Lisa O’neill

Jockey who won on Tiger Roll at Cheltenham in 2017

He has turned into a complete legend. I was lucky enough to get my leg across him in the four-miler at Cheltenham in 2017 and I still get to ride him out every now and again, though that job is shared with Keith Donoghue and Simon Mcgonagle, Gordon’s right-hand man.

That day I rode him at Cheltenham he was stepping up from three miles to four miles and he saw it out really well. It was a novice chase but he was very

economical and quick over a fence and if he made a slight mistake he never seemed to lose much momentum.

When he went to the National last year I think people questioned both his jumping and his size, but he proved them so wrong on both counts. I have ridden him a good bit lately and he tells you when he is in good form. He is well capable of sticking in a small buck and he is in brilliant form since he came home from Cheltenham this time.

He has become the people’s horse now and I am on his bandwagon with everyone else. When he won the Boyne Hurdle (on his penultimate start) he got a huge reception and it would be wonderful if he could emulate Red Rum. But he needs a lot of luck as there are 10 or 15 who would, with a bit of luck and a clear run, also be capable of winning.

I think he is also a spring horse; he comes to form with a bit of sun on his back and he has come alive in the mornings recently. He is full of beans after his latest Crosscountry race and I think it shows he is getting better with age. There is no end to his talent.