‘The people’s horse’: Tiger Roll’s phenomenal back-to-back Grand National wins
Tiger Roll, the little horse with a big heart, raced into the history books today when becoming the first horse since the 1970s to claim back-to-back wins in the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree (6 April).
The Gordon Elliott-trained National Hunt hero Tiger Roll returned to the hallowed Aintree turf, carrying 11st 5lb, and justified his 4/1 favouritism to beat 66/1 shot Magic Of Light by 2¾ lengths, under Davy Russell.
The nine-year-old son of Authorized, who was bred to be a Flat horse, emulated the great Red Rum, becoming the first horse since Ginger McCain’s stable star in 1973/74 to win the world’s greatest steeplechase twice.
It was a third Grand National win for Gordon Elliott, who also trained Silver Birch to win the 2007 renewal of the £1m race.
“Everyone loves him, he is the people’s horse and I cannot believe it,” said Gordon. “We work very hard for this the whole time and I’ve got a brilliant team behind me. Davy’s mother died last year — this was for her. My uncle Willie Elliott died this year, so this was for him too.”
Asked to sum up his brilliant horse — who now has four Cheltenham Festival wins and two Randox Health Grand National victories to his name — Gordon simply replied “Tiger”.
The superstar gelding is owned by Gigginstown House Stud, the racing operation of Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary.
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“It’s just unbelievable,” he said. “I thought that he genuinely had no chance today carrying that weight, but it was a beautiful ride by Davy and a phenomenal training performance by Gordon. It’s brilliant he keeps bringing this horse back to Cheltenham and Aintree better than ever.”
The winning jockey added: “What can I say? Tiger Roll is just an unbelievable horse. I was running away for most of the race. It was marvellous — he gave a couple of stumbles, but I think the blinkers lit him up.”
The Robert Walford-trained Walk In The Mill was the first British-trained runner home, finishing fourth under James Best.
A total of 19 combinations — from the 40 who lined up — completed the 4m2½f marathon. The Willie Mullins-trained 33/1 shot, Up For Review, was fatally injured when brought down.
Top-ten placings in the 2019 Randox Health Grand National:
1 TIGER ROLL (trainer Gordon Elliott/jockey Davy Russell)
2 MAGIC OF LIGHT (Jessica Harrington/Paddy Kennedy)
3 RATHVINDEN (Willie Mullins/Ruby Walsh)
4 WALK IN THE MILL (Robert Walford/James Best)
5 ANIBALE FLY (Tony Martin/Mark Walsh)
6 ONE FOR ARTHUR (Lucinda Russell/Derek Fox)
7 REGAL ENCORE (Anthony Honeyball/Jonathan Burke)
8 SINGLEFARMPAYMENT (Tom George/Paddy Brennan)
9 OUTLANDER (Richard Spencer/James Bowen)
10 VALSEUR LIDO (Henry de Bromhead/Rachael Blackmore)
Don’t miss our full report from the Randox Health Grand National in the 11 April issue of Horse & Hound.
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