Tiger Roll goes for the hat-trick but may not get it all his own way
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Tiger Roll is bidding for a third consecutive Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham and is strongly fancied to complete the hat-trick.
Horse racing’s golden boy has yet to be seen this season but is set to compete in the Boyne Hurdle should it go ahead on Sunday. Hopefully, that goes smoothly and it will be all systems go for Cheltenham and then a tilt at a historic third Grand National.
He won effortlessly in the 2019 renewal, looking like he could run the race all over again once he crossed the line. It was hardly even a content, demolishing the field by 22 lengths as he cantered up the hill.
If he is in that sort of form again this season, then he will be extremely hard to beat. His preparation has not been ideal, with a set-back meaning he will have to make his seasonal-reappearance just a month before Cheltenham.
Gordon Elliott will be sure to have in prime condition though and will be praying that Storm Dennis does not get in the way of Navan on Sunday for his crucial preparation run.
He is an imperious favourite at 13/8 and you would be a brave man to take him on but there is one horse that looks every bit up to the task of giving Tiger Roll a run for his money.
For all the buzz and excitement going on in Ireland for the Dublin Racing Festival, it was Easysland who was quietly going about his business in France who arguably laid down the biggest Cheltenham marker during the first weekend of February.
Making it six victories in a row, the newly owned JP Mcmanus six-year-old put in another impressive showing to move closer to Tiger Roll in the betting for the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham.
David Cottin’s gelding first shot to prominence on this side of the Channel when hosing up at Cheltenham in the Cross Country Handicap Chase in December.
Well found in the market that day, Easysland flew round the course and coasted home to victory by seven lengths. It was a very eye-catching performance and one that suggested he may be able to put it up to Tiger Roll at the Festival.
He wasn’t even in the market for the Cross Country Chase until the day of the race in December, but after his bold showing, bookies instantly cut Easysland into 5/1 and made him the second favourite behind Tiger Roll.
Telling of just how impressive he was that day, none other than JP Mcmanus decided he wanted to add him to his armoury and try and spoil Tiger Roll’s hat-trick bid at the race.
So whilst everyone was focused on Leopardstown, Easysland scored again at Pau and enhanced his Cheltenham claims even further. Bookmakers were slow to react too, had this been in England or Ireland, he would have been instantly cut in price.
One firm took a whole day to cut him from 9/2 into 7/2, and now make him a 10/3 chance. He is as short as 3/1 with some bookmakers and he looks to have the ability to lay a fierce challenge down to the back-to-back Grand National winner.
At this stage, it very much looks like a two-horse race but a couple of others are worth mentioning.
Yanworth, who is the best price of 9/1, fell in December when Easysand cruised home. It was a disappointing return for the ten-year-old who was sent off the second favourite that day. Before that, he won gamely at Punchestown, battling off Neverushacon (25/1) in an exciting finish.
He will need to put in a better round of jumping than last time out but if he can put that fall behind him, he could big a player. He has plenty of form at Cheltenham too which can stand him in good stead.
Might Bite was full of life at Newbury last Saturday in the Denman Chase and Nicky Henderson has confirmed he will be going down the Cross Country route to see if the new discipline can bring out the best of the immensely talented RSA Chase winner. He is the best price of 16/1, with some firms half the price, going as short as 8/1.
Tiger Roll will take all the beating as he bids for the hat-trick, the way he won last year will live long in the memory and few would want to deny the sporting hero another glorious day in the sun. However, Easysland has laid down a big challenge and the French raider looks every bit the part. It is hard to see Tiger Roll having such an easy time of it this year round with a less than ideal preparation.
We could be in for a thriller of a race. The forecast looks a safe bet; it is hard to see who will be able to live with these two.
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