Tiger Roll was bidding to win his sixth race at the Cheltenham Festival, to add to his two Grand National wins today in what was to have been his last competitive visit to the racecourse.
The heavy ground was not in his favour but when he went to the front there was a mighty roar from the stands, one that continued all the way up the hill but ended up deflated as he was caught on the line by his stable companion Delta Work, also owned by Michael O’Leary.
He still lost nothing in defeat and will retire now to a well-deserved break.
Irish horses were back on top today with five wins split between Willia Mullins and Gordon Elliot.
Mullins took care of the one gap on his record by landing the Queen Mother Champion Chase with Energumene, owned by Brighton and Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom.
That makes it seven apiece between Britain and Ireland with Paul Townend sitting on top of the Jockey’s table with four wins to his name.
It is the Ryanair Chase and the Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle up for grabs on Thursday as the Festival continues.
