Ryanair Chase Preview

The Ryanair Chase was introduced in 2005 to provide a championship race at the Cheltenham Festival for horses who fall between the 2 mile Champion Chase and the 3m 2f Gold Cup distance. The race over 2 miles 5 furlongs has had Grade One status since 2008 and has quickly become established as a feature race at the meeting.

Albertas Run, trained by Jonjo O’Neill, has won this highly competitive chase for the last two years and could be in line to defend his title in March. He has been off the course since October when he won the Old Roan Chase at Aintree but he could make a re-appearance at Ascot next month or go directly to the Festival. He is quoted at 10-1 to pull off the hat-trick but also holds an entry in the Gold Cup.

Paul Nolan’s Noble Prince is currently showing as the 5-1 favourite. The Irish trained chaser was a fine second to Big Zeb over 2 miles at Christmas and is likely to have one more race before the Ryanair. He was a brave winner at the festival in 2011 when he won the inaugural Jewson Novices’ Chase. There are 14 Irish-trained runners among the 38 entries for the Ryanair Chase, including the progressive Rubi Light who was third last year. He chased home Gold Cup hope Synchronised in the Lexus Chase, which is top class form and is currently priced as 6-1 second favourite.

Last year’s runner-up, Kalahari King, is making a good recovery from a cracked splint bone and could go straight to the festival. He is rated a 16-1 chance to go one better in 2012. Captain Chris is third favourite at 7-1 but could still go for the longer distance of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Nicky Henderson is strongly represented by Riverside Theatre and Finian’s Rainbow, although the latter holds multiple festival entries.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls won this in 2005 and 2007 and looks set to rely on Kauto Stone and Poquelin this year. Kauto Stone was no match for Sizing Europe in the Tingle Creek Chase and Nicholls may elect to run him over this longer trip at the festival. David Pipe won this race with Our Vic in 2008 and could be represented by Great Endeavour this year. The grey was very impressive when starting his campaign with victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November and Pipe will be aiming to have him in peak form for Cheltenham. He looks a lively outsider at 14-1 in the ante-post Cheltenham betting.