“Don’t say you haven’t been told, Gordon.”
This is the conversation we had earlier last week with coach Gordon Elliott, which appeared in Sunday’s Racing Post.
“Tell me, Gordon, what the hell are you doing running Delta Work in Cross Country (Glenfarclas Chase)?”
“Why not?”
“What if he wins the bloody thing?”
“I’m going to have a winner for sure, that’s going to be great. I want to train winners and I have to do the best for all of my owners. That’s the winner I want. .”
“You’re telling me if Delta Work victory and Tiger Roll second, deprive him of his sixth victory and glorious retirement, will you be happy? “
“I would be happy, but I would also be disappointed.”
And, lo and behold, there he was, drenched in his skin, standing in the victor’s ring at Cheltenham March 16, frustrated after the National’s dual hero was killed by his very stable friend. denied victory at the historic sixth Cheltenham festival in his farewell appearance in the match. Glenfarclas Chase.
Michael O’Leary was also disappointed, and for the first time in his life, he really didn’t know what to say. His red tears tell us more than words can.
“I’m disappointed. I don’t know what to say, I’ll shoot Jack Kennedy when I see him!” he said, his voice already shaking.
“On the ground doesn’t suit him and that’s a Gold Cup horse after beating him, and only beating him, after more than three miles on the ground he won’t like and in the end.. I’m sorry, I’m really sad. I’d love to see him win it.”
Oh, Michael, I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but you’re the reason he didn’t win it.
“If I could control it, I would have.”
But you can? You don’t need to run Delta Work?
“You have to throw as many darts as possible at the darts board here and hope something sticks. But, look, everyone here is going to celebrate Tiger today. This will be their last. seeing him run on the track and what a warrior he is. He’s a legend.”
Truly a legend and he passed away like a legend. Back in his best hunting ground, gliding past Aintree-style hedges, gobbling cheese and skipping stuffed barriers, he loved every second of it. If he hates the ground, he has a funny way to show it.
won the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree from Pleasant . Company [check colours]. 4/14/2018 “credit =” Steve Davies / Racingfotos.com “]Tiger Roll won the Grand National 2018 at Aintree
By the time they reached the 25th barricade, another fence had been built, and Davy Russell couldn’t wait any longer.
Easysland, who conquered him in 2020, took him as far as he could. Champagne begins to shake; Let’s get the party started.
But, just as the last words of the fairy tale were being written, Delta Work and Kennedy appeared in the dark to spoil all our fun. Tiger Roll tried his best to counter him, he rallied once, twice, three times, but younger and classier legs prevailed.
Thanks a million, Jack.
Not since the Top Cees won the Coral Cup in 1998 has the festival’s victory been booed from the grandstands, but it’s the fan adoration for Tiger Roll that has come with taunts. , mocking and booing chorus after Delta Work beat the legendary Cheltenham by three quarters of the length.
“I’d say a lot of people would hate me now but that doesn’t really bother me,” said the winning driver. “I think I’ll always get there. Honestly, I think the ground is up for Tiger Roll and I’m surprised at how well he goes, but I assume he might not be able to. . up the hill as good as my guy on that ground I really expected to pick him up a little easier, but in the end my guy took him down.
“I went to Delta Work here the other morning and then I told my brother I was going to be the most hated man in Cheltenham on Wednesday night. I was right. He was very disappointed. for the whole season, but I turned to this Cross-country racing has rejuvenated him. I’m happy.”
I’m glad I have someone.
Elliott then became an emotional wreckage. He looked as if he had come the distance with Mike Tyson but somehow managed to get out of the fight.
“Honestly, I won’t lie to you, I was shouting for Tiger down last.”
The words hero and legend are always overused, but when racehorses came along, Tiger Roll couldn’t have fit those bills better. Incredible longevity, an unbelievable resume and a way to bow with a great run on the biggest stage. Thanks for the memories, Tiger. 🐯 pic.twitter.com/xGGmyK140 – Kevin Blake (@kevinblake2011) March 16, 2022 However, Tiger Roll has always been a bit quirky. He never stuck to the script or did the things he had to do. If he did, the “little mouse of a thing” as O’Leary so famously described him, would be long forgotten. But, the truth is that Tiger Roll will never be forgotten. Not in our lifetime. Never. He will read a few chapters of history books and there too. You don’t win five different Cheltenham Festivals, return to Grand Nationals in a row, and aren’t remembered for a very long time. Goodbye, Tiger. Thanks for the memories.
