The pre-race hype surrounding the 2019
renewal of the Grand National was all about Tiger Roll, owned by
Michael O’Leary and trained by Gordon Elliott, who was attempting
to become the first horse since the legendary Red Rum, in 1974, to
win the celebrated steeplechase two years running. At one point,
there was even talk of Tiger Roll starting a shorter-priced favourite
than Poethlyn, who won the 1919 renewal, under Ernie Piggott, at odds
of 11/4.
In the end, common sense prevailed, at least to a degree, and Tiger Roll was sent off 4/1 favourite on the day. In truth, apart from a couple of stumbles at Valentine’s Brook and the following fence on the second circuit, from which he quickly recovered, the diminutive steeplechaser barely gave his supporters and anxious moment. He led, going well, between the last two fences and readily drew clear before being ridden out in the closing stages to hold 66/1 chance Magic Of Light by 2¾ lengths. Tiger Roll did, in fact, become the shortest-priced winner of the National since Poethlyn and his victory made Gordon Elliot – who also saddled Silver Birch in 2007 – the first trainer since the late Tim Forster to train three National winners.
Elliott took no chances, saddling a
record eleven runners, although his next-best finisher was 50/1
chance A Toi Phil, who finished twelfth, 34¾ lengths behind the
winner. Also among the also-rans were Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up
Anibale Fly, who stayed on inside the final furlong to finish fifth,
but could never really land a blow, and 2017 winner One For Arthur,
who weakened on the notoriously long run-in to finish a place behind.
However, the 2019 Grand National will always be remembered for the
performance of ‘rock star’ Tiger Roll, as winning jockey Davy
Russell later called him, and although a third attempt is highly
unlikely, his place in National history is assured.