Tiger Roll grounded by heavy track as Easysland produces another Cheltenham shock

“He’s still on course for the National, definitely.”

The 56,943 people that attended day two of the Cheltenham Festival had hardly got over the shock of seeing hotpot Defi Du Seuil turned over in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase when they took their positions for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase.

Surely normal service would be swiftly resumed. After all, the favourite was four-time Festival hero and a dual Grand National winner. Defeat was unthinkable.