Alberta does it again on the big stage Albertas Run gave Tony McCoy his second winner of the week when running out an impressive winner of the Ryanair Chase. Always prominent under the champion jockey, the nine-year-old was notching up his second win at the Festival having won the RSA Chase in 2008. Deep Purple helped set the pace with Albertas Run but Ruby Walsh had him in his sights on the favourite Poquelin turning into the straight. There was a bit of trouble in running at that point as Davy Condon (got a 4 day ban - going for a gap that wasn't there) tried to sneak up Walsh's inside on J'y Vole but found the door firmly shut. McCoy kicked on again approaching the last and the 14-1 chance shot four and a half lengths away from the jolly. J'y Vole narrowly lost out in the battle for second but defied her long odds with a big run. McCoy said: "That was nice. He's a good horse, he won the SunAlliance (RSA) a few years ago and I'm just delighted for Trevor (Hemmings, owner). "He's not here as he's not well, he is having some problems with his foot. "Myself and Jonjo kind of asked Trevor if we could run him in the Ryanair instead of the Gold Cup as we thought he had a good chance and Trevor, being the man he is, was all on for it. "I'm delighted for him and I hope his foot is sore from jumping up and down!" Wining trainer Jonjo O'Neill said: "AP knows what he's doing. The horse jumped great for him and did everything right. "He knows the horse very well and he was keen to ride him in this race rather than the Gold Cup and it has all worked out well. "The ground is important to him. He loves good ground. it helps him jump and when he's like that he's a real good horse. "We know he gets the trip so he made it a good gallop and it was great that he kept going." Michael Meagher, racing manager to Hemmings, added: "He's not too bad. He's got a problem with his foot, but he won't be thinking about that watching the race on television today. "He'll be absolutely delighted. Well done to Jonjo and AP (McCoy)." Ger O'Brien, head of the Hammer and Trowel Syndicate who own J'y Vole, said: "We've had a great week as we own Quevega and had a right touch on her (in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle). "This mare has run a cracker and we've got Thousand Stars that we fancy for the County Hurdle tomorrow. "She jumped super and at the stage where Ruby went into a boxing match with Davy, we were definitely travelling well and up for second."
