Has Tiger Roll ever run on the Flat?

Of course, Tiger Roll is best known for winning back-to-back renewals of the Grand National, in 2018 and 2019, making him the first horse to do since Red Rum in 1973 and 1974. However, despite his exploits at Aintree and at the Cheltenham Festival – where he has won five times in all, over hurdles and fences – Tiger Roll has a classy Flat pedigree. He was sired by the 2007 Derby winner Authorized out of mare by 1997 2,000 Guineas winner Entrepreneur, so is bred 3×3 to Sadler’s Wells.

Indeed, Tiger Roll was originally owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, founder of Godolphin, but never raced in the famous royal blue silks. That said, he has run on the Flat for his current owner, Gigginstown House Stud, not once but twice. Tiger Roll made his debut, as a 6-year-old, in a maiden over 2 miles on the all-weather at Dundalk in March, 2016 and finished second, beaten half a length.

Although small for a steeplechaser, he was nevertheless sent over fences later that season and didn’t run on the Flat again until October, 2020. On his first run since finishing second to Easysland in the Glenfarclas Chase at the Cheltenham Festival the previous March, Tiger Roll ran in another maiden, over 1 mile 6 furlongs, at Navan. After starting very slowly, he trailed the field for most of the way before making modest late headway to finish sixth of nine, beaten 29¼ lengths.