BREAKING: Tipperary owners Robcour return to the winner's enclosure at Cheltenham
Heart Wood romps to easy victory in the Ryanair Chase
Clonmel businessman Brian Acheson and Robcour were back in the winner’s enclosure at the Cheltenham festival for the sixth successive year this afternoon, when Heart Wood had an easy win in the Ryanair Chase.
In the absence of the pre-race favourite Fact To File, who was withdrawn because of unsuitable ground, the winner was a 9/2 chance, finishing well clear of 2/1 favourite Jonbon, with Banbridge (3/1) back in third.
Robcour’s Bob Olinger and Teahupoo may have disappointed in the Paddy Powers Stayers’ Hurdle, but Heartwood ensured that the disappointment turned to joy.
Brian Acheson told ITV Racing: "I was on the floor after the Stayers'. I thought we were in serious trouble. We were having such a bad week and you start to talk yourself out of it, so it's a real credit to the whole team.
“It's just relief," he said, adding words of praise for jockey Darragh O’Keeffe and trainer Henry de Bromhead.
Heart Wood’s success meant that Waterford-based de Bromhead has trained a Cheltenham festival winner for the tenth year in a row.
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