Albertas Run

Starting a 40/1 outsider, he was among the leaders in the early stages, but then dropped back and finished fifteenth of the twenty-three runners, more than seventeen lengths behind the Irish-trained winner Hairy Molly.

[6] On his final appearance of the season, Albertas Run was moved up in distance and matched against more experienced horses in the John Smith's Extra Cold Handicap Hurdle (now a Grade III race) over three miles at Aintree Racecourse.

[7] Albertas Run began competing in steeplechases in the autumn of 2007, beginning with a nine length win when 2/5 favourite for a Novices' event at Towcester Racecourse in October.

On 16 February, Albertas Run was moved up in class to contest the Grade II Reynoldstown Novices' Chase over three miles at Ascot Racecourse and started third favourite at odds of 9/2 behind Air Force One and Joe Lively.

Ridden by Ruby Walsh, he was restrained in last place before moving through the field to take the lead at the last fence and hon by one and three quarter lengths from Air Force One.

In November he finished a distant fourth behind Tiday Bay in a race at Carlisle and was then pulled up when tailed off behind Madison du Berlais in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury Racecourse.

[11] In February, Albertas Run finished a distant third behind Madison du Berlais and Denman in the Grade II Levy Board Chase at Kempton.

The gelding started at odds of 14/1 for the Gold Cup at Cheltenham and finished ninth of the sixteenth runners in an exceptionally strong renewal which saw Kauto Star win from Denman, Exotic Dancer and Neptune Collonges.

In April he finished third to Madison du Berlais and Exotic Dancer in the Totesport Bowl at Aintree, but was pulled up behind Notre Pere in the Punchestown Gold Cup on his final appearance of the season.

On his first appearance of the next National Hunt season, Albertas Run was brought back in distance for the Grade II Amlin 1965 Chase over two miles three furlongs at Ascot.

Ridden by McCoy he took the lead at the seventh fence and stayed on strongly to win by three and a half lengths from Planet of Sound, with Voy Por Ustedes in third and Monet's Garden in sixth.

Albertas Run's second attempt at the King George VI Chase was less successful than his first, as he finished sixth of the thirteen runners, almost seventy lengths behind Kauto Star.

At the Cheltenham Festival started at odd of 14/1 for the Grade I Ryanair Chase over two and a half miles against a field which included Deep Purple, Planet of Sound, Voy Por Ustedes and Poquelin.

In the Melling Chase at Aintree he made several jumping errors and after briefly taking the lead, was outpaced in the closing stages and finished third behind Finian's Rainbow and Wishfull Thinking.