Inspirational story of ‘The People’s Horse’ Tiger Roll could be made into a film
AN EPIC new series on the life and times of wonder horse Tiger Roll may be turned into a movie.
The seven-part podcast series charts the unlikely rise of the twotime Aintree Grand National winner, with observations from his small-time breeder to his first jockey, and trainer Gordon Elliott.
The hugely intelligent 15.2 hands Bay is often dwarfed by much bigger national horses in his races, but this is just one part of the tale of the underdog gelding.
And millions will be shouting him on for a fairytale finish to his storied career when he runs his last race at Cheltenham this week.
The RTÉ Documentary On One series, Tiger Roll: The People’s Horse, tracks his humble beginnings from his birth in March 2010 in Tipperary to being sold at the age of three for just £10,000, because he failed to make it in flat racing.
Series producer Liam O’Brien, said: ‘We already have interest from film production companies about turning it into a film.
‘You have the headlines of Tiger’s career about the big races but if you start digging a bit down there are so many kinds of unique elements. For instance, the guy who bred Tiger Roll, and who owns his mom, Swiss Roll, Gerry [O’Brien], owns one horse and he has one foal a year. Just the chances of a guy who owns only one horse breeding a horse of the calibre of Tiger is extraordinary.
‘And then Tiger has this unusual backstory in that he was bred as a flat horse to essentially compete for the Epsom Derby or races like that,’ he said.
But he was transformed by that £10,000 sale because it was Michael O’Leary who snapped him up and tried him out over jumps and Gordon Elliott began to build his confidence.
In the series, the trainer remembers he didn’t want the gelding when he first arrived at the yard in 2013.
‘I wanted another horse and didn’t get him on the night, it was kind of an afterthought, getting Tiger Roll,’ says Elliot.
‘I suppose it was the first time I ever threw my toys out of the pram at Michael O’Leary. We had a few harsh words.’
The documentary tracks Tiger Roll’s eventful life, during which he was sold three times and almost a fourth before someone decided to take a chance on him.
The documentary maker said his main hope for the 12-year-old horse’s last race is that he comes home safe.
‘Whatever happens he has left his legacy, but if he can win it, I think that will help this unusual position he holds in the heart of anyone connected with racing.’
The full series is available to binge now on RTÉ.ie/tigerroll and on all podcasting platforms