National double hero Tiger Roll makes his long-awaited seasonal reappearance – ???? and first start on the Flat since 2016 â ???? in Navan Thursday
The 10-year-old Gordon Elliott has not been seen competing since finding Easysland too strong when bidding for a remarkable fifth victory at the Cheltenham Festival in the Glenfarclas Cross-country Chase in March
The coronavirus pandemic denied Tiger Roll his candidacy for an unprecedented third straight victory at Aintree in April, but Elliott believes that the cancellation of the world’s most famous steeplechase may have ultimately been a blessing in disguise
– It wasn’t that boring at all (missing the Grand National) because he had had a really tough race in Cheltenham and came home a little stiff and sore behind, a ???? says trainer Cullentra
– The decision was made a week after Cheltenham that Aintree would not go ahead, so we didn’t really think about that
It was going to be a tough week to get there anyway, as he didn’t have a brilliant preparation for Cheltenhamâ ????
Despite the years of Tiger Roll, Elliott brought back his « horse of a lifetime » being in poor health for his return to action in the one-mile-six-furlong Flower Hill Maiden – ???? in which he faces nine rivals at the hands of 7-pound apprentice Sam Ewing
– He’s absolutely in great shape Simon McGonagle, my boss, rides him almost every day, â ???? added Elliott
– I think the ground is the big key to him – the better the pitch, the better
– He’s just been the horse of his life, and everyone who comes to the yard wants to see Tiger Roll – whether it’s a kid from a local village or a footballer from Dublin, every time they walk in in the yard, this is the first person they want to seeâ ????
He said: « This is a huge opportunity and I can’t wait to be there I really have to thank Gordon and Gigginstown House Stud for the boost It’s amazing and I haven’t really yet understood
– Gordon let me ride a bit when I was 12 or 13 and Gigginstown was kind enough to let me ride in their silks at pony races
– Dad and Gordon would have faced each other point by point and Gordon has been very good to me from a young age I am very gratefulâ ????
Tiger Roll, The Grand National, Horse races, Steeplechase, Aintree Racecourse, Gordon Elliott, Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
World news – GB – « I don’t really have the head around: « Teenager for the return of Tiger Roll
