My beloved Tiger has the heart of a lion – and will prove it yet again

I might have to hand over presenting duties if Grand National winner takes the Cross Country

Yesterday was one of the oddest days here for many a year. Grim weather, then glorious sunshine, a trio of false starts, Willie Mullins demonstrating yet again his mastery with this ground, and some results that had punters reeling.

I wrote yesterday there would be plenty of shocks and winners at big prices: and with 6-1, 5-1, 10-1, 16-1 and 10-1 shots first past the post on ITV’S five televised races I am sorry to say I was right.

As to the winds today, we are in the lap of the gods, but I will say that officials are taking every possible precaution – and have spent a lot of money – to get this right. If it is called off, it will not be the fault of the course.

This was the day last year when my beloved Tiger Roll delivered the goods in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase and I am pretty Pocket rocket: Tiger Roll at work on the Cheltenham gallops this week sure he is going to do it again. The Tiger has the heart of a lion and is a legend of a little horse. His CV is unusual, ridiculous and brilliant in equal measure, with three Cheltenham Festival wins to his name plus a Grand National – tipped in this column, I might add.

He is truly unique. And what is remarkable about him is that he seems to be loving the game more than ever. Every time I see Gordon Elliott I ask him how the Tiger is, and he assures me he comes to defend his title in rude health. If he wins again, Francesca Cumani may have to take over the presenting duties, as I will be in pieces.

Ultragold could be the one to chase Tiger Roll home: his trainer, Colin Tizzard, said he had the “brainwave” of running Ultragold in this as a prep for the National after seeing it work out so well for my boy last year, so the shrewdies are clearly catching on.

I had backed Tiger Roll throughout the winter last year and this year’s model is Santini, who I thought was going to be a world-beater at the start of the season. He has done little wrong and ran an eye-catching trial at Kempton in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Christmas. He hated the track that day though, and this is a totally different test.

Down the line I think he will be the best of these in the RSA, but I know Nicky Henderson would have loved to have got another run

He is unique and seems to be loving the game more than ever

in to him after a flu vaccination last month. Losing a shoe in the gallops last week has not helped either. Still, he is fit to take his place and is a worthy favourite.

I will be working with Sir Anthony Mccoy, the “Champ”, all week and the horse named after him runs in today’s opener. We wind up Anthony that the horse is far more talented, better looking and charismatic than him. The greatest jockey of all time is known to have ice in his veins but we may see some emotion if Champ triumphs, especially as this is his son Archie’s favourite horse. However, the Irish will not hear of defeat for Elliott’s Battleoverdoyen. An intriguing contest is in store.

The star on day two is, of course, Altior. His 17-race unbeaten run over obstacles is extraordinary in this most attritional of sports, and had the ITV team comparing the sequence to Arsenal’s Invincibles, Ed Moses and the great All Black rugby teams. I was more concerned than most as to why he jumped so markedly left-handed last time. Often that means a horse is feeling something, but connections were unfazed, and Nicky said that the horse had got a bit bored being out in front.

Racing needs superstars and I hope Altior does it, equals Big Buck’s’ winning streak, and allows us to say: “We were there.”

That would be a magic moment, and I have hopes of another one in the bumper: I fancy Abacadabras to make the bookies’ money disappear.