ROYAL AND SUN ALLIANCE CHASE HISTORY FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS

The Royal & Sun Alliance 'Chase is a Grade 1 race for five-year-old and above novices. It is run over a distance of 3m ½f on the Old Course during the Cheltenham Festival.


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2008 ALBERTAS RUN (Jockey: Tony McCoy Trainer: Jonjo O'Neill)

Albertas Run (4/1 favourite in the Cheltenham betting) sat off the pace and settled into a good rhythm over this longer trip. He needed a little pressure before the third-last to close on the two clear leaders. The seven-year-old won in the style of a progressive horse, idling in front, but still 4½l clear at the post.

His second to Tidal Bay over shorter deserves plenty of credit, Cheltenham statistics showing that that winner was impressive in the Arkle Chase at the 2008 Cheltenham Festival. Runner-up Roll Along had plenty to do on bare form, but was a surprise stepping up in trip. Held up, he made crucial mistakes before staying on stoutly from the second-last. Battlecry chased the pace enthusiastically throughout to finish 3½l back in third.

2007 DENMAN (Jockey: Ruby Walsh, Trainer: Paul Nicholls)

6/5 Cheltenham betting favourite, Denman put up an impressive performance, going clear from three out to beat Snowy Morning and According To John by 10l and 3½l. At the top of the hill, Denman and Aces Four were ten lengths ahead of the pack, most starting to show distress signals. Aces Four stumbled very badly on landing over three out, leaving Denman in isolation. He is an outstanding talent and the manner in which he finished the race dispelled any stamina doubts. Snowy Morning was struggling from the top of the hill, but he stayed on well to take second going to the last. According To John excelled himself at long odds in third. Prominent in the chasing pack for most of the way, he would have been closer but for making a hash of the second-last. Cheltenham statistics show that Snowy Morning finished third in the 2008 Grand National.

2006 STAR DE MOHAISON (Jockey: Barry Geraghty, Trainer: Paul Nicholls)

A clear-cut win for the 14/1 chance in the Cheltenham betting, coming home by 6l and 11l from Idle Talk and Darkness. The 5-year old gave his elders a jumping lesson, relishing the drying ground. Idle Talk ran a blinder in second, having been off the bridle a long way out, delighting connections. Darkness went into the race with the strongest form, but jumped poorly. He did extraordinarily well to finish third.
 

2005 TRABOLGAN (Jockey: Mick Fitzgerald, Trainer: Nick Henderson)

A sub-standard renewal at the 2005 Cheltenham Festival saw Trabolgan (5/1 in the Cheltenham betting) beat Comply or Die and Cornish Rebel by 3l and the same. His excellent cruising speed was matched by excellent jumping. He idled briefly after the last, but a late surge saw him home. Comply Or Die put up a gutsy performance, staying on well when headed by the winner. Cheltenham statistics show that Comply of Die was the winning favourite of the 2008 Grand National. Cornish Rebel, a tricky ride, ran a perfectly sound race to take third on ground that wasn't nearly as soft as he would have liked.

2004 RULE SUPREME (Jockey: David Casey, Trainer: Willie Mullins)

Something of a surprise result, with 25/1 chance Rule Supreme coming from well back to beat Royal Emperor and Our Vic (hot favourite at 11/8 in the Cheltenham betting). The winner had loads of experience (not even rated a novice in his native Ireland) and jumped better. Relentless progress from 4 out saw him score by 1¼l and 2l. Royal Emperor may have been unlucky, with pilot Dominic Elsworth losing his whip. Our Vic seemed not to get home over the testing trip.

2003 ONE KNIGHT (Jockey: Richard Johnson, Trainer: Philip Hobbs)

15/2 in the Cheltenham betting, the winner was allowed to dictate the pace and survived some poor jumping to get home by 1¾l from Jair Du Cochet. Given an unenterprising ride, the runner-up looked an unlucky loser. Barrow Drive, one of Ireland's best novices, again ran well in third, 10l further back.

2002 HUSSARD COLLONGES (Jockey: Russ Garrity, Trainer: Peter Beaumont)

Another surprise result, with the first three home being 33/1, 14/1 and 33/1 in the Cheltenham betting. The winner relished the test of stamina and stiff fences, coming home by 4l and 2l. Runner-up Iznogoud stayed on gamely in pursuit of the winner up the straight. Chives jumped well and ran a blinder under a patient ride.

2001 Cheltenham Festival abandoned – foot and mouth epidemic

2000 LORD NOELIE (Jockey: Jim Cullotty, Trainer: Henrietta Knight)

Lord Noelie, 9/2 in the Cheltenham betting, jumped soundly, taking up the running after a bold leap at the last. The first three were only 1½l apart, with Alexander Banquet snatching second close home from Toto Toscato.

1999 LOOKS LIKE TROUBLE (Jockey: Paul Carberry, Trainer: Noel Chance)

Only 5 finished from 14 starters, the 16/1 winner recording the greatest-ever winning distance in the race, in excess of 30l. Hot favourite in the Cheltenham betting at 5/4, Nick Dundee fell when absolutely cruising at the third-last, leaving Lord of the River and Billingsgate to fill the minor berths.Cheltenham statistics show that the winner, ridden by Richard Johnson, went on to Gold Cup glory at the 2000 Cheltenham Festival.