Grand National Set to Be Horse Racing Spectacle of 2020
The Grand National is already one of the great sporting spectacles. It is watched by hundreds of millions of people worldwide and is enjoyed by many who would not normally watch horse racing. But
There are occasions when we here at ReadyBetGo want to bring you interesting facts about the gambling industry When something catches our eye, we will publish it for your enjoyment. this year’s race could prove to be even more special. All because of one horse - Tiger Roll.
Tiger Roll becomes an Aintree legend...
He's the first horse to win back-to-back Grand Nationals since Red Rum 45 years ago!
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 6, 2019
Follow: https://t.co/8pvEbGaVAQ #grandnational #GrandNational2019
History in the making
If you didn’t know already, Tiger Roll has won the last two editions of the Grand National. This year, he will attempt to become the first horse in history to win the race three times in a row. Tickets will be like gold dust as racing fans scramble to get a glimpse of the action and more people than ever before are expected to tune in the hope of witnessing history.
Who is Tiger Roll?
So who is Tiger Roll? Well, he is a 10-year-old Irish-bred national hunt racer trained by Gordon Elliott. He burst onto the scene winning the JCB Triumph Hurdle Grade 1 race for four-year-olds at the 2014 Cheltenham Festival. Since then, he has won a total of 12 races and been placed in nine more out of 35 starts.
He raced frequently in 2016 but featured less over the next two years in the build-up to the 2018 Grand National which he won by a head. He returned to defend his crown in 2019, beating Magic of Light by 2 and 3/4 lengths to send the Liverpool crowd wild..
Tiger Roll holds on to win dramatic Grand National in photo-finish https://t.co/hghnHHLvU8
— The Guardian (@guardian) April 14, 2018
Since then there has been speculation over whether he would return to try and make it three in a row. Doubts over his fitness and questions about how the handicappers would treat him have been raised but he was listed in the provisional entry list in January. And he has already been installed at the clear favourite in the horse racing betting.
Following in Red Rum’s hoof prints
Only one horse has won the Grand National three times but none have won it three times in a row. Legendary steeplechaser Red Rum won the event in 1973, 1974 and 1977 and also came second in 1975 and 1976. He went on to become a national hero and even appeared in the studio for the 1977 Sports Personality of the Year awards.
If Tiger Rolls claims the third victory it will spark the inevitable debates about whether his achievements are comparable to those of Red Rum. Despite the gruelling nature of the Grand National, there is an argument to be made that the course is easier today. Over the years, safety concerns have prompted changes to some of the fences. And many will argue that Red Rum’s second-place finishes between his second and third wins would still put him ahead of Tiger Roll.
One thing is for sure, Tiger Roll would be elevated to superstar status if he wins. And most people in the racing world would love to see him do it. These moments do not come around too often and it is a pleasure to watch horses of such ability performing at their peak. Would a third win make him the greatest? Let’s just hope we are in a position to have that debate in April.