Willie Mullins: 'It wouldn't bother me if Allaho went straight to Cheltenham'

Allaho's absence from next month's Ladbrokes King George VI Chase has deprived the great race of its biggest star but Willie Mullins has no concerns about him making the Cheltenham Festival and would not be afraid to go straight to the Ryanair Chase without a prep run.

Racing fans were looking forward to his Boxing Day showdown with Bravemansgame after the Paul Nicholls-trained chaser impressed on his reappearance in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby last month but news emerged on Friday that Allaho would not travel to Kempton.

Allaho has drifted in the Ryanair market, with Paddy Power edging him out to 13-8 from 11-8, but Mullins responded positively when asked whether the eight-year-old would bid for his third straight win.

Allaho: looks set to bid for a third straight Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in MarchCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"Allaho will be back in training before Christmas, how quickly he returns to full work depends on how soon he recovers," said Mullins. "He's had a few small setbacks, nothing major, and should be fine.

"If I can get a run into him before Cheltenham then I will but it's not essential. It wouldn't bother me if we went straight there as he won the John Durkan first time out last year. We'll see how he is in the new year before deciding whether to find a race before Cheltenham."

Allaho was an impressive winner at the last two festivals. He landed the Ryanair by 12 lengths under Rachael Blackmore in 2021 and followed up with a 14-length success under Paul Townend in March. He is the first horse since Albertas Run in 2011 to win the race twice.

He is rated 177, just 3lb lower than Cheltenham Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard, after finishing last season with an emphatic 14-length victory in the Punchestown Gold Cup when stepped up to three miles.

Bravemansgame and Ferny Hollow have been backed into 10-1 and 12-1 in Paddy Power's market for the Grade 1 in the last few days.

Ryanair Chase (March 16 2023, Cheltenham)

Paddy Power: 13-8 Allaho, 7 Galopin Des Champs, 10 Bravemansgame, Shishkin, 12 Ferny Hollow, 14 Gentleman De Mee, 16 bar

King George VI Chase (December 26, Kempton)

Paddy Power: Evens Bravemansgame, 9-2 Envoi Allen, 7 Tornado Flyer, Galopin Des Champs, L’Homme Presse, 10 Frodon, 12 Protektorat, 20 bar

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