The Ryanair Chase is the championship event for two and a half-mile chasers. Although this is a specialist distance, many of the entries this year have options in either the Champion Chase (2 miles) or the Cheltenham Gold Cup (3m 2f).
Cue Card has been favourite since he ran out an impressive winner over Captain Chris at Ascot. That race was over 2m 5½f on soft ground and he made most of the running. The fact that he stayed on so well suggests that this is certainly the right race for him but connections have been tempted to take on Sprinter Sacre in the shorter Champion Chase. He was beaten seven lengths by Henderson’s superstar in the Arkle Trophy last season and, whilst he would undoubtedly have place prospects, it is hard to see him reversing the form. In all probability he will take his place in the Ryanair.
Second favourite is First Lieutenant, trained by Mouse Morris in Ireland. His trainer has expressed the desire to run him in the Cheltenham Gold Cup after solid efforts in the top three-mile chases. He is in the same ownership as Sir Des Champs and some doubt his ability to stay the full three and a quarter miles of the Gold Cup. Morris is not one of them and it remains to be seen whether he gets his wish.
Sizing Europe is yet another with multiple entries and his most obvious target is the Champion Chase, a race he won in 2011 before being beaten by Finian’s Rainbow in 2012. He has proved that he stays this distance but, with opposition drying up to Sprinter Sacre, he is thought likely to go for the shorter race.
Nicky Henderson won this race last year with Riverside Theatre at a time when his stable was firing on all cylinders. The nine-year-old has disappointed in two races since but recent homework has been encouraging and his price has shortened in recent days. He could be joined by the reigning two-mile champion Finian’s Rainbow who has been similarly disappointing, although Henderson has blamed the ground for his lack lustre efforts.
Champion Court ran a brave race in the King George but clearly failed to stay the three miles. He ran disappointingly when only second to Alasi recently and Menorah also needs to improve markedly to figure here. Albertas Run won this race in 2010 and 2011 and finished second to Riverside Theatre last season. He has not raced for a year but went into last year’s contest without a recent run and performed magnificently. Trainer Jonjo O’Neill’s last bulletin about him was not that encouraging and he is in the autumn of a great career at the age of twelve.
Roi Du Mee could come into the equation if he is allowed to take his chance. He beat off Grand National hopefuls Prince De Beauchene and Seabass in a slowly run Bobbyjo Chase and has done nothing but improve all season.
Summary
This race looks wide open and may not become clearer until the final declarations are announced. Cue Card is a worthy favourite on his Ascot form but his free-running style is not best suited to Cheltenham and he could be left vulnerable to a late challenge. Riverside Theatre would have to be a threat if Henderson can get him back to his best in time whilst Sizing Europe would also come into consideration if running here. Roi Du Mee is not yet a certain runner but looks over-priced at 25-1 with the non-runner/no bet now offered by most bookmakers.
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