IMPRESSIVE TIGER BACK ON PROWL

TRAINER Gordon Elliott hailed Tiger Roll as “something special“after the Grand National winner was cut to 12-1 from 20s for this year’s race following victory at Navan yesterday.

The nine-year-old, running for the only second time since his National success last April, landed the Boyne Hurdle at 25-1.

Tiger Roll (above) will now go next month to the Glenfarclas Crosscountry Chase at Cheltenham, where he is as short as evens, followed by another tilt at the National at Aintree.

Elliott (above) said: “He’s something special. He was only 75 per cent fit and he’ll improve plenty for Cheltenham.“

Stablemate Samcro will be re-routed to the Stayers’ Hurdle rather than the Champion Hurdle if he is fit enough to run at Cheltenham, Ellliott confirmed yesterday.

The one-time Champion favourite was found to have a lung infection in December, but Elliott said: “The vets are now happy with him.

“We’ll see how he is at the end of the week but if he runs at Cheltenham, it will be in the Stayers’.“