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17:30Champion Bumper
Ryanair Chase
14:50 Cheltenham Festival
2023-03-16
Winner: £211,012.5
Runners: 9
Going: Soft
No. of hurdles: 17
Distance: 2m4f127y
The Ryanair Chase is the feature race on day three of the Cheltenham Festival. It is a Grade 1 contest over 2m5f and is the championship contest for chasers whose optimum trip falls between that of the Champion Chase and Gold Cup. It has been won by stars such as Un De Sceaux, Vautour, Cue Card and Min in recent seasons. Check the Ryanair Chase runners and riders ahead of the race and place your bets by clicking the odds buttons.
NO.DRAW
FORM
FORM
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HORSE
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JOCKEY& TRAINER
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AGE
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OR
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2(0)
1U-233
Chacun Pour Soi
-
J: Danny Mullins
T: W P Mullins
11
11-10
167
173
Formerly a high-class chaser (multiple Grade 1 winner) at about 2m on Irish soil but has shown signs of being on the wane this season and a step up to 2m4f failed to help last time; three runs in Britain have not gone well, including twice in the Champion Chase (beaten favourite in 2021, unseated rider in 2022); enough to prove on first Ryanair attempt.
3(0)
13-317
Envoi Allen
-
J: Rachael Blackmore
T: Henry De Bromhead
9
11-10
163
171
Has seven Grade 1 wins on his CV, the most recent at Down Royal (3m, yielding) in November; ran poorly in the King George when last seen but that just looked a clear off-day and he's likely to rebound; has form figures of 113 in completed starts at the Cheltenham Festival, winning the Champion Bumper in 2019 and Ballymore in 2020 then third in the Champion Chase in 2022 (all on soft ground); that record gives him a solid chance back here.
8(0)
32F-P1
Janidil
-
J: Mark Walsh
T: W P Mullins
9
11-10
163
170
Regained the winning thread in Grade 2 Red Mills at Gowran (2m4f, soft to heavy; back from layoff) last month, which sets him up perfectly for another crack at the Ryanair; creditable second, without proving a match for brilliant stablemate Allaho, in this contest last year (soft) and should go well again; indeed, with Allaho absent he has become one of the likelier winners this time.
9(0)
11P-31
Shishkin
-
J: Nico de Boinville
T: Nicky Henderson
9
11-10
174
183
Has been a real powerhouse at 2m and he's a dual Cheltenham Festival winner (2020 Supreme, 2021 Arkle); physical issues contributed to his flops in last year's Champion Chase and this season's Tingle Creek; had a second wind surgery prior to staging a big revival in the Ascot Chase (2m5f, good to soft; tongue-tie applied) last month, proving well suited by the new trip and gliding clear impressively; has won on all types of ground; top on ratings and should be hard to beat provided he remains in peak form.
5(0)
2-3133
Fury Road
-
J: Davy Russell
T: Gordon Elliott
9
11-10
161
166
Second-season chaser who arrives in consistent form having won Grade 2 event at Down Royal (2m3f, yielding) in November and subsequently finished third in a couple of Grade 1 races at Leopardstown (3m, soft/yielding); close third in the Albert Bartlett here in 2020 and had an excuse in the Stayers' Hurdle the following year; likely to go well.
4(0)
-31252
French Dynamite
-
J: Darragh O'Keeffe
T: M F Morris
8
11-10
155
161
Successful in Grade 3 novice chase at Thurles (2m2f, good) last term and ran creditably in a Grade 2 contest there (2m4f, yielding; bare form can be marked up) most recently; strictly has something to find back at Grade 1 level but posted a big effort (close second to Ga Law in major 2m4f handicap) on sole Cheltenham start and could go well again.
6(0)
32/31F
Ga Law
-
J: Jonathan Burke
T: Jamie Snowden
7
11-10
152
162
Useful novice chaser two seasons back, then missed last term; has performed very well in major handicaps since returning to action, including a success in the Paddy Power here (2m4f, good; beat French Dynamite); still held every chance when final-fence faller at Doncaster (upped to 3m) last time; faces a harder task on these terms but may improve further.
7(0)
2-21P2
Hitman
-
J: Harry Cobden
T: Paul Nicholls
7
11-10
159
169
Placed many times at Graded level, most recently second in the Denman Chase at Newbury (2m7f, good) where he started favourite; runner-up in two Grade 1 races last term; however, still seeking first win above Class 2 grade and this switch to Cheltenham is an unknown (first run here); it remains to be seen how much he'll find up the hill, even with cheekpieces added.
1(0)
3-1112
Blue Lord
-
J: Paul Townend
T: W P Mullins
8
11-10
167
175
Turned over at short odds in the Dublin Chase most recently but could well bounce back from that defeat; progressive otherwise and he was impressive at Leopardstown (2m1f, yielding) the time before, recording a third Grade 1 win; confirmed his stamina for 2m4f with Grade 2 win at Clonmel (soft to heavy) in November and remains particularly unexposed at this trip; respectable third in the Arkle at this meeting last year; major player.
RACING POST TIP
Shishkin
Shortly after the brilliant Allaho was ruled out of going for a Ryanair hat-trick, SHISHKIN staged a huge revival with a stunning performance in the Ascot Chase and became the clear favourite for this race. The Nicky Henderson-trained 9yo is evidently back in business and should follow up provided he remains in top form. It's quite open among the remainder but the suggested second choice is last year's runner-up Janidil, ahead of Envoi Allen who has a creditable record at the Cheltenham Festival. Blue Lord remains of interest despite an odds-on defeat last time and Fury Road also looks capable of going well.
Verdict
RYANAIR CHASE PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2022 | Allaho | 112-11 | 8 | 4-7F | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2021 | Allaho | 13-641 | 7 | 3-1F | Willie Mullins |
Rachael Blackmore
|
| 2020 | Min | 512-12 | 9 | 2-1 | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2019 | Frodon | 0-1211 | 7 | 9-2 | Paul Nicholls | Bryony Frost |
| 2018 | Balko Des Flos | 3-1232 | 7 | 8-1 | Henry de Bromhead | Davy Russell |
| 2017 | Un De Sceaux | 216-11 | 9 | 7-4F | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2016 | Vautour | 211-12 | 7 | EvensF | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2015 | Uxizandre | 1-418U | 7 | 16-1 | Alan King | Tony McCoy |
| 2014 | Dynastey | 121-25 | 8 | 3-1F | David Pipe |
Tom Scudamore
|
| 2013 | Cue Card | 12-151 | 7 | 7-2 | Colin Tizzard | Joe Tizzard |
RYANAIR CHASE KEY TRENDS AND STATS
- Rated within 6lb of RPR top-rated, 10/10
- No more than four runs since October, 10/10
- Top-two finish in at least one of last two starts, 9/10
- No more than 11 runs over fences, 8/10
- Adjusted RPR of at least 174, 7/10
- Course winner, 7/10
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - RYANAIR CHASE 2022
Just like 12 months ago, Allaho produced yet another sensational performance at the Cheltenham Festival to land the Ryanair Chase and provide Willie Mullins with his fifth winner of the week. Under Paul Townend, the eight-year-old controlled the Grade 1 contest from start to finish with some impressive front-running tactics, jumping with intent and keeping his rivals at bay. He made all to finish 14 lengths clear of Janidil in second, while Eldorado Allen had to settle for third. The Gordon Elliott-trained Conflated fell at the second last, but the race had already been put to bed by the Mullins superstar, who provided his trainer with a fifth success in this renewal.