Heart Wood lands Ryanair Chase for de Bromhead

The late withdrawal of last year’s winner and hot favourite Fact To File from today’s Grade One Ryanair Chase, left the door open for the 2025 runner-up Heart Wood (9-2) to go one better.

Partnered by Darragh O’Keeffe, the eight-year-old saw off the challenge of the gallant Jonbon to win by 10 lengths.

Winning trainer Henry de Bromhead said: “It was brilliant, Darragh was brilliant on him. He jumped amazing, it’s just lovely to get it. Delighted. He ran a blinder last year and we probably rode him to sort of be placed last year, whereas this year we said that we would go out and give it a real go. They went some gallop, to my eye. He just winged fences. Darragh was brilliant on him. It was just one of those dream runs.” 

Reflecting on how hard it is to win at The Festival, he said: “It’s getting harder and harder. It’s been even more competitive this week. I’m just delighted. We have a great team. A great team at home, we all work hard and it’s lovely to get these rewards.

“He is a brilliant rider, we are so lucky to have him. He’s a real team player, he works harder than anyone and I’m delighted for him. He has given everything a brilliant ride this week, [winning] wasn’t happening, and it’s lovely when it does.” Asked how he would feel if Envoi Allen won the Gold Cup tomorrow, he said: “He’s in mighty form. I know all the stats are against him, but he’s in some form and you wouldn’t think he was 12. We’re delighted to have him here and I know he is delighted to be here. It’s great fun. The Thompsons are great supporters of the game and they just love the Gold Cup.” 

Darragh O’Keeffe, the successful jockey, said: “He jumped brilliant. I got into a great rhythm. His run last year was very solid; with the favourite out [this year], I thought that if he put in the same performance – and he seemed to be better this year – that he could be bang there.

“It’s unreal. I’m very grateful to be riding for Henry de Bromhead this week. I was keen to get a winner on the board because his record here is so good. I just wanted to get him a winner on the board. The horses have been running well, just a couple of things went against us. These colours are brilliant, they’ve always been great to me. I’m delighted to win this.” Successful owner Brian Acheson said: “Half an hour ago I was on the floor and now that - it just shows you what a screwed up game this is! It’s fantastic. That fella was always there - when the favourite came how, he had a chance, but we’re having such a bad week that you start to talk yourself out of it.

“It’s a real credit to Henry; I’m delighted for Henry and Darragh, because it’s their first [Festival] winner. It’s a funny thing - I think he’s the fourth winner of a Cheltenham Grade One to come out of Tramore on New Year’s Day, which is some stat. It’s just relief. Darragh and the horse are the heroes, not us. It’s brilliant for the team at Knockeen - it’s about them, the horses, the trainers, not about us [owners].”