O’LEARY’S ON A NATIONAL ROLL
TIGER ROLL galloped out of Red Rum’s shadow for a history-making victory in the Randox Health Grand National.
It is 45 years since Red Rum secured his place in Aintree folklore when returning to Merseyside to back up his success of the previous year – before lifting an unprecedented third National in 1977.
In the intervening fourand-a-half decades, no National winner has managed a repeat.
But the wait is over, thanks to Gordon Elliott’s half-pint with the magnum personality.
Putting in a perfect round under Davy Russell, the nine-year-old, running in the colours of Ryanair supremo Michael O’leary and sent off the 4-1 favourite, beat 66-1 shot Magic Of Light by two-and-three-quarter lengths to become the fifth back-to-back winner in the National’s 180-year history.
“I thought he had no chance today – history says you don’t win two in a row,” said O’leary, landing the race for the third time following Rule The World’s triumph in 2016.
“You never expect to win one Grand National, never mind two – and we’ve now won three! What a horse – he keeps winning and he keeps improving.
“Red Rum was a legend and Tiger Roll is a legend.
“He’s won two Grand Nationals – it hasn’t been done since the early 1970s.
“You look at the size of him – he’s a little rat of a thing. God, I’m so in love with rats!”
Elliott, the son of a garage mechanic, announced his arrival on the training scene when saddling Silver Birch to Aintree glory in 2007.
“This is for my uncle Willie Elliott,” said the 41-year-old. “He passed away this year. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be training horses.”
Co Meath-based Elliott (below) set a Grand National record when saddling 11 of the 40-runner field. He added: “If one of them had won I would have been delighted – but for Tiger to win, it’s special.
“It’s the best day of my training career, to win three Grand Nationals. You dream about this.
“He’s named well – he’s a tiger and he wants to win.”
Bar minor mistakes at two of the 29 fences – the first obstacle, where Up For Review suffered a fatal fall, and was omitted on the second circuit – wily veteran Russell, watched by his proud father Jerry, enjoyed as near to an armchair ride as the great race allows.
“I was able to do whatever I wanted,” smiled the 39-year-old. “He did everything so well.
“He left a couple of stumbles at fences but he was back on the bridle.
“He sticks his chest out. He just loves running and jumping – he just loves it.”
As the shortest-priced winner since Poethlyn at 11-4 exactly 100 years ago, Tiger Roll was cheered to the echo by punters up and down the country.
Tiger Roll is now 8-1 to achieve what even Red Rum couldn’t – a Grand National hat-trick.
“I’m not sure – he’s won two Grand Nationals now. I would be reluctant to bring him back a third time,” said the ever-contrary O’leary, with an unmistakable glint in his eye.