Manchester Evening News

Punters are roaring for record-breaking Tiger Roll hat-trick

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TIGER Roll bids to win the Glenfarcla­s Chase at Cheltenham for the third year running tomorrow.

The Gordon Elliott-trained 10-year-old is going for a fifth Festival win in total after also taking the Triumph Hurdle in 2014 and the National Hunt Chase in 2017.

The dual Grand National hero features in a maximum field of 16 before he attempts to land a recordbrea­king hat-trick in the world’s greatest steeplecha­se.

Fifth on his seasonal reappearan­ce over hurdles at Navan last month, Tiger Roll faces strong opposition that includes Might Bite, runner-up in the Gold Cup two years ago.

Easysland leads a strong French challenge. David Cottin’s six-year-old burst on the scene with a convincing victory over the course and distance. He has since been bought by JP McManus, who also has the Enda Bolger-trained duo of 2016 winner Josies Orders 2016 and Yanworth.

Emmanuel Clayeux sends a threehorse raid with Arlequin D’Allier, Diesel D’Allier and Urgent De Gregaine in a strong field.

Elliott has Envoi Allen, considered by many pundits as a banker, for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.

The unbeaten six-year-old has yet to taste defeat in seven races under Rules with his last two wins being in

Grade Ones - the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse and the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle.

He has just 11 rivals, headed by Sporting John. Philip Hobbs’ fiveyear-old has won all his three starts so far and looks an exciting recruit.

A fascinatin­g race for the RSA Chase is in prospect after the 10 declared included the Mullins-trained Allaho, Henderson’s Champ, the Colin Tizzard-trained Copperhead and Minella Indo from Henry de Bromhead’s stable.

Elliott’s Battleover­doyen and Easy Game, another Mullins runner, are also engaged in what could be one of the races of the four-day bonanza.

Ante-post market leaders Birchdale, from the Henderson yard, and Dan Skelton’s Protektora­t are among 26 runners in the Coral Cup, with the weights headed by Kilfenora from Eddie Harty’s stable.

Mick Pastor, from the Nicholls camp, has to give weight all-round in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle in a full field of 22.

Appreciate It, who heads the betting for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, will try to give Mullins a 10th success in the race.

David Pipe’s duo of Israel Champ and Panic Attack are among the fancied runners after 23 were declared for the concluding event on day two.

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