Alderwood scored at the Cheltenham Festival for the second year running as he took the Grand Annual Chase under Tony McCoy.

Last updated: 15th March 2013   Subscribe to RSS Feed

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Alderwood takes the finale under Tony McCoy

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Alderwood followed up his victory in the County Hurdle of 12 months ago with success in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual to give Ireland a record number of winners at Cheltenham 2013.

The victory for Tom Mullins' nine-year-old provided Ireland with a 14th success compared to Britain's 13 over the week.

Tony McCoy, riding his second winner of the day, gave up the inside to nobody, just like he had done last year, but this time victory always looked likely.

It was a fellow JP McManus runner in Kid Cassidy who was the hare to catch having travelled powerfully throughout but he had no answer to Alderwood up the hill.

The 3/1 favourite won by three and quarter lengths, with a former winner in Oiseau De Nuit third and Drumshambo fourth.

Mullins said: "As he'd won last year we always wanted to come back but he was slow to come to hand in the autumn, he just wasn't training properly.

"He was handier last year but we are still a novice so AP gave him a chance. He won easy enough.

"The horse took him along. He's quick, he's brave and he's clever. When the rain came it slowed down the rest so it was probably good news."To give Ireland the deciding victory of the week, it's probably the first time I've done anything for Ireland in my life!"