As the rain poured down in the build-up to the Cross County Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday, Michael O'Leary said anyone who backed Tiger Roll would need their "head examined".
Despite the unfavourable conditions, the hugely popular Tiger Roll very nearly won his final race. It would have been a fairytale ending to his career.
In the end, it was Delta Work, another horse owned by O'Leary, and trained by Gordon Elliott, which pipped Tiger Roll on the line.
"We really exploded the dream," an emotional O'Leary told Racing TV.
"I really would have loved to see Tiger go out with a win. Jack [Kennedy] gave Delta a great ride.
"It's hard not to feel disappointed. A winner in Cheltenham and I'm disappointed. It would have been just a magical fairytale, on ground that doesn't suit him. He went out on his shield. He's a warrior. He is phenomenal.
"That's a Gold Cup horse that's after beating him, and only just beating him after three miles on ground he wouldn't like. He's the horse of a lifetime.
"We'll retire him now. He'll come home to Gigginstown. Ultimately, Delta Work will come home as well. I'm actually upset. I would have loved to see him win it. I don't know what to say. I'm going to shoot Jack Kennedy when he comes in!
"They both ran great races. It's great for Gordon. I said to Davy [Russell] there before the race that Cheltenham doesn't do fairytales. They nearly did a fairytale. It would have been a wonderful finish if Tiger had won, and Delta had come second.
"We were worried he might pull up. He ran great."
🗣 "We exploded a dream - he is the horse of a lifetime."
Michael O'Leary believes it's 'hard not to be disappointed' following Tiger Roll's courageous second in the @glenfarclas Cross Country Chase to stable companion Delta Work for @gelliott_racing @CheltenhamRaces pic.twitter.com/HVuxliUahW— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 16, 2022
Victorious jockey Jack Kennedy added: "I think I could be the most hated man in Cheltenham on Wednesday evening!
"[Delta Work] has been very disappointing all year. The switch to this cross country race has rejuvenated him. All his schooling and everything was brilliant.
"I thought the ground would be gone for [Tiger Roll]. I was surprised with how well he was going. It was in the back of my head that he might not get up the hill as good as my lad on that ground. I expected to pick him up a bit easier. My lad just ground him down at the finish."
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