Tiger Roll is set to bow out for the last time at Cheltenham Festival later today, following an illustrious career, with seven previous appearances at the Festival, and will be hoping to get his sixth win at the event.
With this in mind, Park Life Sport has decided to take a trip back in time, and look at some of the now 12-year-old’s best performances from over the years.
Triumph Hurdle 2014
Where better to start than with this event being the then four-year-old’s first win at Cheltenham Festival. Following an impressive first season, winning a juvenile hurdle at Market Rasen Racecourse, but his crowning achievement this season was in the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle.
Starting as an outsider with odds of 10/1, Tiger Roll started strongly and maintained his form, winning by 3 and a 1/2 runs ahead of Kentucky Hyden and Guitar Pete.
Cross Country Chase 2018
After a lacklustre list of results in the next two years, Tiger Roll was switched to chasing, and the results quickly returned, winning a two mile hurdle race in Cheltenham, the Munster National Handicap in 2016, before returning to form at Cheltenham Festival with a win in the Grade 2 National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Chase.
But the true signal of the horses strong form came with his win in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, with a win against Urgent de Gregaine by two lengths, with this being a catalyst for a remarkable run of form for Tiger Roll.
Aintree 2018
His next race entry also ensured another vintage win, as with Davy Russell now at the helm, Tiger Roll was able to narrowly claim his maiden title at the event.
With this being his first entrance at the Grand National, expectations were optimistic for the debut. Again with odds of 10/1. Tiger Roll took the lead late, with two from home, and managed to hold off in a photo finish against Pleasant Company, which in turn eventually ensured his total career earnings surpassed £800,000.
Aintree 2019
Tiger Roll began the next season in inauspicious fashion, with a fourth placed at Cheltenham in November, before surprising many by winning his seasonal warm, the Boyne Hurdle against odds of 25/1. The strong form continued and duly won the Glenfarcas Cross Country Chase by 22 lengths.
At the Grand National, he went in eight pounds heavier than the previous years events but that didn’t seem to impact him, winning against odds of 4/1, two lengths ahead of Magic of Light. This ensured he became the first since Red Rum in 1973-74 to win consecutive Grand Nationals.
Cross Country Chase 2021
Many feared that the 2019 Grand National would be the last time the public would see Tiger Roll in his prime. After a leg injury at the end of the previous season, he entered the Cross Country Chase as favourite, before being beaten by 17 lengths.
Lockdown then struck and after a significant hiatus, he entered a number of races, never cracking the top five in four different races, leaving many concerned about his future, this included being ruled out of the 2021 Grand National due to his weight requirement.
At the 2021 Cross Country Chase however, his form returned. Starting second favourite behind Easyland, and duly won by 18 lengths.
After this win, it ensured that Tiger Roll became one of only three horses to have won five or more races at Cheltenham, with the record currently six held by Quevega.
