CHELTENHAM 2026

GOLD CUP SWEEPSTAKE KIT INSIDE

- By NEIL MORRICE

Darragh O'Keeffe celebrates after riding Heart Wood to victory in the Ryanair Chase

HEART Wood eased to victory to take the Ryanair Chase in convincing style - and leave Jonbon to finish second at Cheltenham again.

Trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Darragh O'Keeffe, Heart Wood went off a 9-2 chance after Fact To File was withdrawn and was bidding to go one better than his second-placed finish behind that horse last year.

The eight-year-old always looked comfortable and drew level with JPR One, who made the running, at the turn for home before pulling clear up the hill to register a 10-length victory.

"I'm very grateful to be racing for Henry [de Bromhead]. I was keen to get him a winner on the board. The horses have been running well, these colours have always been great to me," said O'Keeffe.

Jonbon, a 2-1 favourite, has never won at the Festival having also finished second in the Supreme, the Arkle and Champion Chase. Meetmebythesea provided

Ben Pauling and Ben Jones with the perfect Gold Cup appetiser when storming to victory in the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.

The King George-winning trainer and jockey will go for gold with The Jukebox Man today, but Meetmebythesea delivered in style at odds of 9-1.

Tom Bellamy tasted success at the Festival for the first time as White Noise regained the winning thread in the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle.