The extraordinary career of Tiger Roll concluded in suitably remarkable circumstances here on Wednesday, as the winner of five Festival races and two Grand Nationals was denied a swansong success just a few strides from the line, by a stablemate in the same colours of Ryanair’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary.
Tiger Roll and Davy Russell, his partner for so many big-race wins, had a narrow lead over the last in the Cross Country Chase, a race he won three times in the last four years. He was still in front with less than half a furlong to run, but was overhauled by Delta Work, the 5-2 favourite, within sight of the post, finishing second by three-quarters of a length.
