Gordon Elliot was still pinching himself this morning after claiming his second Grand Randox health national tiger roll.
Eleven years from saddling silver Birch to win the Aintree beautiful, the handler Cullentra gold on Merseyside for the second time in three times Cheltenham festival winner Tiger roll was kept sullenly in the hands of Davy Russell.
Elliott, who caught last night on the ferry back to Ireland, returned to his yard this morning and reports him as a national hero to reach home safe and well.
Speaking on at the races in the UK good luck in the Sunday program, the coach said, “I guess when you go out into the yard in the morning and see all the guys and have a bit of a buzz about the place, it starts to sink in a bit.
“I was very, very lucky (with birch). This was my first year teaching, and I’m not even the winner, trained in Ireland at the time. To win a national, I probably thought it was all very easy.
“But now, after everything that’s happened under the bridge and all the UPS and downs in the game to win another incredible.
“He (Tiger roll) came home and he was a little tired this morning, but he’s fine, thank God.”
The tiger roll was among the participants in the market at 10-1 to win the cross country Glenfarclas chase at Cheltenham, adding to their previous triumphs in Prestbury Park Triumph hurdle and national hunt chase.
“To win three different races at the Cheltenham festival, and then to go on and win the English national, it’s just incredible. If he never does another thing for us he don’t need us,” Elliott continued.
“He’s a little character, and he probably is a real favourite in the yard. All children who come at weekends, it’s a horse they can ride all the time, because it is so quiet. It starts and stops”.
He was quite the season for Elliott, who for the last five weeks alone took the coach of a prize in Cheltenham for the second time, broke the record, passing through the 200-winner mark for the season in Ireland and won his first Irish Grand National General principle.
It looks good to be crowned champion trainer in Ireland at the end of this month, but acknowledged the success on Saturday was special.
He said, “I believe you put a lot of pressure on himself. I’m in a very good position and I got a lot of good horses and good owners.
“You’ve got these big days, it’s almost expected, you are the winners.
“I guess, yesterday was a little emotional. It’s just nice to do it.”
Eliot was keen to pay tribute to Russell, winning the race for the first time at the age of 38 years and a regular partner Tiger roll Keith Donohue.
He added: “it’s a shame for Keith Donohue, as he did a lot of work on him, and he to ride the whale. He just couldn’t make the weight on him.
“He will have many more days and he will return it to race XC next year, everything will be fine.
“But I’m glad Davy caught up with him. I was friends with Davey, when I was 15 or 16, so it’s nice that he won for me national.
“Davy was a good friend and nothing more. He traveled with me throughout my career, but sometimes we’re talking about some horses. We lie on the couch and drink tea!
“Davy’s a brilliant man and a good horseman”.
It was not Saturday night celebration event for Russell, who on this day five booked trips to Tramore.
Weighing room veteran admitted he is struggling to come to terms with his achievement.
He said: “it’s a bit surreal, to be honest. It’s hard to convey in words. If we have a party, then we can say we did it.
“There have been so many films about the Grand national and in childhood we were starving horses on TV, as obviously there was no racing channels.
“Whether it was cowboy or a movie national velvet or champion Bob movie (Champions), I watched those movies so many times, and you will receive an affinity with the race.
“It just sucks and to win it is a dream really”.
Tiger roll, he added: “he’s very economical with his jumping and I was just wondering if he had enough respect for the fences. If he fell he would be a huge surprise.
“It is shocking brave horse and nothing seems to be disturbed, but he set his eyes on the first fence, and I knew that we had the opportunity. He looked at what he was doing and took everything.
“He’s a very intelligent horse and a very good horse. It’s easy like him.
“He was a bit silly at times, but he grew up something evil. He’s only eight and a conversion he did with a flat bred horses and running juvenile it’s unbelievable.
“I’m definitely not the biggest fan of hurdlers seems, but I will now have to change my tune!”
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
