Yesterday was very emotional for me because of Albertas Run and his half-length defeat in the 2012 Ryanair Chase. We know of the horses courage so how could I have doubted his chances of winning this race again? He has won the author a lot of money over the years and I had the privilege to meet, walk and kiss him last month! With all his problems in the lead up to Cheltenham he still ran a great race to finish second to Riverside Theatre. Only weeks ago Jonjo O’Neill seriously doubted he would run again after his suspensory ligament injury and took his rekindling on a day to day basis.

So what a performance to finish so close to the winner? Even the ground was against him! Jonjo O’Neill said he would love this time of year and the course but really he needed a run to be spot on, so for the horse to put that effort in was something very special and as good as any of his wins at Cheltenham previously.

We agreed with the Racing Post when they said: ‘The eighth running of the Ryanair Chase, and the fifth as a Grade 1, was surely the best yet. Seven of the runners were rated 164 or over by the BHA - it would have been eight but Poquelin had to be withdrawn at the start - and what looked a tight race on the figures did not disappoint.’

Albertas Run was running for only the second time this season because of injury after winning the Old Roan Chase at Aintree in October. Winner of the last two renewals of this, and of the RSA Chase in 2008, he came very close to a fourth festival win but, after running a bold, aggressive race, was just denied by his younger rival. The heavily watered ground was against him for one whose very best form is on genuine good going and he lost nothing in defeat. We salute the horse and we love him!

He is likely to have some sort of reaction after his race and hope he does not go to Aintree for the Melling Chase…

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