Bookmaker Paddy Power sent a special delivery to Cheltenham Racecourse in the form of a giant retirement card to celebrate Tiger Roll being put out to pasture. Paddy Power estimates that Cheltenham Festival hero Tiger Roll has earned punters in the region of half a billion pounds over the course of his career.
The racehorse – owned by Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary – was primed to land one final blow against the bookies in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (4:10pm) at Cheltenham this afternoon, ahead of his anticipated retirement from racing. Fans will have the opportunity to say farewell to Tiger Roll by personally signing the enormous card, which stands at 10ft in height and 14ft wide, as they make their way to the track for day two of the action in the heart of the Cotswolds.
Those who can’t be there can contribute their message via Twitter (@paddypower) using the hashtag #FarewellTigerRoll. Having been purchased as ‘an afterthought’ for £10k by trainer Gordon Elliott, Tiger Roll went on to win the Aintree Grand National twice, earned over £1.4m in prize money over the course of his career, and secured five back-to-back wins at the Cheltenham festival.
