Cheltenham Ryanair Chase

Originally the thoughts about this race were that it was going to detract from the quality of horses contesting not only the Gold Cup but also the Champion Chase. As it turns out nothing could be further from the truth and now granted Grade One status (the highest in NH racing) it is the first of two such events run on Thursday at the Cheltenham Festival.

The race, although not a handicap, is run over the same distance (2M 5F) as two of the main handicaps run over this trip at Cheltenham at the two big meetings pre-Christmas. Both of those races are proving excellent guides to this event and form in those races should be highly valued if it is possessed by your selection. But it’s not only form in those races that should be taken note of but Cheltenham form overall, with all six winners having been successful at Cheltenham before.

The most notable winner that has gone on to even greater success was the 2009 winner Imperial Commander who went on to land the ultimate chasing prize at the Festival, the Gold Cup last year.

The roll of honour for the Ryanair contains many of the top trainers but if you have to single one trainer out as one to keep on your side it would be Paul Nicholls who has won two of the runnings – 2005 and 2007 – and went close again last year with Poquelin who was second to Albertas Run, who became the longest priced winner of the race at 14/1 in the Cheltenham racing betting.

If you are looking to get involved in the race again this year then Poquelin would be on plenty of shortlists as he has since been successful again at Cheltenham in one of those big 2M 5F handicaps and comes from the Nicholls stable, which will no doubt attract plenty of Cheltenham 2011 bets.

Given Grade One status in 2008 the Ryanair Chase has effectively given Day Three of the Cheltenham Festival a one-two Grade One punch.