Tiger Roll will go for a sixth win at the Cheltenham Festival in March, Gordon Elliott has confirmed.
The dual Grand National hero delighted his trainer in a schooling session at Cheltenham before Festival Trials Day.
Elliott took the opportunity to send Tiger Roll over from his Cullentra House stables in Co Meath along with Pied Piper, who won impressively.
The young hurdler booked his ticket to the big meeting with a nine length score.
Elliott was pleased to see Tiger Roll, 14th of 17 in his most recent hurdles start, tackle a selection of fences at Prestbury Park.
“He jumped well this morning and we’re very happy with him,” the trainer said yesterday.
“The plan is to run in the cross country race at the Cheltenham Festival.
“Davy (Russell) was on board and he was pleased as well.”
Tiger Roll is hoping to scoop a staggering record fourth victory in the Glenfarclas Cross Country which he won in 2018, 2019 and 2021.
As for another crack at attempting to equal Red Rum’s three victories in the Grand National, Elliott explained. “We will see what that situation is regarding the National after he’s run at the Festival.”
Elliott, successful in the 2014 Triumph Hurdle with Tiger Roll, has leading claims in this year's renewal.
Pied Piper overtook another of his horses, Fil Dor, in Paddy Power's market after routing the opposition on Saturday.
Elliott said the Supreme Novices' Hurdle might be an option for the ex-Flat racer, who was owned by The Queen before he changed stables.
“It is a nice problem to have but Cheltenham is a long way away and we are lucky to have two horses at the top of the betting for the Triumph Hurdle," he said.
"Big thanks go to Mags O’Toole who picked the horse for me and recommended me to buy him. I rang Andrew and Gemma Brown and told them we have to have him and thankfully they brought him. They have got a few nice horses and he looks nice.
“They are big supporters of the yard and they are lovely people. They were supposed to come today but unfortunately couldn’t make it.
"It is great for them to have a Graded race winner around Cheltenham as that is what they came into the game for.”
