The Ryanair Chase is run on the new Course at Cheltenham and shares headline status on the Thursday alongside the Ladbrokes World Hurdle. Run over 2m5f, the race was introduced in 2005, when the Festival got re-vamped and moved to four days.
Imperial Commander took this prize in 2009, before going on to land The Gold Cup in 2010 and the impressive Twiston-Davies trained gelding, is still the only horse to complete the double.
So who will land this year’s prize, in a race that has had Grade 1 status since 2008?
Al Ferof
The Paul Nicholls trained gelding was highlighted in my Gold Cup preview and there I stated that Al Ferof may end up in this race and Nicholls has now stated that they intend to run here.
This distance should suit the 9-year-old and when you consider the son of Dom Alco won the Paddy Power Gold Cup over a similar distance in 2012 on this course, he has to be taken seriously. That was a Grade 3 Handicap however and this represents a serious rise in class.
The French bred finished third in the King George be it by some 15 lengths, had Dynaste and Champion Court all behind and if putting best foot forward he should run a big race. Since that defeat he got hammered by Harry Topper over 3m at Haydock, in what was extremely heavy ground, so this should be dismissed in terms of form.
However, I do feel his overall form is not good enough, even before his injury to land this prize. Since the race was introduced the standard of the Ryanair has improved considerably and in a field with plenty of talent, the J Hales owned gelding is confidently overlooked.
First Lieutenant
Highlighted in my Gold Cup preview, I feel connections should go for The Gold Cup with this one. There may be pressure to run him here however; as the race itself is sponsored by Ryanair who’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael O’Leary, owns the gelding.
The 9-year-old finished a good second last year to the highly talented Cue Card in this event and if turning out he should be difficult to beat. As highlighted though in The Gold Cup preview, he finds it hard to win in Grade 1 Company and I am still convinced the Irish bred is better over further.
He be there no doubt, but I feel again he will find one or two, too good on the day.
Dynaste
Frustrating, comes to mind when I think of the David Pipe trained 8-year-old.
There is no doubt that he did not run his race in the King George, a track that should have played to his strengths but if Pipe can get him back to the level when a 4 ½L second to Cue Card at the start of the season at Haydock over 3m, the mount of Tom Scudamore has a live chance.
However, the French bred was in my opinion put in his place by the Irish trained Benefficient in last year’s Jewson Novices Chase run over 2m4f. This race is an extra furlong in trip and that day Benefficient was going away, so I can’t see him turning the tables on the AJ Martin trained gelding.
Benefficient
Trained in Ireland by AJ Martin, this race to me looks made for the 8-year-old. A three times Grade 1 winner, he beat Dynaste well last year, when apparently the latter was under-par, a notion I don’t agree with.
The gelding came back to form last time out after two moderate runs this season. By beating Hidden Cyclone and Arvika Ligeonniere at Leopardstown, the Irish bred showed his well-being over 2m1f. The step up to 2m5f at Cheltenham will certainly help his cause and he is the one they all have to beat.
There is a chance he could be rerouted to the Champion Chase in the absence of Sprinter Scare, but for me that would be a mistake and he should take his chance here.
Hidden Cyclone
The “Shark” Hanlon trained 9-year-old is consistent to say the least, and he should run his race. The gelding’s latest effort when finishing second to Champion Chase favourite Sire De Grugy at Ascot reads well, but winning this is surely a step too far.
The son of Stowaway has won over 2m4f, so trip should be in reach but even allowing that, place prospects are probably a bit optimistic.
Menorah
You could be forgiven for thinking that Menorah was older than a 9-year-old as he has been on the go since 2009. The Philip Hobbs trained Irish bred has been a model of consistency up until this season, when he was pulled up on his only outing in the King George.
If Hobbs can get the gelding back to the form when a close second to First Lieutenant in last year’s Bowl at Aintree over 3m, he could run a big race on a track where he has recorded three victories, albeit during his hurdling days.
Not to be dismissed likely.
Of the others, cases can be made for Boston Bob, Champion Court and Medermit, but it is highly likely that the winner will come from the first four in the betting. Since its introduction only two winners has returned an SP bigger than 6/1, and this year we may well see a similar outcome.
Summary
The Ryanair is mostly won by a horse at the head of the market, and for me I can’t see past the AJ Martin trained Benefficient.
The 8-year-old ticks all the boxes and with question marks surrounding Dynaste, Menorah and Al Ferof the Irish contender is the one to beat.
The danger comes in the form of the Mouse Morris trained First Lieutenant, who is a model of consistency and can give the selection most to do.
Menorah may represent decent each-way value for those who like the bigger odds.
Wagga Man’s Verdict
Benefficient
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