BLAKLION ROARS FOR RYAN HATCH IN RSA CHASE

Blaklion stayed on commendably up the hill to take the honours in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham.

Produced by Ryan Hatch in a wide-open race, the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Blaklion (8-1) put in a tenacious effort to come out on top.

The winner and Shaneshill battled it out in the closing stages, with the former prevailing by half a length.

More Of That was third, another eight lengths in arrears.

Hatch, claiming a second Festival victory, said: "He's not very big, but he can jump. He was absolutely super - he travelled all the way. He had a bit of boot at the end and passed them all.

"He's such a legend, he's as hard as nails. He's a very good horse and I just steered him, really."

Twiston-Davies said: "It's fantastic. Nobody expected him to win, but he's always been a great horse.

"We were so gutted (on Tuesday) and I was miserable as The New One (fourth in Champion Hurdle) isn't quite as good as he used to be, but we've got another (good) one."

The trainer added: "We knew he had a great chance coming here, but we were worried about the ground. Now it looks like he prefers better ground. He's not big, but he's game, he jumps and he travels. The day he fell here made him, because he's barely made a mistake since.

"This is what Cheltenham is all about. When I went home on Tuesday I've never been more miserable. The press were right - The New One simply isn't good enough over two miles - but he is still the second-best hurdler in this country and winning this makes up for it.

"Blaklion is so scopey and does everything right now and Ryan rode him beautifully. He was in a bit of a pocket coming down the hill, but he quickened up. We left Ryan on him, rather than getting a bigger name, because we like to give all the lads who do all the work a chance."

Willie Mullins was delighted with the performance of the runner-up Shaneshill.

He said: "It was a fantastic run and we just elected to sit and wait with him and I'm very happy with that. I thought if Paul Townend got him jumping right, he could be a player at the end of it. He's got him jumping well and he's run a nice race.

"I thought he might be the fastest horse in the race. We'll probably stick at this sort of trip and this better ground has probably suited him a bit better as well. I would imagine he'll go to Punchestown."

More Of That, winner of the 2014 World Hurdle, was a hot favourite to secure a second Festival success, but burst a blood vessel.

Trainer Jonjo O'Neill said: "He ran a blinder, but unfortunately he was bleeding out of both nostrils at the end.

"From the top of the hill I was a bit worried. I was not happy with the way he was going, but he was still there and I thought he'd run on again. The poor fellow has run a great race, considering what happened.

"Nobody likes to see a horse bleed and we'll give him the best treatment he can get. He did bleed at Newbury, but that was his wind as well. We just hope it's not a case of every time he comes under pressure, he bleeds."

No More Heroes was being assessed in the equine hospital at Cheltenham after suffering an injury. The Gordon Elliott-trained seven-year-old had created a big impression in his two previous starts over fences and was the second-favourite to make it a hat-trick of wins.

However, it soon emerged after he had faded into fourth that all was not well as Bryan Cooper dismounted. A veterinary officer reported the Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding had struck into himself on his left fore.

Elliott, who had the winner of the following Coral Cup, said of No More Heroes: "He's gone to the equine hospital. It doesn't look good I'm afraid. He's done a tendon. Bryan said he felt something after the third-last. That's the ups and downs of racing."