Allaho set for Ryanair rematch with Fakir D'Oudairies at Thurles on Sunday
Last season's Ryanair Chase winner Allaho will be the star attraction at Thurles on Sunday as he bids to bag the Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase (3.15) for the second year in a row.
The eight-year-old charted a winning path to festival glory 12 months ago in this Grade 2 test, which is registered as the Kinloch Brae Chase and previously won by Don Cossack and Sizing John en route to their respective Gold Cup triumphs.
The Joseph O'Brien-trained Fakir D'Oudairies, who had the option of running in the Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield on the same day, has been confirmed for Thurles and poses as the chief threat to Allaho in the four-runner contest.
3.15 Thurles: Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase full card and betting
A dual Grade 1-winning chaser, Fakir D'Oudairies chased home Allaho in last season's Ryanair and couldn't make race fitness work to his advantage when fourth behind Mullins' middle-distance star in the John Durkan Chase in December.
Fakir D'Oudairies is a general 12-1 chance to win this season's Ryanair in March, while Allaho is a solid 7-4 favourite to snare back-to-back wins in the race.
Sunday's Grade 2 contest has attracted just two other runners, with Battleoverdoyen and Notebook both owned by Gigginstown House Stud.
Battleoverdoyen was last seen chasing home Envoi Allen in the Grade 1 Paddy's Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown in December, while Notebook will have his first start since trailing home last of the five runners after trying to go the same pace as Energumene in the Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase at Cork.
Bristol heads Winter Million declarations
Bristol De Mai heads a field of seven for the feature £150,000 Fleur de Lys Chase (3.00) at Lingfield for the final day of the Winter Million Festival, although he faces stiff opposition from Dashel Drashel and Master Tommytucker.
Itchy Feet, Lieutenant Rocco and Two For Gold have also been declared alongside Fanion D'Estruval, who holds an entry for Ascot on Saturday.
Goshen, Brewin'upastorm and Darver Star figure in the five-runner Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle (2.25) worth £100,000, while 15 have been declared for the Surrey National (3.35) with Ben Clarke-trained The Galloping Bear topping the weights.
Read more:
'Kim would have loved it' - Colin Tizzard to give grandson debut ride on Sunday
ITV4 action hit as Market Rasen cancelled due to frost after three inspections
Rex Dingle hoping to cap landmark week on 'very likeable' Dashel Drasher
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Published on 21 January 2022inNews
Last updated 14:10, 21 January 2022
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