Tiger feat at Aintree so special for Elliott

Trainer hails his well-named star after repeat Grand National win

ONE of the greatest days in racing history is probably best viewed through the eyes of the amazing Willie Mullins. Aintree yesterday, even for a man of the great trainer’s wisdom and calm, was something of a blur, though at the end of it all he summed up Tiger Roll in two words… ‘a phenomenon’.

Mullins was proud of his own Rathvinden, too. Although the race was soured after the Closutton handler’s Up For Review suffered a fatal injury when falling at the very first fence.

‘Rathvinden ran a cracker, he had every chance,’ said Mullins before Up For Review’s sad fate was confirmed, ‘but he just wasn’t good enough. Pleasant Company appeared to be going very well, but he unseated late on. Livelovelaugh ran well, but probably did too much too early.

‘I was trying to look behind Rathvinden to see who was going well, but I missed the winner. Mind, there were so many maroon colours (of Gigginstown House Stud) it was hard to know. I was just trying to concentrate on my own.

‘I was even trying to watch Patrick (Mullins, son), he got a great spin on the first circuit from Don Poli.’

But on a day like this, even for Mullins, it began and ended with the horse sent out by his great rival, Gordon Elliott.

‘Tiger Roll is a phenomenon. For an ex-Flat horse, he’s not a typical four-mile chaser, but he’s got some appetite for racing with a great eye

for jumping. He’s once in a lifetime,’ said Mullins

Tiger Roll raced into the history books as he became the first horse since Red Rum to win back-to-back renewals of the Randox Health Grand National.

It is 46 years since Red Rum claimed the first of his three victories in the world’s most famous steeplechase – successfully defending his crown in 1974 before adding a third in 1977.

Davy Russell had the 4-1 favourite well positioned throughout the fourand-a-quarter-mile journey and after moving to the front, he found plenty on the long run-in to claim an historic two-and-three-quarterlength victory over 66-1 chance Magic Of Light. Mullins’ Rathvinden (8-1) was another two and a quarter lengths back in third, with another 11 lengths to Walk In The Mill (25-1) fourth.

‘It’s unbelievable,’ cried winning owner, Michael O’Leary. ‘It’s a phenomenal training performance by Gordon. It’s brilliant that he keeps bringing this horse back at Cheltenham better than ever and Aintree better than ever. And what a ride by Davy – fantastic. It’s unbelievable, to win two Grand Nationals is just incredible.

‘It’s a great result for the punters as well.’

For much of the way it looked like Ruby Walsh might seal his third National success as Rathvinden raced and jumped with zest on the front end, along with stablemate and last year’s narrowly-beaten runner-up Pleasant Company. However, Tiger Roll was always in their slipstream and it was clear on the run to the final fence that barring accidents he would seal victory, with Russell motionless.

Jessica Harrington’s mare Magic Of Light attempted to chase him down, but Tiger Roll was not for catching and passed the post comfortably ahead.

Elliott – having first struck gold as a fledgling trainer with Silver Birch in 2007, was almost lost for words, but not quite.

‘Winning this is special, I just can’t wait to get home to see all my family and friends. I was trying to watch all of mine, I can’t believe it,’ he said. ‘I never once thought he was going to win until he crossed the line, because I could remember last year. He didn’t tie up this year. He’s an absolute gentleman to deal with. I don’t get upset too often, but I’m emotional today. For my whole yard and everyone involved it’s unbelievable – you dream about this.

‘He’s named well – he’s a tiger – and he knows how to win.” He added: ‘I don’t know about next year (winning three). Cheltenham again will be the plan.’

Russell explained that his mount ‘got very wound up’ before the race. The jockey added: ‘That was unlike him. Then Denis O’Regan came towards me on another horse of Gordon’s and that was a big help. Once we got going, we were fine.

‘This horse and this place is amazing. People go on about certain sporting events, but Liverpool and Aintree are so far ahead. People come here in the droves to cheer you on and they can be so proud of what they have here, it’s so well run. It’s televised all around the world and I’m so proud to be a part of it, I can’t believe it.

‘Tommy Stack (who rode Red Rum in 1977) is a Tipperary man and I’m still in awe of him, because of this race. Myself and Gordon go back a long way, my dad is here – he only booked his flight and hotel on Wednesday. It’s a marvellous day.

‘He’s a little devil, he doesn’t get high at his fences, but he gets away with it.’