Cheltenham Ryanair Chase

Ryanair Chase Preview

The Ryanair Chase is a competitive race over 2m 5 f and is run at 2:40 on Cheltenham Festival Thursday. The winner of the 2010 encounter will be in esteemed company with Imperial Commander winning in 2009 and Our Vic in 2008. This year’s prize fund is £250k, which might explain early entry from 43 runners. If you are new to online betting and want to get the best deal around then check out the free bets table at the foot of the page.

Expect no more than 10-12 to take to the starting line on race day. This is only the sixth time that the race has been run, having only been a fixture since the festival was extended to 4 days. The race has only been grade 1 since 2008, when it is thought that those not quite good enough to challenge Kauto Star and Denman should have a ‘best of the rest’ race. Interestingly 5 of the 5 winners have all come it at SP of 6/1 or lower.

The 2010 field sports last year’s hot favourite at the post, Voy Por Ustedes, but he can expect to go off at 8/1 for this year’s encounter. Recent poor outings in November at Ascot (3rd in a field of 8. Jumping way off rhythm) and in December at  Leopardstown (6th from 11) has seen him drift in the betting. Don’t be surprised to see him well supported by nostalgic bettors on the day of the race if the ground is hard.

Online Betting Preview

Poquelin heads the betting market this year in what is, as ever, a top class field. The Walsh / Nicholls combo will be hoping to follow up their performance in December’s Cheltenham meeting where Poquelin ran out a comfortable winner in good company to win the Gold Cup. This is a classy performer on it’s day but too many inconsistenncies for me in the past are offputting at such a low price of 4/1.

Hennessy Gold Cup winner, Joncol, will attract plenty of support in the market from the fanatical Irish bettors but I think that the value could lie elsewhere in a fascinating encounter.  I am going to plump some of my hard earned winnings (hopefully) on Barbers shop, the Nicky Henderson trained horse, who is just short of Gold Cup quality but has run respectable efforts in recent outings against Kauto Star and Denman.

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