Albertas Run: an impressive winner on his seasonal reappearance at Ascot

  PICTURE: Mark Cranham  

Albertas could run in Cheltenham Gold Cup

JONJO O'NEILL has left the door open for Albertas Run to line up in the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, despite thenine-year-old trading as short as 14-1 for the Ryanair Chase.

The Trevor Hemmings-owned gelding finished ninth - beaten 48 lengths - in last year's Gold Cup, but secured his first win since the 2008 Cheltenham Festival when he won the Grade 2 Amlin 1965 Chase over 2m3f on his seasonal reappearance at Ascot in November.

He then finished third in the Totesport.com Peterborough Chase before running with credit over 2m5f - the Ryanair's trip - at Ascot in February.

Those runs sandwiched a sixth in the William Hill King George, where Albertas Run was thrashed 69 lengths by the imperious Kauto Star.

Despite Albertas Run appearing to be better over intermediate distances, O'Neill, who won the Gold Cup twice as a jockey, has not ruled out running the son of Accordian in the Festival highlight.

"We may run Albertas Run in the Gold Cup, but nothing will be decided until after I've spoken to his owner, Mr Trevor Hemmings, and he may run in the Ryanair Chase instead," O'Neill wrote on his website.

Jonjo O'Neill: no decision yet

  PICTURE: Martin Lynch  

"Albertas Run isn't the biggest but he's got a massive heart and always does his best. He won well at Ascot before Christmas and we were delighted with his last run, when he ran a blinder to finish second in another big race.

"He's been working well at home since, I'm pleased to say, and another plus is that we know he won't befazed by the crowds at Cheltenham, having won the RSA Chase at the 2008 Festival."

Albertas Run was allotted joint top weight in the John Smith's Grand National last month and O'Neill added: "He's a very talented horse on his day and as long as the ground's not too soft at Cheltenham, because he's definitely at his best when it's good, I'm expecting him to run well."

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