Albertas secures winning SunAlliance run

4-1 favourite Albertas Run turned in an imperious performance to land the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.

Trained by Jonjo O'Neill, this Grade One scalp also represented a first victory for Tony McCoy since the injury which nearly denied him a place at the Festival.

Albertas Run executed a textbook round of jumping to cosily repel the challenge of Roll Along, with Battlecry finishing third.

It's nice to ride a winner,' McCoy said afterwards. I won on him here a couple of months ago but he pulled up after the last that day so I didn't learn that much about him.

'I'm delighted for the trainer. Jonjo always produces the winners come Cheltenham.

Of his injury comeback, McCoy added: 'You always have to be positive. It's part of the job to get the falls. You're always in a mad rush to get back and thanks to all the doctors who helped me.'

Hemmings added: 'What a day - it's fantastic!
AP was a quiet man today but he was so positive. He (McCoy) has given me my first SunAlliance for a long while so it's fantastic.'