Watching Michael O’Leary watch Tiger Roll come up just short in his 45th and final race was a singularly fascinating experience. As the tapes went up in the Cross Country Chase, a contest National Hunt’s now retired national treasure had won twice previously, his owner separated himself from his small entourage, leaned against the back of the presentation podium in the winner’s enclosure and gazed impassively at the nearest big screen.
There he remained throughout the duration of the 3m 6f race, protected from the day’s relentless downpour by a blue bobble hat and beige overcoat. He neither moved a muscle nor registered a flicker of emotion until his ludicrously brave superstar was pipped on the run-in. The Ryanair boss had said in the build-up to the Festival that “Cheltenham doesn’t do fairytales” and while that’s not strictly true, on this occasion he was absolutely right.
