Ryanair market looks set for a big shake-up - and this proven top-class chaser could end up a whole lot shorter

There are two major signals emerging from another record low entry for the Gold Cup. At first it might not be obvious which one is dominant. It is clearly the case that some are being scared off by Galopin Des Champs. Note that, unusually, it is the Gold Cup rather than the Champion Chase or Ryanair which has the prohibitive favourite this year.

The other prong on this fork is that the Gold Cup is increasingly the specialists' race out of the three. It has no adequate dress rehearsal, and fewer chasers who reach the top these days are bred for extreme distances. 

Looking at entries for the Champion Chase and Ryanair would hint that the first point has the greater influence. Since Allaho has left the scene, entries for the Ryanair have shot up. A 27-strong entry in 2023 (Allaho was ruled out in February) became 31 last year and 34 this year.