Easysland now 'the best cross-country horse' around after defeat of Tiger Roll

Easysland. Easy-peasy. There goes the suspicion that only old fogies can crack the cross-country code. He is still a baby, only six, so who knows what the future holds. This is a horse going places fast, surely soaring higher than the discipline he was making a mockery of here.

Gone are the days when failed chasers enduring a mid-life crisis win the cross-country. The Grand National winner has won it for the last two years and he was in again this year, only this time Tiger Roll met more than his match and had to settle for second.

And, before you start believing he ran well-below par, remember he was 18 lengths ahead of the third, Out Sam. He was beaten by 17 lengths, though. This was an exceptional performance from Easysland.

Easysland: a resounding winner of the Cross Country ChaseCredit: Michael Steele (Getty Images)

Winning trainer David Cottin said: "I was expecting a good run from him. He seemed really well at home, his coat had changed, he was in good form and it was a really big advantage to have come here in December and to know the track. The heavy ground was also in his favour.

"He's a horse who is extremely well balanced and, while he is only a six-year-old, with a cross-country horse you have to train them when they are young over those jumps. We have been very patient with him as were his former owners. That has paid off.

"I always dreamed of riding a winner here as a jockey, and unfortunately it didn't happen, but I'm really pleased to be here now, and it's all down to the team at home who are very motivating. We have a lot of horses and a lot of staff."

Four jockeys banned

Mark Walsh, Paddy Kennedy, Keith Donoghue and Daragh O'Keeffe were all suspended for one day for failing to walk or jig-jog into the start of the cross-country.

Cottin might have a lot of horses, but few could be of the calibre of Easysland and what a shrewd purchase it looks by JP McManus. The leading owner obviously liked what he saw when he won by seven lengths over the same course and distance in December.

Jonathan Plouganou, who finished second to Quevega on Sirene D'Ainay in the 2013 Mares' Hurdle, was understandably thrilled with his first festival triumph.

The winning jockey said: "Easysland is the best cross-country horse! He has beaten Tiger Roll and he was brilliant today. This race is really special. It was an honour to ride in it, but to win it is even more important.

"Everybody in France knows Cheltenham is the temple of racing, so it is already a great honour just to be here but to ride a winner here, especially in the cross-country which is a discipline I love, it means everything.

"Tiger Roll is a real champion so to beat him was special and now Easysland is the champion. There is plenty of time for the future and Easysland can now recuperate and we can see what the future holds."

The future could not be much brighter, and it remains bright for Tiger Roll today. He has lost this battle, but he might still win the war at Aintree next month and create history.

Keith Donoghue was adamant it was the ground which beat him here.

He said: "He hated the ground, absolutely hated it. He didn't enjoy that surface at all and it knackered him out. Normally he jumps and travels, but he ran his heart out. He ran into the better horse on the day."

This was one of those rare days that was not about Tiger Roll, it was oh so easy for Easysland instead.

Did you know you can bet via the Racing Post? Sign in with your favourite bookmaker via the accounts button and bet directly from our racecards