RAT’LL DO NICELY
Owner jokes about Tiger Roll’s size but little horse can do a Red Rum
HiS owner Michael o’leary memorably labelled him a ‘little rat of a thing’ after he won last year’s randox Health Grand National.
But when it comes to fighting spirit and competitive instinct, tiger roll is a predator at the top of the racing food chain.
this afternoon the nine-year-old gelding will need both those traits in spades as he tries to become the first horse to win back-to-back Grand Nationals since red rum 45 years ago.
Bookmakers claim they are braced for the biggest gamble since red rum was sent off 7-2 favourite in 1975 — the year he finished second to l’escargot.
After an impeccable build-up, including an impressive fourth victory at the Cheltenham Festival, there have even been suggestions that tiger roll’s starting price could challenge the shortest ever for a Grand National winner, poethlyn (11-4), 100 years ago.
in reality, that looks unlikely given more rain than expected this week means that the extra 6lb tiger roll has on his back compared to last year makes the weight more significant over the four-and-a-quarter mile trip.
But betting will only be part of a remarkable story if tiger roll can make history. there will also be some striking similarities with red rum, too. physically, tiger roll, who is re-united with jockey Davy russell for the first time since last year’s race, is not a big horse just like red rum.
But red rum and the gelding are renowned for agility — quickness on their feet which makes them adept at avoiding unexpected situations.
When both horses were bred, the Grand National was not on the agenda. Famously, as a two-yearold red rum deadheated for victory on debut in a five-furlong selling plate on the Flat at Aintree, the day before Foinavon won the 1967 Grand National at 100-1.
tiger roll, a son of Derby winner Authorized, cost £70,000 when bought in 2010 to join Sheik Mohammed’s global Flat racing operation. Nearly three years later, without ever running, he was picked up by jump trainer Nigel Hawke, the man who won the 1991 National as a jockey on Seagram.
Following a winning debut over hurdles at Market rasen, tiger roll was snapped up for £80,000 by bloodstock agent Mags o’toole for ryanair boss o’leary and it seemed job done when two runs later he landed the triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.
o’toole recalled: ‘Although he wasn’t huge, he was a very good-looking horse with a great action but we never thought, “Why don’t we buy him, he could be a National horse one day”.’
three subsequent Cheltenham Festival wins have followed — one in the four mile National Hunt Chase and two in the Cross Country Chase.
His win this year was a stroll and, on the back of a comfortable win over hurdles, tiger roll has looked better than ever. trainer Gordon elliott said: ‘He’s been a horse of a lifetime but he can also be a bit of a boyo. He is no child’s pony. His form looks better than ever but this is his toughest task of the season. it’s the Grand National and i am under no illusions (it will be easy). if he wins, it will be a great story and he seems a better horse this season.’
elliott, who also won the 2007 National with Silver Birch, is already a record breaker before the race even starts. His 11 runners beats by one the previous record of trainer Martin pipe in 2001.
elliott added: ‘to be honest there are seven or eight horses that would not shock me if they won. Dounikos won the Grand National trial at punchestown, General principle won last year’s irish National.
‘the rain that has fallen will suit Folsom Blue and i think Jury Duty is in very good form.’