The biggest name in National hunt racing is Tiger Roll, who is the two-time defending champion of the Aintree Grand National. This is a race that always bring world-wide attention, including from in the US. The horse is now 10 years of age and is again going to head into his defence of the National as the favourite. This is no surprise, considering he has established himself into one of the leading horses in training with a career RPR of 174.
Tiger Roll is trained by Gordon Elliott and is also heading into the Cheltenham festival, looking for a record breaking fifth victory in his incredible career. This will see him contest the Cross Country Chase, in which he is set to start as one of the shortest priced favourites across the festival. He is also proving very popular for punters using the latest bet365 Cheltenham offers 2020 and being including in many multiples across the week.
He picked up his first Cheltenham festival victory back in 2014, when landing the Triumph hurdle. Tiger Roll travelled ominously well throughout the race and led approaching the last, before drawing clear to win by just over three lengths. Three years later and Tiger Roll returned with another victory at the Cheltenham festival. This saw him land the 2017 running of the National hunt chase. He led the race from three out and stayed on very well to get the better off Missed Approach. Tiger Roll was quickly establishing himself into a top staying chaser.
The following season and he was sent to contest the 2018 running of the Cross Country chase. He continued to drift on the day due to the soft conditions, despite positive updates on the horse. However, he travelled very well throughout the race and asserted from the last to win by just over two lengths. A very impressive display from the horse, who then went onto land the Grand National just a few weeks’ later.
Tiger Roll returned in 2019 with a breath-taking victory in the Boyne hurdle, which surprised his connections. This set him up for his defence in the 2019 running of the Cross Country chase, in which he was sent off as the banker of the week for many. He produced a jaw-dropping display to win by 22 lengths without even having to be extended. If he can produce a similar performance this year, then he is again going to take the world of beating. Following this he then defended his crown in the Grand National and emulated the great Red Rum.
The racing world will now be hoping that Tiger Roll can do the same this season and land the double for the third year in succession and further cement his incredible legacy.