Tiger Roll is 'absolutely bouncing' according to work-rider Lisa O'Neill

Tiger Roll’s regular work-rider Lisa O’Neill says the legendary 11-year-old is “absolutely bouncing” ahead of his eagerly awaited return to action in the Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle over 2m5f at Navan on Sunday, a race he won in 2018 at 25-1.

O’Neill was on board Tiger Roll for an important piece of work on trainer Gordon Elliott’s gallops on Tuesday and said she got a great feel out of the dual Grand National winner.

O’Neill said: “He’s absolutely bouncing around the place at home. He feels like he’s right back to form. He’s in really good order.

“You know when Tiger is in really good form – he tells you himself. He’d be biting away at you and everything, and he’s showing me all those sort of signs at the moment.

“I rode him during his work on Tuesday and he was flying. I was thrilled with him.”

Tiger Roll has become an important part of O’Neill’s life and she admitted there will be some nerves at Navan as she watches Keith Donoghue take over.

“I’m very friendly with Keith and Tiger Roll is such a big part of my life that I would be a little nervous. I just want him to run well and I think he can. He just had an off day at Cheltenham in November. That wasn’t him. It’s just like with humans – we all have our off days and that was one of his. He’s back in a very good place now.”

The Boyne Hurdle is one of seven races live on ITV4, and Tiger Roll will face seven rivals in the Grade 2 contest, among them Stayers’ Hurdle hopefuls Fury Road, Beacon Edge and Sixshooter.

Tomorrow also sees Robbie Power make his race-riding return in Britain, with the jockey booked for four rides across the rearranged card at Newbury, including Lostintranslation in the Betfair Denman Chase.

Power will be reunited with last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup third, who is one of eight runners in the Grade 2 heat.

Lostintranslation takes on dual King George winner Clan Des Obeaux, one of two in the race for Paul Nicholls along with Secret Investor.

Champ: back in action on SundayCredit: Dan Mullan (Getty Images)

The Nicky Henderson-trained Champ faces just five runners on his comeback in the Betfair Game Spirit Chase, with Greaneteen, Dolos, Fanion D’Estruval, Magic Saint and last year’s runner-up Sceau Royal also declared.

Buzz tops the weights of the 24 left in the £125,000 Betfair Hurdle, which includes three new names who were not declared in the original field.

Gumball is the highest in the weights of the three, with the Philip Hobbs-trained runner joined by the Jane Williams-trained Galice Macalo and Fred from the Henderson yard.

Read more

Gowran Park's Red Mills card cancelled due to waterlogging

'He’s an extremely good horse' - Jacob excited about Master Tommytucker ride

Ultimate Daily – our daily newsletters from Racing Post's experts, exclusive to the inbox of Ultimate Members' Club subscribers. To receive the newsletter subscribe here