The Ryanair Chase has seen some scintillating winning efforts in seasons gone by, including last year when Allaho put in one of the performances of the Festival, giving trainer Willie Mullins a fourth win in the Grade 1 contest.Daryl Carter has previewed this competitive event alongside an exclusive Virgin Bet offer that provides new customers with £20 in free bets.
The Ryanair Chase has a one-horse race feel as Allaho will attempt to land back to back wins after scoring decisively last term by 12 lengths. Still, there is plenty to chew on in this one.
Key Trends
In the last 12 years, 11 winners have been aged between seven and nine.
Ten of the last 12 winners came from the top three in the betting.
Eight of the last 12 had won at Cheltenham.
Eleven of the last 12 had a rating of 162 or higher – Only Saint Calvados from the English horses qualify on this basis.
Leading Contenders
ALLAHO
Allaho rightfully heads the betting on the back of a 12 length win at Thurles, a race he won on route to scoring in this contest at Cheltenham last term. He was devastating in this contest last year when making all the running, and those tactics are unlikely to be waived from this term. He looks rock-solid even in a race with such depth in quality, especially when he has beaten half of this field to date. I am struggling to find any negatives.
FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES
Fakir D’oudairies has now been put in his place twice – once in this contest last term – by Allaho, and it’s hard to see him reversing the form from a win point of view. Connections have been toiling with the idea of going up to 3m, and his latest effort at Thurles when 12 lengths adrift of today’s favourite probably won’t deter them.
SAINT CALVADOS
Saint Calvados is best when fresh, and there’s no doubt about that, so his chances may be enhanced if arriving here on the back of a break as they were when a neck second to Min in 2020. It’s been well documented that he was given a poor ride in the King George, and over the years, it has been profitable to back those placed in that race for this contest. He is a horse with considerable ability and has a good record over further than 2m at Cheltenham. He is hard to back ante-post given the unknown plans, but he looks like a very worthy candidate at the time of writing.
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JANIDIL
Janidil only has two lengths to find with Allaho from their meeting at Punchestown in the John Durkan on seasonal return and was worth an upgrade on that performance coming from the rear of the field in a steadily run affair. He was then outstayed when trying three miles in the Irish Gold Cup for the first time. He is a fascinating runner, and you get the feeling that we haven’t got to the bottom of his ability just yet. This Ryanair trip looks right up his street, and he had course form when fifth in the red hot Albert Bartlett won by Monkfish. He could be the one to upset the favourite.
Of those, at higher prices, Eldorado Allen 50/1 ran well in the Arkle in 2021 and shaped as though he needed a step up in trip. He was recently put in his place at Kempton by Mister Fisher, but that track was unlikely to suit him, and the return to Cheltenham with a strongly run race could see him to best effect. It would be no surprise to see the likes of Melon 50/1 or Midnight Shadow 50/1 outrun their odds, but the top of the market looks very strong.
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Verdict
It’s hard to take on Allaho at the top of the market, but I would be seriously interested in Saint Calvados would he turn up here on the back of his King George run (fresh). However, that doesn’t look the paln with his Ascot Chase entry and it could pay to give JANIDIL a chance. He looks a good each-way bet at the time of writing, especially given he wasn’t far behind the favourite in the John Durkan.
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