Foster plays down Tiger Roll’s chances

Trainer Denise Foster says fans should not expect too much from Tiger Roll as he prepares to run in the Betway Bowl Chase today .

The 11-year-old rolled back the years at Cheltenham last month, as he won the Glenfarclas Chase at the Festival.

Before that, Tiger Roll had finished sixth on two occasions at Navan in February, while he was pulled up at Prestbury Park in November.

Sceptics had questioned whether or not he should run at the Festival, but Foster’s charge proved all the doubters wrong.

Rather than running in Saturday’s Grand National, owners Gigginstown House Stud have entered him in the Bowl Chase, but Foster is trying to keep expectation levels low.

She told Racing TV: “He’s 11 years old, and it will be a big ask for him. Really we’re just hoping for a nice run from him.

“We can’t be too confident – I am wary of the fact that he is 11. That’s really all you can say about him. He left here in good form, and we’ll just have to see what happens. “It’s all a bit of a question mark.”

Regular jockey Davy Russell is still sidelined by injury, meaning Jack Kennedy comes in for the mount. Clan Des Obeaux and Waiting Patiently are his main rivals, while Native River, Clondaw Castle, Mister Fisher, Real Steel, Aso and Militarian complete the field.