Elliott on a roll as National win sinks in

● Eleven years after first victory with Silver Birch, trainer strikes gold again

Gordon Elliott was still pinching himself the morning after claiming his second Randox Health Grand National.

Eleven years on from saddling Silver Birch to win the Aintree spectacular, the Cullentra handler struck gold on Merseyside for a second time as three-times Cheltenham Festival winner Tiger Roll clung on grimly in the hands of Davy Russell.

Elliott, who caught the ferry back to Ireland on Saturday night, was back in his yard yesterday morning and reported that his National hero had arrived home safe and well.

Speaking on Racing UK’S Luck On Sunday programme, the trainer said: “I suppose when you go out in the yard this morning and see all the lads and there’s a bit of a buzz about the place, it starts to sink in a bit.

“I was very, very lucky [with Silver Birch]. It was my first year of training and I hadn’t even a winner trained in Ireland at the time. To win a National, I probably thought it was all very easy.

“But now, with all the water that has gone under the bridge and all the ups and downs of the game, to win another one is unbelievable.

“He [Tiger Roll] has come home and he’s a bit tired this morning, but he’s OK, thank God.”

Tiger Roll was among the market principals at 10-1 off the back of winning the Glenfarclas Cross-country Chase at Cheltenham, adding to his previous triumphs at Prestbury Park in the Triumph Hurdle and the National Hunt Chase.

“To win three different races at the Cheltenham Festival and then go on and win an English National, it’s just unbelievable. If he never does another thing for us he doesn’t owe us much,” Elliott continued.

“He’s a bit of a character and he probably is a real favourite in the yard. All the kids that come in at the weekend, this is the horse they can ride the

0 Gordon Elliot and National winner Tiger Roll outside Shaw’s Pub in Summerhill, County Meath. whole time because he’s so quiet. He starts and stops.”

It has been quite a season for Elliott, who in the last five weeks alone has taken the Leading Trainer Award at Cheltenham for a second time, broken records by going through the 200-winner mark for the season in Ireland and won his first Irish Grand National with General Principle.

He looks well set to be crowned champion trainer in his homeland later this month, but admitted Saturday’s success was particularly special.

He said: “I suppose you put a lot of pressure on yourself. I’m in a very lucky position and I’ve got a lot of good horses and good owners. You do get wound up on these big days as it’s kind of nearly expected of you to have winners. I probably was a bit emotional yesterday. It’s just nice to do it.”

Elliott was keen to pay tribute to Russell, winning the race for the first time at the age of 38, and Tiger Roll’s regular partner Keith Donoghue.

He added: “It’s a shame for Keith Donoghue as he’s done a lot of work on him and he’s Keith’s ride. He just couldn’t do the weight on him.

“He’s going to have plenty more days on him and he’ll be back on him in the crosscountry race next year, all being well.

“But I’m delighted that Davy rode him. I’ve been friends