UK Horse Racing Tips

Arguably the most famous horse in Britain in recent years, Tiger Roll requires little introduction. On Saturday, April 6, 2019, he led home a notable 1-2-3-4 for Irish-trained horses in the Grand National and, in so doing, became the first horse since Red Rum, in 1974, to win the renowned steeplechase two years running. Indeed, despite being allotted joint top-weight, he was favourite to complete an unprecedented hat-trick in the 2020 renewal when the Grand National meeting was cancelled by the Jockey Club due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Of course, all is not lost for Tiger Roll but, now an 11-year-old, he ran a lifeless race when pulled up in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on his reappearance in November, 2020. He remains favourite for the 2021 Grand National but, having been installed at 10/1 when Elliott confirmed that he would be aimed at a third victory in March, 2020, at the time of writing he can be backed at 20/1 ante-post.

Bred for the Flat and once owned, by unraced, by Godolphin, Tiger Roll is diminutive in stature, at just 15.2 hands high, but blessed with powerful hind quarters. Owned, nowadays, by Gigginstown House Stud and trained by Gordon Elliott in Co. Meath, he was originally bought as a Cheltenham Festival prospect, but exceeded expectations by winning the Grade One Triumph Hurdle on just his third start over hurdles.

Fast forward seven years or so and Tiger Roll has won the National Hunt Challenge Cup, the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase twice – making a total of four Cheltenham Festival wins in all – and the Grand National twice. It would be fair to say that, regardless of whether or not he runs in another National, or any other race, Tiger Roll has earned his place in the history books.

Comments are closed.