Tiger Roll ‘unlikely’ to go for National hat-trick

Racing365
April 7, 2019 11:32 am

Tiger Roll is ‘unlikely’ to go in search of a third successive Grand National success next year, according to owner Michael O’Leary.

The Gordon Elliott-trained nine-year-old became the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to win back-to-back Nationals after he eased to a historic second triumph at Aintree on Saturday.

Red Rum went on to win the world’s most famous steeplechase for a third time in 1977, but O’Leary has indicated that Tiger Roll is ‘unlikely’ to compete for his third title next year, particularly as it seems he would have to carry the burden of top-weight.

Speaking on Racing TV‘s Luck on Sunday programme, O’Leary said: ‘It’s very unlikely that he’ll come back and run in it again next year. ‘He will be carrying top-weight, he is a small horse and every time he runs now I get nervous – I’d hate for anything unfortunate to happen to him while he’s racing.’

Tiger Roll warmed up for this year’s National by winning the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at last month’s Cheltenham Festival – his fourth Festival success overall – and O’Leary feels a fifth triumph at Prestbury Park could well be a fitting swansong for the Gigginstown House Stud horse.

‘His main target this year was the cross-country in Cheltenham and I think that will probably be his main target again next year,’ O’Leary added.

‘I would be strongly of the view that if he was to win the cross-country in Cheltenham next year for a third time – which would be his fifth win in Cheltenham – I would see no reason not to retire him at that point in time and let him go out on a high.’