Double delight after Albertas edges out King

Jonjo O’Neill’s charge, a 6-1 chance, is now unlikely to run in today’s Gold Cup, despite being entered in the Festival showpiece.

McCoy, who had recorded his first win of the Festival in the day’s opening race on Noble Prince, said: “I’m beginning to feel like Ruby Walsh having ridden two winners here.

“Jonjo has been really sweet on him in the last week or so but Trevor (Hemmings, owner) was really keen on running him in the Gold Cup, thankfully Jonjo twisted his arm.

“This was the right race for him, he won it last year and has now won four Grade Ones.”

West Witton trainer, Murphy, was proud of Kalahari King’s run: “He has been second, third and fourth here now. It’s very difficult in championship races, but you pick up a lot of money which is even more important at the moment.

“He ran a brilliant race – he’s a versatile horse – and he’ll go for the two-and-a-half-miler (Melling Chase) at Aintree now.”