over the cross-country fences and hasn't put a foot wrong; he absolutely loves it.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Neverushacon
He's in great order, but I’d be much happier if the ground wasn’t as soft as it is. He loves these fences, but I’m worried about the ground.

Tom George, trainer of Sumkindofking
He's been a very consistent horse – as his form suggests – over long distances and this might just be another string to his bow. I am concerned about the ground for him, but we'll wait and see. He's been to Cheltenham twice for a school over the cross-country obstacles and really enjoyed it. This could be another thing for him to do in the future.

Spotlight verdict

Dual Grand National hero Tiger Roll can win this for the third consecutive season and post a remarkable fifth Cheltenham Festival victory. He has run just once this term but that was a promising effort over hurdles last month and he will take plenty of beating if reproducing last year's commanding performance. 2018 Gold Cup runner-up Might Bite is an intriguing contender but it is hard to know what to expect from him and the six-year-old Easysland, who was an easy winner over C&D in December, is feared most. Urgent De Gregaine has been placed in the last two runnings and is next on the list, while his French stablemates Diesel D'Allier and Arlequin D'Allier are other each-way possibles, the latter at a big price.
Ben Hutton

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