After being taken out of the Gold Cup confirmation stage Albertas Run will go for a hat-trick of wins in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on 15th March 2012. The Ryanair is now his only option and Jonjo O’Neill said: "I took him out of the Gold Cup and the plan is to go for the Ryanair. He had a bit of a leg injury after Aintree and it has been a bit frustrating. He's a year older now, but I hope I can get him there in one piece."

Albertas Run boasts a fabulous record at The Festival, having taken the RSA Chase in 2008 as well as the last two renewals of the Grade One Ryanair Chase and he is one of 29 acceptors for the two mile five furlong contest. He has only raced once this season, at Aintree, where he beat Master Minded in the Old Roan Chase but returned home with an injury.

We absolutely love this animal and although we went to Jackdaws Castle to meet Synchronised prior to the Lexus it was great to meet up with one our favourite horses ever. After the nature of his injury and reading between the lines when speaking to Jonjo O'Neill we do not believe he will make Cheltenham but we want to be wrong. Albertas Run suffered an injury to a suspensory ligament shortly before he was due to run in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park. Jonjo had told us at the Welsh Grand National media day that the horse was back in light training and will do his best to have him ready for the spring festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree.

He continued: "He's not too bad and he's scanning good. The treatment seems to be working, touch wood, but we'll scan month by month and see how we go. He is swimming again now, so we're getting there but it's too early to say. We know how to handle him and we've got all the facilities here so, if we can get him there, we will. I would have preferred to have give him a run before Cheltenham. The injury is right in front of the knee. We might get him back or he might never run again, we just don't know. "It was a slight injury but you're either pregnant or you're not and it's a suspensory at the end of the day. It is worrying and it's not an easy programme but we'll give it our best shot. He does love the sunshine in the spring and he loves good ground."

Fingers crossed he makes it but we will not too upset if he is retired, we have the most wonderful memories of him...

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