JUST as I was sharpening my pencil and preparing to join in with the throngs who have already contributed acres of press coverage and tons of social media comment on the subject, Eddie O’Leary rode to the rescue and informed us that Tiger Roll will, after all the hullabaloo, defend his crown at Aintree, subject to making it there. Fingers crossed he will.

Racing needs its heroes, now as much as ever, and few stories and horses have gripped the imagination of the general public as Tiger Roll has done.