'I don't fancy Il Est Francais at all' - why our top pundits are dead against the French ace in the Ryanair

It has been a tough week for punters backing the short-priced favourites in the big races at Cheltenham, but Racing Post tipster Johnny Dineen believes Fact To File can change all that in Thursday's Ryanair Chase (3.20) and is fully against the chances of French star Il Est Francais.

Dineen has every confidence that last year's Brown Advisory winner can avoid the fate of beaten favourites Majborough, Constitution Hill, Ballyburn and Jonbon in the Grade 1 contest on day three.

Fact To File heads the market for the Ryanair at 13-8, ahead of King George runner-up Il Est Francais (7-2), who has been a spectacular front runner in two starts in Britain, winnng a Grade 1 novice at Kempton on Boxing Day 2023 before finishing runner-up in the King George VI Chase this season.

"I think Fact To File is the one to beat, without a doubt," said Dineen on the Racing Post's Good Morning Cheltenham show.

"He sets a clear form standard, his runs with Spillane's Tower, Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow are a good bit superior. 

"I don't fancy Il Est Francais at all. He almost won the King George so you can't say he's not a top-class horse, but if Fact To Facile does his business, he'll win."

Asked if there is a chance Il Est Francais could 'do an Allaho' and dominate the Ryanair from the front, Dineen said: "No, he won't. My reading of this race is that he won't be given the leeway he was given at Kempton."

Irish pundit Kevin O'Ryan said: "The other jockeys won't allow Il Est Francais to have it his own way again. Harry Skelton [on Protektorat] is not going to let James Reveley get a freebe from the front and neither will Mark Walsh on Fact To File."

'He absolutely stands out'

Also on the show, fellow Racing Post tipster Paul Kealy was particularly sweet on the chances of D Art D Art, who is just shading favouritism for the Pertemps Final (2.40) at 6-1 generally. 

"Hopefully he's one who just wins," Kealy said. "I went through the Pertemps a couple of weeks ago and he absolutely stood out. Tom Cooper doesn't run rubbish at this meeting - he had the third at 66-1 in the bumper yesterday - which makes it six top-four placings out of 11 runners since 2009. 

"He had a quiet first season over hurdles but has taken off this season, winning three starts ago, finishing third in a really good race at Navan.

"He then did everything but win at Carlisle when finishing ahead of third-placed Gwennie May Boy, who has gone up 12lb for winning a Grade 2.

"He wants better ground and packs a finish and he's got a good 5lb claimer on [Tiernan Power Roche]. This has obviously been the plan all season long."

• Watch the full show

Read more:

'I think we're in the right race' - Il Est Francais joint-trainer Noel George dismisses course concerns for French ace in Ryanair 

Cheltenham Festival NAP: Paul Kealy with his best bet of the day on Thursday 

Cheltenham day 3 Stayers' Hurdle offer: grab 60-1 odds boost on Teahupoo to place in top 4 with Sky Bet

Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.