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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Marc Mayo

Tiger Roll pipped at the post by Delta Work to miss out on heroic final Cheltenham win

Tiger Roll was pipped at the post by Delta Work in the final race of a prestigious career.

The 4.10 at Cheltenham looked to be heading for an iconic finish as the 3/1 Tiger took the final jumps in the lead, in pursuit of a sixth victory at the Festival.

A raucous backing from the crowd cheered every final hurdle before Delta Work, at 5/2 ridden by Jack Kennedy, edged ahead at the last.

The going was not in Tiger Roll’s favour with the wet conditions at Cheltenham dampening the 12-year-old’s chances, yet the performance was a stirring one as he bowed out in near-perfect circumstances.

Owner Michael O'Leary said of the Gordon Elliott-trained Tiger Roll: “This is his send-off - he owes us nothing. He's been wonderful to come back here for the six, seven, eight years.

“He's been the horse of a lifetime and in many ways Cheltenham has been his spiritual home. He's won five times here in Cheltenham. I know he's won two Grand Nationals, but he started here in Cheltenham.

“To start off winning the Triumph Hurdle here as a four-year-old, then win the National Hunt Chase and three cross-country races, it's incredible. He's a legend.”

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