The two-time Grand National hero has struggled for form since landing the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham last season; he was a 28/1 shot over hurdles at Navan but finished well back after travelling well in the early stages.
Saturday 22 January 2022 14:41, UK
Cheltenham Festival and Grand National legend Tiger Roll finished down the field as The Very Man claimed top honours in the Navan Handicap Hurdle.
Pulled up on his seasonal reappearance in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree last month, dual Grand National hero Tiger Roll was a 28-1 shot on his return to the smaller obstacles.
Gordon Elliott's five-time Cheltenham Festival winner started to make inroads with an eyecatching move under amateur rider Rob James before the home turn, and while he tired in the straight there was encouragement to be taken from his effort.
The Very Man, trained by Jessica Harrington, was 20-1 off the back of being pulled up at Leopardstown over the Christmas period.
But the eight-year-old bounced back to form with a determined display under Sean O'Keeffe, knuckling down from the final flight to see off Palace Rock by a length and a half.
Kate Harrington, assistant to her mother, said: "That was brilliant. He actually scoped dirty the last day - he swallowed a lump of clay and we had to wash out his throat it was so bad.
"That was more like it and he loved that bit of nicer ground.
"We might try to line up the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham for him. We might give him a bit of a break now, go to Cheltenham and then go to Aintree as well."