WITH the Cheltenham Festival now 47 days away, the Sun Racing team will be bringing you their ‘Festival 50’ every day between now and 10 March.
We will salute the Prestbury Park heroes that made us fall in love with the Festival, all the way until the ‘Cheltenham roar’ signals that the wait is finally over.
Number 47: Albertas Run
AP McCoy lived and breathed the Cheltenham Festival.
And in Albertas Run, he had a horse he could set his watch by. Year in, year out.
Jonjo O’Neill’s gutsy gelding came alive when he felt the sun on his back and good ground under his feet.
His Cheltenham love affair kicked off in 2008 when he destroyed his 10 rivals as the well-punted 4-1 jolly in the RSA Chase.
It perhaps wasn’t the strongest renewal of that Grade 1, and his first season in open company over fences, bar a second to Kauto Star in the King George, was a damp squib.
You can’t keep a good horse down, and the popular bay, whose career earnings were 45 times what he cost at the sales, redeemed himself in the best possible fashion when returned to Cheltenham in 2010.
He galloped relentlessly up the hill to secure a ready Ryanair win, putting the favourite Poquelin firmly in his place as a 14-1 poke.
But his finest hour came 12 months later, as he returned to defend his crown on a stunning, early spring afternoon.
Under an inspired McCoy, he jumped like he was on springs and stormed home to beat a field of high-class performers, sparking wild celebrations in the stands.
There was added drama in the finish as the horse narrowly missed a protester dressed to the nines in St Patrick’s gear on the run-in – fair to say McCoy gave the bloke daggers after pulling up!
As the pair returned to the winners’ enclosure, it was clear how much of a soft spot the 20-time champion jockey had for his horse.
He grinned: You need a horse that wants to win. Sometimes I do some stupid things and ask him some silly questions but hes silly enough to keep answering. Its a pleasure to be able to ride a horse like him – its what makes you want to come back here.
He probably lacks a little bit of intelligence like I do so he keeps coming back for more! He has a good will to win and has a great attitude.”
And it’s that never-say-die attitude (with some dopiness thrown in) that made him so popular with the Festival faithful.
