AIN’T LIFE GRAND
Tiger Roll is back in the saddle INSPECTION: 7AM
ALL roads lead to Aintree – and racing history – as Tiger Roll makes his eagerly-awaited return to action at Navan today.
The Gordon Elliott-trained 10-year-old has been off the track since his second victory with Davy Russell in the Randox Health Grand National on Merseyside last April.
Injury intervened during the first half of the winter when Tiger Roll underwent an operation to remove a chipped bone in a leg joint.
But owner Michael O’Leary’s pride and joy takes on nine rivals for the Grade 2 Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle, a race he won at 25-1 a year ago, before a bid for a fifth triumph at the Cheltenham Festival – and an unprecedented National hat-trick.
Elliott said: “He is only back cantering since January 1. He’s going to need the run badly, and he wouldn’t be loving the heavy ground so people shouldn’t be expecting fireworks – if he beats a couple home, I’ll be happy.
“But he’s in good form. We just want him to come back in one piece and be able to go to Cheltenham,” added the County Meath-based trainer, whose stable star has won the last two runnings of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the National Hunt Festival.
O’Leary had refused to give his blessing for Tiger Roll’s bid to match
Aintree legend Red Rum’s three National successes – gained in 1973, 1974 and 1977 – when the son of Authorized was allotted top weight of 11st 10lb at the 2020 National launch in Liverpool on Tuesday.
But the Ryanair boss announced on Friday evening that Aintree would, after all, the horse’s aim, and Elliott added: “We’re happy the decision has been made.
“He has plenty of weight, but it’s the Grand National and he has won two, so we’ve just got to enjoy it now.
“He has to get over tomorrow and Cheltenham – then it will be all systems go for Aintree.”