Tiger Roll goes for third National

Gordon Elliott is targeting a record third successive Randox Health Grand National victory for Tiger Roll.
Owner Michael O’Leary had uttered another crack at the National wasn’t a given in the event the handicapper was overly harsh, but Elliott has moved to quash this panic – using a programme.
By winning back renewals of this Aintree spectacular having emulated Red Rum, Tiger Roll will be attempting to go far compared to possibly the most well-known National Hunt horse of all time.
Elliott stated:”It is excellent to see him back, doing a little bit of work . He has had a wonderful few months of summer holidays.
“He moved back to (O’Leary’s) Gigginstown (House Stud) obviously. He was out there and needed approximately 10 to 12 weeks outside on grass. He hasn’t had a saddle on him since the National along with Aintree, but he has done a few parades and had a few good days outside, which is terrific.
“I’ve seen him a few times during the summertime at Gigginstown and that he had been good and strong, and I’ve seen him when he had been here for a while until he went off to do his apartment job and he looked great.
“He will likely do four or three weeks of apartment work before he comes back to us in the main yard here.”
Having won both the Boyne Hurdle and the Cross Country race at the Cheltenham Festival last season, Elliott is targeting the races again.
“Clearly he won’t be busy this season. We’re likely to have to head him today and pick and choose where we go,” explained Elliott.
“He will probably have one run over hurdles, maybe something like the Boyne Hurdle (Navan, February) again. He’ll go back to Cheltenham (March) for the Cross Country race and then we’ll go to your Randox Health Grand National.
“Keith (Donoghue) will ride in Cheltenham from the Cross Country race and also the Boyne Hurdle and Davy Russell will ride him in the National.”
Elliott also ruled out running in other races or the Gold Cup.
He added:”People tell me that I should be entering him Stayers’ Hurdles or Gold Cups, but that I was always taught and I’m a huge believer in opting to the race you believe you can win at the Cheltenham Festival along with the race I think I can win at the Cheltenham Festival is that the Cross Country race, so that is where he will go. However, the number one goal this season will be the English National.”
Elliott is the Tiger Roll is by far the horse he has had in his or her care.
He explained:”You don’t really realise how much the horse meant to everyone. You see all of the kids.
“You don’t really appreciate it when you are in the bubble . You don’t realise just how much of a thing there is about this horse, you know? It is only afterwards you see the videos and when you sit back and read of the paper clippings, people have got to like him.
“You know, he’s obtained a great name, Tiger Roll, plus he’s got a fantastic heart. He has won four Cheltenham Festivals and also to acquire two Grand Nationals has been unbelievable.
“Everybody who comes into the yard, there is only 1 horse they want to view and that is Tiger Roll. He is a people’s horse and we are blessed to have him.
“Red Rum had been ahead of my time, but you’ve seen the videos and noticed about him. He had been to maintain the identical league as him is incredible and an awesome horse.
“I feel the build up to the English National this year is going to be incredible. The hype – folks are currently speaking about him . Whether he loses wins or draws, if he gets back to have a go to three in a row, it is going to be great. The hype will be brilliant.
“We were very, very satisfied with the horse (past year), that he was in terrific shape and we got him in good order. If we could get him next year in half as well a kind , then he will have a chance.
“He knows he’s good, he loves the attention. You just watch him walking round the parade ring before and after races and he understands he’s Tiger Roll.”