EYE on the TIGER
National winner’s career will Roll on for Elliott next season
GORDON ELLIOTT is already planning an extraordinary fourth Cheltenham Festival triumph with Tiger Roll — ahead of a possible repeat effort in the Grand National.
After his diminutive eight-yearold returned home to a hero’s welcome yesterday, trainer Ellott confirmed he would be back in action next season.
Already the winner of Cheltenham’s Triumph Hurdle, National Hunt Chase and Glenfarclas Chase Elliott hinted Saturday’s winning rider Davy Russell would not be in the saddle when Tiger Roll returns to Prestbury Park next spring.
Keith Donoghue had been on board for Tiger Roll’s two-length margin in the Glenfarclas last month. And Elliott, who paraded Tiger Roll, National third Bless The Wings and Irish Grand National hero General Principle in front of hundreds of well-wishers in his home village of Summerhill, Co Meath said: “He’s Keith’s ride, but he couldn’t do the weight on Saturday.”
“He’ll probably be back on him at Cheltenham next March in the cross-country chase. If we could get back and win at Cheltenham, I’d be delighted.
“The chances of coming back and winning two Nationals are very slim,” admitted the 40-year-old, previously a National winner with Silver Birch 11 years ago.
The success was a first for Russell, at 38 the oldest jockey riding in the Randox Health-supported race, and a second for both Elliott and owner Michael O’Leary.
Tiger Roll, a second victor in O’Leary’s Gigginstown Stud colours after Rule The World two years ago, clung on by a diminishing head from Pleasant Company, saddled by Elliott’s rival for the Irish trainers’ title, Willie Mullins.
The Flat-bred gelding held a sixlength cushion at the Elbow, and his trainer admitted: “I thought we were going to hose up.
“In the last 50 yards or 100 yards he hit a brick wall. Thankfully the line came in time.”
For Russell, it was a case of business as usual with a double at Tramore on his first two mounts since savouring National glory.
After scoring on the John Kiely-trained Decision Time and Elliott’s Monatomic at the Co Waterford course, the jockey said: “It’s a bit surreal - the stuff of dreams.”