Tiger Roll added another remarkable win to his extraordinary career with a third victory in the Glenfarclas Chase on the second day of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival.
The 11-year-old - who was a fifth straight Irish-trained winner on St Patrick's Day - grabbed a fifth victory at the Cheltenham Festival, as under Keith Donoghue he roared up the hill he knows so well.
Formerly trained by the banned Gordon Elliott, Tiger Roll won't be bidding for a hat-trick of victories in the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on April 10 after his owners withdrew him from the race following a dispute over his handicap rating.
Instead he could line-up at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday and bid for a first win in the Irish Grand National or maybe a trip to the Punchestown Festival is more likely later on next month.
Wherever he goes next after what he has already achieved in his career, few would bet against him landing another landmark victory.
Tiger Roll became only the third horse to win five times at the Festival following five-time Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Golden Miller (1932-36), with only Willie Mullins' Mare Quevega - who won the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle six times between 2009 and 2014 - having more glory at the Prestbury Park extravaganza.
But while those two Cheltenham legends won the same race, Tiger Roll has won three different contests with victories in the two-mile JCB Triumph Hurdle, the National Hunt Challenge Trophy and now three in the Cross Country Chases.
Sent off at 9-2, Tiger Roll turned the tables on evens favourite Easysland, who beat him into second in this race 12 months ago, to score by a superb 18 lengths.
Now in the care of Denise Foster, who took over from Elliott at his Cullentra House Stables in County Meath after his ban, Tiger Roll put his rivals to the sword coming to the latter part of the 3m6f contest. And despite Easysland trying to bridge the huge gap he couldn't get near Tiger Roll.
The French raider had to settle for distant second this time with Some Neck (17-2) a further two-and-a-quarter lengths back in third.
Eddie O'Leary, racing manager for owners Gigginstown House Stud, said: "That was unbelievable - what a fantastic horse, we're over the moon here. He's a legend of a horse.
"There was a rush to retire this horse earlier in the season, but he's a cross-country horse, that's what he is, and we always said we'll wait to see how he gets on over the cross-country fences once more. To win at five Festivals is amazing, what a horse.
"Aintree is off the agenda and we've no regrets about that. Both him and Easysland are rated too high. He is rated the equal of our Gold Cup horse, Delta Work, and we know he's not as good.
"It's going to be hard to retire him after that, now, and he loves racing in any case.
"He'll probably have to run at Punchestown in the Grade One, where he will probably prove he is nowhere near a 166-rated horse, and it is a pity we have to do that.
"Cross-country racing got this horse back after he had completely lost his way, but we'll have to go in a Grade One just to prove he has the wrong rating. He's a cross-country horse, that's what he is.
"Whatever we decide to do, and if he never wins another race, we will enjoy today."
Winning jockey Donoghue added: "He really came alive today and jumped brilliant. I was in control of the race from halfway and within his comfort zone - when Tiger Roll is like that, you don't take him back.
"We never doubted that we had him peaking for the right time. We were happy with his last run in Navan on ground that he absolutely hates.
"I knew the way he was going today, it would take a good horse to get by him.
"We had the faith and knew what this horse could show. There's no better horse than Tiger Roll to silence the doubters."
Full list of the current 90 entries for the Randox Grand National
Lisa O'Neill, representing Foster at Cheltenham, said: "He's a sensation - words cannot describe what he is.
"He means so much to the team at home. Some people might have lost a bit of faith after his last few runs, but we retained all the faith we had in him and knew he still retained plenty of fire in his belly. He showed it there today.
"I suppose he disappointed here in November and then had a run over hurdles. Neither of those runs were too encouraging, but he tells you when he's feeling alive at home and he loves coming to Cheltenham and coming up that hill and the sun on his back.
"He showed what ability he has today to turn the tables on Easysland from last year.
"He's been a revelation for Keith and Davy Russell, of course, winning two Grand Nationals.
"He showed real enthusiasm and sweetness for the game today."
David Cottin's Easysland could now bid for compensation in the Grand National, where he would have to carry joint top-weight next month.
The third home, the John McConnell-trained Some Neck, is also entered in the Aintree marathon, but he is currently 55th on the list of entries and is not certain to make the final cut for the 40-strong maximum field.
