JOHNNY HENDERSON

GRAND ANNUAL

HANDICAP CHASE

(GRADE 3)

LESS than two hours after their Gold Cup victory, Jessica Harrington and Robbie Power were back in the Cheltenham winner’s enclosure with Rock The World.

Sent off at 10/1, the Michael Buckley-owned gelding came from far back in the 24-runner Grand Annual Handicap Chase to lead just before the final fence and he galloped strongly up the hill to defeat Gardefort by a length and three-quarters. Theinval was a neck away in third and a couple of lengths clear of fourth-placed Dandridge.

Rock The World started favourite for the Grand Annual last year and finished third, having been off the track since the previous October. He was given a similar campaign this season but much more patient tactics were employed on this occasion.

This was Harrington’s 11th Festival winner, her first having come in this very race back in 1999 with Space Trucker.

She and Power also won the Coral Cup earlier in the week with Supasundae and Power ended the meeting in second place in the jockeys’ table behind Ruby Walsh.