How Tiger Roll Became a Grand National Legend

History was made on Saturday as the small-standing Tiger Roll was immortalised in Grand National and British horse racing legend. His win meant he become the first back-to-back winner of the world’s best race since Red Rum in 1974, and only the fifth ever to accomplish the feat. It is remarkably hard to win one Grand National, but Michael O’Leary summed it up best when he described the chances of his nine-year-old winning a second straight National as ‘impossible’. If history has taught us anything, Tiger Roll makes his own history.

Humble Beginnings Much like Red Rum, Tiger Roll was never expected to compete over jumps; let alone become a Grand National horse. He was brought to be a middle-distance flat racer. John Ferguson purchased him on behalf of Godolphin for a modest 70,000gns. However, he never took to racing on the flat and was sold again, nearly three years later. Nigel Hawke brought him for £10,000, and began to school him. He raced for the first time over hurdles in November 2013. This was the first time that owners, trainers, and punters all caught a glimpse of the natural jumping ability that the enigmatic horse possessed. He was set off at a 12-1 chance. However, he ran away and won by three-and-a-quarter lengths.  After this e