Barry Geraghty claims a fifth Cheltenham Festival win of the week as Saint Roi storms to victory in the County Handicap Hurdle
- Bookies favourite Saint Roi claimed victory in the County Handicap Hurdle
- He stretched clear of Aramon after the clearing the final hurdle to win in style
Saint Roi landed a gamble to continue a superb Festival for connections with a convincing victory in the Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Saint Roi may have been lightly-raced, but money talked and the JP McManus-owned five-year-old delivered in style.
Coming to the last, Embittered held every chance, as did a few others, but the Barry Geraghty-ridden Saint Roi was going best of all and the 11-2 favourite pulled away to win decisively by four and a half lengths.
Irish jockey Barry Geraghty celebrates on Saint Roi after winning his fifth race of the week
Willie Mullins also saddled the runner-up, Aramon, with Gordon Elliott’s Embittered a head away third and another of the Mullins’ team, Buildmeupbuttercup, another head back in fourth.
Riding his fifth winner of the week, Gearghty said: ‘He was electric, for a horse with little experience, the pace they went, he was very good. Willie was sweet on him and he’s not a bad judge.
‘It’s what you dream of, you come here and one winner is all you want. It’s brilliant when they keep coming. There’s no doubt about it, it’s a privileged position to ride such good horses for good people and it is a pleasure.
‘It’s a fun game in this sport, I enjoy it.’
Saint Roi (centre) powers clear to win the County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenhal Festival