Il Est Francais was a sight to behold in the King George - but should he be running in the Ryanair? RaceIQ data suggests so
Robbie Wilders analyses a fascinating Thursday Grade 1 at Cheltenham
Champion Hurdle or Mares’ Hurdle? Turners or Albert Bartlett? Ultima or Kim Muir? These are the questions we find ourselves asking every season about a horse’s target at the Cheltenham Festival. One race robs from the other and vice versa.
The Ryanair Chase is slightly different as it dilutes two different pools. Horses with chances in Champion Chases or Gold Cups find a happy medium while ducking a tougher fight in races of greater historical significance.
The King George was the strongest staying chase run in Britain this season and from a sporting sense it is a shame the two who pulled miles clear won’t meet at Cheltenham. Banbridge and Il Est Francais served up one of the finishes of the season at Kempton, and their festival destination has been the subject of much deliberation over the past month.
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Published on inCheltenham Festival
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