Ryanair Chase

June 17, 2011
Online Betting King
Cheltenham Festival
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Cheltenham Ryanair Chase

Cheltenham Festival race guide – Ryanair Chase betting

The Grade 1 Ryanair Chase is the third race on day three which will see entries five years or older do battle over two miles and five furlongs. During this distance, runners will have to take seventeen fences swinging left-handed as they complete the circuit on Cheltenham’s new course. Another race which was added to the festival’s card when a fourth day was introduced in 2005, but one which earmarked the rise of Nigel Twiston-Davies’ 2010 Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander. Paddy Brennan won aboard the 8yo in the Ryanair in 2009 and twelve months later he followed up this win by claiming the Gold Cup from heavily fancied pair Kauto Star and Denman. Surely this year we can’t envisage another future Gold Cup winner taking the Ryanair Chase can we?

Ryaniar Chase odds

In the six runnings of this event second favourites have had a very healthy record. In fact, three of those six have been solid in the betting behind the market leader so it might be best to focus on those horses occupying the top few in the betting. Paul Nicholls has a 33% strike rate in the Ryanair when teaming up with Ruby Walsh – they partnered Thisthatandother (2005) and Taranis (2007) to claim the £220,000 prize money. The deadly pairing are sure to be well backed in their pursuit of a three-timer in this and if money does arrive for Nicholls’ representative the market could guide.

Trip

The two mile five furlongs is an interesting distance, an intermediate one which is certainly an advantage to those horses who do not quite get the three mile trip but need a little more than two. And a good trial to assess potential entries trying this trip is the Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase in November. Imperial Commander won it in 2008 before going on to score in the Ryanair five months later. And this year Nigel Twiston-Davies worked his magic once more when son Sam scored on 20/1 shot Little Josh at Cheltenham over course and distance. So keep an eye on the front-running Little Josh in the run up to this one as the Twiston-Davies yard seem to be firing on all cylinders at this early stage of the season.

Last year can guide…

Last years winner Albertas Run was the largest price winner of the Ryanair since its inauguration scoring at 14/1. A P McCoy did the steering and rewarded those value punters who got on at this price. The Irish raider had previous Cheltenham winning form to his name and this could point the way to backing the 2011 victor.