HORSE PROFILE

Foaled: March 14, 2010 

Trainer: Gordon Elliott 

Jockeys: Davy Russell, Keith Donoghue, Lisa O'Neill, Donagh Meyler, Jack Kennedy

Owners: Gigginstown House Stud

Did you know: 

Tiger Roll wrote himself into the history books when winning back-to-back Aintree Grand Nationals in 2018 and 2019 becoming the first horse since Red Rum in 1973 and 1974 to achieve such a feat. He gave County Meath trainer Gordon Elliott his second victory in the race when winning the most famous race in the world in 2018. Elliott saddled Silver Birch to Grand National victory in 2007 just a year into his training career, when he was still awaiting his first winner in his home country. Tiger Roll led home an unprecedented 1-2-3-4 for Irish-trained horses in the 2018 renewal. 

The following year, it was an Irish-trained 1-2-3 as Tiger Roll beat the Jessica Harrington-trained Magic Of Light and Willie Mullins' Rathvinden to win. 

Tiger Roll, owned by Gigginstown House Stud, Ryanair supremo Michael O’Leary’s racing operation, went into his first Grand National following the rare feat of winning three different races at the Cheltenham Festival over the years. Successful on his previous start in the 2018 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase on March 14, his eighth birthday, Elliott’s charge had also plundered the 2017 National Hunt Chase and the 2014 JCB Triumph Hurdle, both also staged on March 14. He was also to win the 2019 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. 

Born in 2010, Tiger Roll is a son of the 2007 Derby winner Authorized and a half-brother to Group 2 Lonsdale Cup winner Ahzeemah. He was bred by Gerry O’Brien, a retired vet who spent much of his career at Coolmore, out of his mare Swiss Roll and was first sold at Tattersalls December Foal Sale for 70,000 guineas to John Ferguson. 

Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley operation did not race Tiger Roll on the Flat and he went back to the sales as an unraced three-year-old. Trainer and Grand National-winning jockey Nigel Hawke bought Tiger Roll for £10,000 at Doncaster Bloodstock Sales on August 7, 2013 and prepared him for a successful hurdling debut at Market Rasen on November 10. 

Tiger Roll passed through the sales ring for the final time on December 13 the same year at Brightwells, Cheltenham where he was purchased by the astute Mags O’Toole for £80,000 on behalf of Gigginstown House Stud. 

Big race wins:

April 06, 2019 Aintree Grand National 

1st of 40 runners, beat Magic Of Light by two and three quarter lengths ridden by Davy Russell 

March 13, 2019 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase Cheltenham Festival

1st of 15 runners, beat Josies Orders by 22 lengths ridden by Keith Donoghue 

February 17, 2019 Grade 2 Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle

1st of six runners, beat Off You Go by four lengths ridden by Keith Donoghue 

April 14, 2018 Aintree Grand National

1st of 38 runners, beat Pleasant Company by a head ridden by Davy Russell 

March 14, 2018 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase Cheltenham

1st of 16 runners, beat Urgent De Gregaine by twlo lengths ridden by Keith Donoghue 

March 14, 2017 National Hunt Chase Festival

1st of 18 runners, beat Missed Approach by three lengths ridden by Lisa O’Neill 

March 14, 2014 Triumph Hurdle Cheltenham Festival

1st of 15 runners, beat Kentucky Hyden by three and a quarter lengths ridden by Davy Russell