Grand Annual Report: Rock stars for Harrington


Jessica Harrington and Robbie Power followed up Gold Cup victory with Sizing John as Rock The World won the Grand Annual at 10/1.

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase result

1st Rock The World 10/1

2nd Gardefort 20/1

3rd Theinval 9/1

4th Dandridge 13/2

5th Croco Bay 40/1

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Race Report


Rock The World completed a memorable final day of the Cheltenham Festival for trainer Jessica Harrington and jockey Robbie Power with victory in the Grand Annual Handicap Chase.

The nine-year-old was beaten favourite in the race last year, when conditions were much softer, and he relished the chance to return on a quicker surface despite competing from a 1lb higher mark having run several excellent races in defeat in the meantime.

The 10/1 chance came with a well-timed run to jump to the front at the last and ran on strongly to hold Gardefort a length and three-quarters at bay.

Theinval and Dandridge were third and fourth, while fifth place went to Croco Bay who was in a prominent position throughout.

 It was Ireland's 19th win of the week to Great Britain's nine. 

Reaction


Harrington said: "What a day. He was fantastic, that horse.

"He was third last year and he had a wind op after he ran here in the autumn. I couldn't run him at home as the ground was too heavy, so I gave him a couple of racecourse gallops.

"He loves quick ground, he absolutely loves it.

"He'a beautiful jumper. He's pinged the last and stayed on all the way up the hill.

"It's fantastic for me, I shall have a grin on my face for about a month."

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