16.20: Tiger can tame rivals

Tiger Roll and Guitar Pete renew rivalry in a classy renewal of this Grade 1 contest, and the former is taken to come out on top.

The score between the pair currently stand 1-1, with Pete coming out on top by 2 3/4 lengths when they first met in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown back in February.

However, that was just Tiger Roll’s second run over hurdles following a win at Market Rasen, and he showed the benefit of the experience when comprehensively tirning the tables in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The four-year-old travelled smoothly in midfield at Presbury Park and after being produced to lead at the last quickened clear up the hill to beat Kentucky Hyden by 3 1/4 lengths, with Guitar Pete running a game race to finish a further 1 3/4 lengths back in third.

There is no reason why Tiger Roll should not confirm the placings with those two rivals, as after just three races he remains unexposed and open to stacks more improvement.

The son of Authorized is clearly on an upward curve, handles all types of going and also has the services of Davy Russell in the saddle.

The “dark horse” in the line-up who could give Tiger Roll most to think about is Kitten Rock.

Trained by Edward O’Grady, the son of lavrock won his first two starts over the obstacles in facile fashion and went down by just a head to Ivan Grozny in a Grade 3 contest at Fairyhouse last time out when upped in class.

The gelding still looked very inexperienced but knuckled down to the task well and only just failed to overhaul the winner after producing a strong run after the last.

Kitten Rock is sure to improve again with that run under his belt, and with Tom Scuadamore in the saddle a big run looks assured.