Cheltenham Festival 2022: Tiger Roll retired after defeat by stablemate Delta Work

Tiger Roll was denied a fairytale farewell Cheltenham Festival victory by stablemate Delta Work in an extraordinary Cross Country Chase.

The two-time Grand National winner looked set for a record-equalling sixth Festival triumph but went down by three quarters of a length.

Some spectators booed jockey Jack Kennedy as he returned on the winner.

But the two horses came into the winners' enclosure together as Tiger Roll was cheered into retirement.

«I've had a win at Cheltenham and I'm disappointed,» said Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary, whose Gigginstown House Stud owns both horses.

«We exploded the dream. Tiger Roll is a warrior. He went out on his shield and is the horse of a lifetime.»

In the 45th race of his career, the heavy ground appeared to have gone against Tiger Roll, trained by Gordon Elliott.

O'Leary said before the race that anyone who backed him «needed their head examining».

However, the diminutive gelding, with the heart of a lion, put in a typically valiant performance and almost added a fourth Cross Country win to victories at Cheltenham in the Triumph Hurdle and National Hunt Chase.

Davy Russell's mount went to the front at the 24th of 32 fences but Delta Work — on his first try over the Cross Country fences — inched closer and went ahead 200 yards from the line.

«He went down fighting. Sure, he is fantastic,» said Russell, who rode him in both his National victories in 2018 and 2019.

Kennedy said he understood the jeers but was delighted to have won.

«Obviously everybody would have loved to see Tiger Roll win, but you can't take away from my horse either,» he said.

«I thought I was always going to get there. I knew I could be the most hated man in Cheltenham on Wednesday evening if I won.»

Kennedy lost the ride on last