Tiger Roll welcomed home after emulating Red Rum with back-to-back National wins
Trainer Gordon Elliott admitted celebrations were in order after the horse became the first to retain his crown in the Aintree showpiece since 1974.
Back-to-back Randox Health Grand National winner Tiger Roll has received a hero’s homecoming back in Ireland.
Thousands lined the streets as the history-making horse paraded through the Co Meath village of Summerhill on Sunday evening.
Just as he did a year ago, Tiger Roll took to the streets of Summerhill less than 24 hours after racing into the history books and was treated to a rapturous welcome from the locals, who packed the small village to celebrate his triumphant return.
“You get emotional, it’s the biggest race in the world.
“Everyone will remember Tiger Roll winning two in a row.
“We’re all proud Summerhill men.
“It was a great day, brilliant. To come here (and celebrate) two years in a row is great – this is a great community, everyone gets on well, so it’s great to see a big crowd here.
“It looks an even bigger crowd than last year.”
Around 2,000 people were in attendance as Tiger Roll, also a four-time Cheltenham Festival winner, strutted his stuff on the main street alongside his trainer, jockey Davy Russell, his devoted groom Louise Magee and owner Michael O’Leary, among others.
Elliott returned to his local village on Saturday after catching a Ryanair flight from Liverpool to Dublin and the celebrations continued long into the night.
Asked about plans for later on Sunday, Elliott quipped: “I’ll have a few quiet drinks in Shaw’s (pub).
“He (Tiger Roll) got back about 6.30am, I was in bed before him, but tonight will be a different story.”
Ryanair boss Mr O’Leary, who runs Tiger Roll under his Gigginstown House Stud banner, said: “I never thought we’d win the Grand National once in our lifetime, so to do it three times in four years (Rule The World won in 2016) is phenomenal, a fantastic achievement.
“It was a fantastic day, the atmosphere in Aintree was electric.
“There was a lot of expectation he might win it again and he was a hot favourite, and very rarely does the hot favourite win the Grand National.
Mr O’Leary treated Ryanair passengers to free drinks on his flight back to Ireland after the race, and added: “I give away free drinks every time we win the Grand National, it probably won’t happen for another 45 years!”
