TIGER ROLL finished in an agonising second place in the final race of his career at Cheltenham.
The legendary horse, a two-time Grand National winner, led the way after the final jump but was beaten by Delta Work in the Cross Country Chase.
It was a heartbreak ending to a glittering career and sparked boos for Delta Work from the Cheltenham crowd.
Tiger Roll owner Michael O’Leary said to the BBC after the race: “I’m feeling bittersweet.
“It’s the first time I’ve had a winner at Cheltenham and been disappointed. It would have been a fairy tale for Tiger to win today.
“My apologies to everybody. My lasting memory, as for most people here is that Tiger Roll is a warrior who went out on his shield.
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“He ran well, he came home sound and we’ll retire him now. This will be the last time they will see him race on a racetrack – he’s a legend.
“One of my other horses became the villain.
“I was booing myself! I was shouting please Jack don’t go past him, just let him win! It’s not often you want to give away a win at Cheltenham but it would’ve been a terrific finish for Tiger, it would’ve been a fairy tale.”
Davy Russell, who had the privilege of riding Tiger Roll for his last ever race, says the horse holds a special place in his heart.
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After all, the pair won back-to-back Grand Nationals together in 2018 and 2019, becoming the first horse since Red Rum to do so.
Russell said: “You grow up from a young age and the Grand National is the one race that anybody who steps into a pair of boots wants to win.
“Of course, I’ve dreamt about Grand Nationals. I’ve won countless numbers of them in my dreams.
“I’ve won on Party Politics, I’ve won on Seagram, I’ve won on Bindaree, I’ve won on them all around the garden at home.
“For him to win two and for me to ride him in both makes him very, very special.
“You can’t say you’ll never see the likes of him again, but you’ll never see the likes of him again.
“He’s the horse of my lifetime, that’s for sure.”
After a stunning career it was only fitting that Tiger Roll was given a huge send-off – in the form of a giant retirement card.
