Ryanair Chase Tips & Predictions
The Ryanair Chase is the only Grade 1 run over an intermediate trip over fences at the Cheltenham Festival - and it is a red-hot contest this year.
The introduction of the Ryanair Chase in 2005 gave proper two-and-a-half milers the chance to be champions, rather than just classy handicappers, and it has been won by the likes of dual winners Alberta’s Run and Allaho.
A field of nine will go to post for Thursday's 15:20 race. Here are three to keep in mind, including one at big odds.
NAP: Protektorat @ 11/2
Il Est Francais adds intrigue to this race, but I’m not sure how suitable this track is for him and he could set things up perfectly for last year’s winner Protektorat.
Protektorat was strongest up the hill to beat Envoi Allen 12 months ago, and arguably bettered that when a close third behind Jonbon at Aintree in April.
He’s improved with each start since reappearing after an eight-month break in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November, when trying to lump top weight, and it’s best to ignore his defeat to Djelo in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon, as he’s much better going left-handed.
He's had his season built around this race and looked better than ever when hacking up in the Fleur De Lys in January, setting a really strong gallop and powering clear to score by 23 lengths.
That was arguably the best performance of his life, and he arrives in form, which makes him a huge player.
He'll gallop all the way to the line and can hold off Fact To File, who has disappointed this season but will likely prefer running over this intermediate trip.
NB: Jungle Boogie @ 12/1
Jungle Boogie makes plenty of appeal at a bigger price, despite having turned 11 since comfortably seeing off Fil Dor and James Du Berlais in a graduation chase at Ascot in December.
He had no problem coping with the shorter trip or quicker ground there, cruising round in front and jumping brilliantly, albeit more and more to his left as the race went on, before clearing away after the last to produce a career-best Racing Post Rating.
Lightly raced with just seven runs under his belt, Henry de Bromhead's charge was still going well in last season's Gold Cup before making a race-ending mistake three out and could play a major role in a Ryanair, with the intermediate trip and return to a left-handed course sure to suit.
Also consider: Heart Wood @ 18/1
De Bromhead has three runners in the race and Darragh O’Keeffe, who is unbeaten in two starts on Jungle Boogie, seemingly prefers the chances of Heart Wood.
He’s only a seven-year-old and had a good novice campaign last term, bolting up in a handicap over an intermediate trip at the Dublin Racing Festival by 14 lengths before finishing third in the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree’s Grand National meeting in April.
Three runs this season have seen him thump Corbetts Cross by seven lengths, finish a neck behind subsequent Grade 1 winner Croke Park in the Drinmore and then come home fourth in the Irish Gold Cup behind hot Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs.
His proven stamina at three miles will stand him in good stead, and he’s open to more improvement after just eight starts under rules.
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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation