Tiger Roll will go down in the history books as one of the greatest horses of the modern era.
By winning back-to-back Grand Nationals in 2018 and 2019, it became the first horse to win that race in consecutive years since Red Rum in 1974. That alone is enough to put it among the legends of the sport. It would be retired in 2022, having struggled with injuries in the couple of seasons that preceded that.
Michael O'Leary is no stranger to success as an owner. He has owned some remarkable horses, but you would imagine that Tiger Roll would be right at the top of the list in terms of his favourites.
Apparently, that isn't the case.
Michael O'Leary explains why Tiger Roll isn't his favourite horse
The Ryanair CEO was speaking to ITV ahead of this year's Cheltenham Festival when interviewer Mark Chapman asked if Tiger Roll was his favourite of the horses he had owned.
He said that it wasn't and explained why that was the case.
In case you missed it!
When Matt met Michael... 👬
"Tiger Roll has to be the horse you love most?"
"NO". 🗣 Michael O'Leary. #ITVRacing | @MCYeeehaaa pic.twitter.com/QINSysUUYC— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 15, 2023
No. War of Attrition is the horse we love most. He was the first Gold Cup winner.
Don Cossack was the second Gold Cup winner, he's the horse. Balkos des Flos was my only Ryanair Chase winner.
Look we love Tiger Roll, my children love Tiger Roll. But ultimately, I would take a Gold Cup or Ryanair Chase winner over a Grand National winner any day.
Michael O'Leary certainly seems to favour winners in the big races at the Cheltenham Festival, although it's mad to think that a back-to-back Grand National winner does not come out on top in terms of his most beloved horses.
It will be interesting to see if any of his current runners can make their way towards the top of that list in the future.
SEE ALSO: Rachael Blackmore Lands Satisfying Matt Chapman Dig After Poetic Honeysuckle Win
