'I was happy with his work during the week and this distance might suit him'

2.00 Thurles
Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase | 2m4f | Grade 2 | 6yo+ | RTV

This Grade 2 produced the Gold Cup winner in 2016 and 2017 thanks to Don Cossack and Sizing John, but this year's race is all about the Ryanair.

A win for Allaho would surely see his odds tumble for the third race on the Thursday of Cheltenham.

The problem is that the Allaho of this season has not looked anything remotely similar to the Allaho of last season.

We could see very little of him in the John Durkan Chase on his seasonal reappearance, but the recently retired David Mullins told his uncle afterwards that Allaho made two terrible mistakes which put paid to any prospects he had.

Since then he was tried over three miles for the first time since his agonising defeat in the RSA in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, but he didn't appear to see it out. This looks the ideal trip and ground, so excuses won't wash if he doesn't fire on this occasion.

Willie Mullins said: "Allaho ran over three miles at Christmas and disappointed me. He’s by No Risk At All and we’re going to come back in trip with him.

"I was happy with his work during the week and this distance might just suit him better with a change of tactics too. He goes there in good form and with a good rating."

Elimay: the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase entry is having her first run over fences this seasonCredit: Patrick McCann

Mullins, who won this last year with subsequent Gold Cup sixth Real Steel, is responsible for four of the seven runners.

Annamix lacked the pace to challenge Chacun Pour Soi at Leopardstown, but the way he plugged on suggested a return to this longer trip would be right up his street.

Mullins said: "We tried him over two miles at Leopardstown and it didn’t seem to work out, so we’re going up to 2m4f here. It’s more his trip and track, he’ll like going right-handed again, and he’s in good shape for all he might have a few pounds to find on ratings."

Elimay is interesting too, especially if you're on the search for clues for the new Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase at Cheltenham, while Easy Game is rated 159 and should never be underestimated.

The champion trainer said: "Elimay is a course-and-distance winner but is a hard horse to place. She’ll have an entry for the mares’ chase at Cheltenham and this is her first run over fences this season.

"It’s a drop in class and trip for Easy Game. He ran in the Savills at Leopardstown and might want better ground but looks to have a good chance of getting in the money."

Battleoverdoyen is the joint top-rated with Allaho, both are rated 160. He looked to have the Ryanair written all over him when beating Easy Game by six lengths in a Grade 2 at Down Royal in October, but failed to fire in the fog in the John Durkan.

Gordon Elliott admitted he would have to improve but reported him to be showing all the right signs at home.

Elliott said: "He will have to improve on his last run, but he seems to be in very good form at home and I'm happy with him."

There is even a former Ryanair winner in here. Balko Des Flos won it in 2018, when sprinting clear of Un De Sceaux, but he has not won since and this will be his 12th outing since that fabulous festival performance.

Henry de Bromhead has opted to put cheekpieces on him for the first time and there was a lot to like about the way he travelled to the second-last in the Savills Chase. Ignore him at your peril.

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