Time for fairytale end to a story that went from the sublime to the ridiculous

Tiger Roll's farewell completes a career that has defied belief

- Malik Ouzia

IF THIS is to be the end of the Tiger Roll story – and as much as you never know with owner Michael O'Leary, it surely will be - then what a story it has been.

Five Cheltenham Festival wins have made the Tiger a National Hunt legend, two Grand National triumphs, a horse that is, among his generation, uniquely transcendent.

But ahead of his final racecourse outing in tomorrow's Cross Country Chase, it is clear the tale of Tiger Roll is about more than the successes. Indeed, it is what has come in between them that has contributed almost as much, fallibility as well as raw ability making the 12-year-old the most popular horse in training.

An apparent willingness to turn his best on and off has conferred upon Gordon Elliott's charge a certain loveable, enigmatic personality and left him with form figures that say just as much.

In a 44-race career, Tiger Roll has won only 13 times, but more than half of those have come across the two most prestigious meetings, two of them in the most famous race of all.

There have been good performances among the other 29 starts, but also plenty of almost laughably abject ones, particularly in recent years. Since his Triumph Hurdle win as a juvenile eight years ago, there have been blowouts, disappointments, and even entire seasons in the wilderness. Somehow, he has always found his way back.