Our Tiger is back as Team Foster / Cullentra make it winner number eight
One of the two world famous Tigers is back on track - Tiger Roll saved his best for St Patrick's Day at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival as he left the opposition in the shade today
Seven years on from that first win at the Cheltenham Festival the Tiger Roll(ed) into town today and added another chapter to the fairytale that still could have a few more paragraphs penned before the book is closed.
Today with the Tiger, Team Foster / Cullentra reeled off winner number eight since the story started on over a week ago on Monday 8th March.
This was surely the best (so far) as Ireland's favourite racehorse made his way back to the winners' enclosure for a 13th win and a ninth in the UK.
Tiger Roll won for the sixth time at Cheltenham and it was a fifth Festival success.
This one will surely have given temporarily-sidelined Gordon Elliott a major boost as the now 11-year-old regained his Glenfarclas Chase crown when comfortable reversing 2020 placings with Easyland.
No doubt either that another man temporarily sidelined - Davy Russell - will have enjoyed the win.
The French horse Easyland briefly challenged, but with the equally amazing Keith Donoghue on board the Tiger wasn't for taming and forged clear approaching the turn for home.
Easyland held on for second with another Meath-trained horse in third, the John McConnell-trained Some Neck.
Now that he has his oats bill paid for don't rule out the possibility that the Tiger will be back for more at a racecourse near a television camera in the not too distant future.
And don't rule out the possibility of a Tiger parade in Summerhill sometime soon - once the current restrictions are lifted - in fact a Tiger parade when permitted would be just the tonic for all racing fans.
POST-RACE CHAT
Lisa O’Neill, representing winning trainer Denise Foster said:
“He is a sensation and words cannot describe what he is. He means so much to the team back home.
"I think some people may have lost a bit of faith in his last few runs during this season but we retained all the faith in him as we knew he still had plenty of fire in his belly and he showed that today.
“I suppose he disappointed a little bit in the cross country race in December then he ran on the Flat and ran over hurdles but I suppose none of them were too encouraging. But we knew at home he was alive and he tells when he is feeling well.
“He loves coming to Cheltenham and coming up that hill with that sun on his back. Everything just falls into place here. It is hard for us to put a finger on it (swapping places with Easysland from 12 months ago).
“We just know what ability he has and he showed that there today and he turned the tables on Easysland.
"He has been in great form since he got here and that is the main thing. He loves it here and Keith knows him so well.
"He has just been a revelation for Keith and of course for Davy Russell, who he is a dual Grand National winner for.
“Words can’t describe him. Keith gave him a great ride. He jumped him off lovely and got him in a great position and took it up a nice way out and gave him plenty of light at his jumps. He just showed real enthusiasm and sweetness for the game."
Winning rider Keith Donoghue said:
“He really came alive. We said we’d change the tactics with him today - we’d jump him out, take a lead, sit him second or third and make up his mind today.
"He came alive and he jumped brilliantly. I was in control of the race after halfway; he was just in his comfort zone, and when Tiger comes alive like that, you don’t take him back.
“We never doubted that we had him peaking for the right time. It’s well known that we didn’t have the preparation with him that we wanted last year.
"We were happy with his run in Navan on ground that he absolutely hates. We had the faith. We always knew what this horse could show, and there’s no better horse than Tiger Roll to doubt the doubters.
“I knew at halfway by the way that he was going and the way that he was jumping that it would take a good horse to go by him today. It’s unbelievable - there’s no better feeling in the world. I wish I could do it again!
“He’s a very, very good horse, but is it the Cross Country jumps that make the best of him? I’m not sure he’d be as good over park fences or hurdles.
"We don’t know, but we think there’s something about the Cross Country fences that sparks him up, and obviously the National fences do the same. When Tiger Roll is on a going day, it takes a very good horse to beat him.”
MEATH CHRONICLE TIGERMANIA
All photos: Gerry Shanahan / www.quirke.ie