Heart Wood denies Jonbon to win Ryanair Chase

Trainer Henry de Bromhead celebrated his first victory of this year's Cheltenham Festival when Heart Wood triumphed in the Ryanair Chase on day three.

Fact To File, who finished ahead of Heart Wood in the race 12 months ago, was an odds-on favourite for a repeat victory at one point but was withdrawn 45 minutes before the race started, with the ground not suiting the JP McManus horse.

Jonbon, who then began the race as favourite, looked in prime position to power through for the win, but jockey Darragh O'Keeffe was able to steer Heart Wood through.

The 9-2 shot finished in front of 2-1 favourite Jonbon and 3-1 Banbridge.

O'Keeffe told ITV: "I'm very grateful to be racing for Henry.

"I was keen to get him a winner on the board. The horses have been running well, these colours have always been great to me."

Owner Brian Acheson saluted jockey O'Keeffe's ride.

"Darragh on the horse is the hero. He's done it all now," Acheson said.

"I'm delighted for him. It's not about us as the owners, it's about the jockeys and the trainers. We should be not seen, not heard!"

White Noise pulled off the shock of the day in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle as the 40-1 shot powered over the line in first place.

Odds-on favourite Bambino Fever made a mistake when clearing a hurdle over the hill and failed to get back into contention.

Emotional jockey Tom Bellamy told ITV it marked a life's ambition fulfilled for him to ride a winner at Cheltenham.

Bellamy said: "I've waited my whole life for this day. I can't believe it, I'm speechless.

"I'm genuinely nearly crying here. I bunked off school to come and watch Cheltenham; now I can't believe I'm here."

McManus secured his first winner of the day in the Novices' Chase when 9-1 chance Meetmebythesea came home convincingly ahead of 25-1 shot Golden Dancer.

Trainer Ben Pauling told BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: "He was good there today. He jumped very well.

"It looked like he had a bit left at the last. Hopefully, he has a bit to come.

"It means a lot to everyone, but training a winner here for one of the greatest men in the industry [McManus] means a lot to us. It is an important win."

Jack Kennedy rode short-priced favourite Wodhooh to victory in the Mares' Hurdle in what was trainer Gordon Elliott's first victory of this year's Festival.

Home By The Lee, a 33-1 outsider, won the Stayers' Hurdle from Ballyburn and Bob Olinger.

Trainer Joseph O'Brien told BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra that the horse is as "tough as nails".

Harry Skelton rode 10-3 shot Supremely West to an easy victory in the Handicap Hurdle in the penultimate race of the day.

Shane Cotter guided 22-1 chance Ask Brewster over the line in the day's final race.

Going into the final day of the 2026 Festival, Great Britain trail Ireland 11-10 in the Prestbury Cup - the contest that is scored on the nationality of the winning trainers.