Tiger Roll back at Cheltenham for induction into track's Hall of Fame

Racegoers at Cheltenham on Friday will be treated to a special appearance from festival and Aintree legend Tiger Roll, as he is officially inducted into the track's hallowed Hall of Fame.

A five-time winner at the Cheltenham Festival who won back-to-back Grand Nationals in 2018 and 2019, Tiger Roll will feature in the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) parade at 12.25pm, appearing alongside a host of retired stars such as Coneygree, Cyrname and Smad Place.

Gigginstown House Stud's popular 12-year-old will be ridden in the parade by Ted O'Leary, 17-year-old son of Gigginstown racing manager Eddie O'Leary.

Tiger Roll's owner Michael O'Leary said: "All of us who were so fortunate to be associated with Tiger Roll from Nigel Hawke to Mags O'Toole, to my brother Eddie, Gordon Elliott, and his outstanding team at Cullentra, as well as Anita, myself and our children, realise how fortunate and privileged we have been to share in Tiger Roll's epic journey.

Tiger Roll (right): out grazing with Don Cossack and Silver Birch at Gordon Elliott's Cullentra House Stables in SeptemberCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"He was a little horse, but was brave as a lion and had the heart of a tiger. It was a privilege to return year after year to Cheltenham and Aintree, where he distinguished himself with every run.

"He will be most remembered for his two Grand National wins. However, his five victories at the Cheltenham Festival over different courses and distances was perhaps his greatest achievement, and a testament to his unquenchable spirit and his love for jump racing.

"We are all privileged to have played a tiny part in the legend of Tiger Roll."

Tiger Roll bowed out from racing after a heroic second to stablemate Delta Work when bidding for a fourth win in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham in March.

Since retiring, he finished third in the Racehorse to Riding Horse Championship at the Dublin Horse Show and also won on his first appearance at the Tullamore Show.

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