Tiger Roll got his spring campaign underway in the best possible fashion when the Gordon Elliott runner triumphed in the Boyne Hurdle by a length of four lengths ahead of second-placed Off You Go. The nine-year-old is aiming to be the first horse since Red Rum in 1973 and 1974 to win the Grand National two years on the bounce.
At Navan, Coquin Mans initially led the field but Tiger Roll negotiated the penultimate hurdle in fine fashion to take the lead under the guidance of Keith Donoghue.
Trainer Gordon Elliott described Tiger Roll as being only 75% fit ahead of the weekend outing and the bookmakers have responded to the victory by slashing his Grand National odds from 20/1 to as low as 11/1 in some circles.
The trainer said: “It was one of his best performances over hurdles.
I’m delighted with the way he ran. He’s a great horse and never lets us down.
“The plan is the cross-country race at Cheltenham and obviously the English [Grand] National, all being well.
“It was a nice surprise. I thought the two horses, Bless The Wings and him, would finish second-last and last so it was a nice surprise.
“He’s paid for himself for the year again.”
Tiger Roll’s next outing will be in the Grenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham, a race which he won last year.
