Louise Magee

Leads up Tiger Roll in his races

Ihave looked after him for about five years now. I took him over after he had won the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham and he kind of tiddled around not doing a lot for a long time. I guess he took a long time to mature. When he won the Triumph he was half the horse he is now.

He is lovely to have anything to do with and he loves his job. He can be a bit grumpy in his stable and pulls a few faces. He will make out he does not want you to come in but he does not mean it. He loves his treats and carrots. If he thinks someone is coming round with an apple he will be the first horse with his head over the door.

The reception he gets wherever he goes now is getting better every time. He is getting more and more popular. In his first start after the National (back at Cheltenham in the autumn) he was applauded in the paddock before he had even gone out to race.

The reception he got after this year’s Cross-country was off the scale. I was so pleased for him and for Keith Donoghue who rode him. Last year the vets made Keith dismount and walk back down the

chute because the horse was a bit wobbly and fatigued, and Keith missed out on the thrill of being led back into the winners’ enclosure, so he got that this year.

It is terrifying watching a horse go round the National, and very emotional. All the lads and lasses want their horses to come back safe. But very soon in last year’s race I felt he would run a big race. I saw him step round a faller quite early and I thought he would be clever enough to get round.