14:50 Cheltenham

Ryanair Chase 2023 Runners

Shishkin

Many people already have Shishkin home and hosed in this event after he seemingly bounced back to something like his best in the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase three weeks ago, and understandably so given that he is upwards of 7lbs clear of all of his rivals on official ratings.

Nicky Henderson’s dual Cheltenham Festival scorer was pulled-up after the eighth fence in the Champion Chase last year having been sent off the 5/6 favourite. And his reappearance effort at Sandown, when placing third behind Edwardstone in the Tingle Creek Chase, had the majority questioning whether his powers were starting to wane.

Those notions were dispelled when the popular nine-year-old kicked clear of Pic D’Orhy at Ascot and it seems as though a step-up in trip was all that was required.

The Sholokhov gelding is completely unexposed over two-and-a-half-miles and he could conceivably be even better than he once was over the minimum distance, which must strike fear into the connections of his rivals.

This field will naturally be deeper than the one he put to the sword at Ascot and, as impressive as he was, some will remain unconvinced until he has backed-up that performance.

Blue Lord

Blue Lord has been campaigned almost exclusively over 2 miles in his career to date and he placed third in the Arkle Novices’ Chase at this meeting last year.

However, he made a successful seasonal reappearance over two-and-a-half-miles in the Clonmel Oil Chase and he could easily develop into a top performer over intermediate trips.

The Simon Munir and Isaac Soude owned gelding posted a career best performance when defeating Captain Guinness and stablemate Chacun Pour Soi in the Grade 1 Paddy’s Reward Club Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and he was sent off a 1/4 favourite for the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase subsequently.

However, Gentlemen De Mee had too many gears for his stablemate on that occasion and clearly connections feel it is worth exploring other options.

Blue Lord was set to chase home Appreciate It in the 2021 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle before crashing out at the final flight of hurdles and he is clearly capable of running well in the Cotswolds. 

He could easily give Shishkin the most to think about.

Janadil

Janidil chased home Allaho in the corresponding contest last year and he is classy enough to run well once again.

The JP McManus owned nine-year-old defeated stablemates Haut En Couleurs and Capodanno on his seasonal reappearance in the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park and that should set him up nicely for a tilt at this contest.

Willie Mullins’ charge has run consistently in the early-to-mid 160’s on each of his last six starts and, although yet to win an open Grade 1 chase, he has proved himself a solid performer at this level.

Fury Road

Fury Road will drop back in trip following a brace of fine third placed efforts in the Savills Chase at Christmas and Irish Gold Cup last month, and he will be the solitary representative of the race sponsors this year.

Gordon Elliott’s nine-year-old landed the Grade 2 Eventsec Chase over a trip just short of two-and-a-half-miles at Down Royal in November, which suggests that he could be competitive at this trip.

However, his best form is undoubtedly over further and he may struggle to match strides with the likes of Shishkin and Blue Lord.

Envoi Allen

Cheveley Park Stud have landed this race in each of the last two years courtesy of Allaho, who will miss the race this year due to injury. However, such is their embarrassment of rices, dual Cheltenham Festival scorer Envoi Allen will fly the red, white and blue flag in his absence.

Envoi Allen has struggled for consistency since falling in the Turners Novices’ Chase in 2021, but he did manage to land the Grade 1 Paddy’s Reward Club Chase at Leopardstown last season and he made a successful seasonal reappearance in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champions Chase at Down Royal in November.

Two-and-a-half-miles on Cheltenham’s new course should be ideal. However, he does need to bounce back from a disappointing effort in the King George VI Chase when finishing fifth, beaten 50 lengths.

It’s hard to predict which Envoi Allen will turn up next week.

Ga Law

Ga Law landed a competitive renewal of the Grade 3 Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Cheltenham in November and he has only been sighted once since, when falling at the final fence in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster.

The form of his Cheltenham success reads well and the third placed Midnight River and fourth placed Il Ridoto have both won competitive Cheltenham handicaps subsequently.

Ga Law was upsides the eventual winner when attempting to defy and 8lbs higher mark at Doncaster and he is clearly improving at a rate of knots.

There’s obviously a huge difference between competitive handicaps and a Grade 1 contest at the Cheltenham Festival. However, it would be foolish to completely overlook a progressive young horse whom boasts solid course form.

Hitman

Hitman has always been held in high regard by connections and has certainly flashed significant potential on occasions. However, he is yet to break through at this level and this looks a tough assignment in which to break his duck. 

Paul Nicholls’ seven-year-old made a successful seasonal reappearance at Haydock in November before taking in the King George VI Chase at Kempton, where was pulled-up and was found to have bled.

He confirmed his well-being when placing second in the Grade 2 Denman Chase at Newbury and that should have teed him up nicely for a crack at this contest.

French Dynamite

French Dynamite ran a huge race when placing second in a solid renewal of the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November and he could easily outrun his price if on a going day.

The Robcour owned gelding failed to see out the trip when fading into fifth in the Savills Chase at Christmas and he was perhaps still feeling the effects of that race when beaten in the Grade 2 Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase at Thurles in January.

He may lack the requisite class to compete for major honours, especially if Shishkin can back-up his impressive success at Ascot. However, he could conceivably run into a place if ridden to come home well.

Chacun Pour Soi

Chacun Pour Soi could only finish third when sent off an 8/13 favourite for the Champion Chase in 2021 and he unseated his rider on his second attempt in the 2 mile showpiece last year.

The classy 11-year-old also finished fifth of five in the 2021 Tingle Creek Chase on his only other trip to Britain and there have long been questions about his ability to travel.

Chacun Pour Soi was beaten 18 lengths when placing third in the Grade 1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and he filled the same position in the Grade 2 Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase at Thurles.

Both of this efforts suggest that he isn’t the force of old and it’s hard to see him making an impact in this contest.

Ryanair Chase 2023 Tips & Prediction

Fury Road will be the sole representative of the race sponsors this year and he demonstrated his class when securing back-to-back third place finishes in the Savills Chase at Christmas and the Irish Gold Cup last month. 

However, he probably lacks the requisite gears to really challenge in this race and others make grater appeal.

Blue Lord, on the other had, certainly has the pace and could also have the class to make his presence felt. 

He posted a career best effort when landing the Grade 1 Paddy’s Reward Club Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and it’s worth seeing what he is truly capable of over this trip, as he probably falls just short of being top class over 2 miles.

However, he may be playing for second place if SHISHKIN is truly back to his best.

Nicky Henderson’s dual Cheltenham Festival scorer made light work of his five rivals at Ascot last month and he remains completely unexposed over intermediate trips.

It’s not that long ago that he defeated subsequent Champion Chaser Energumene over two-miles-and-one-furlong at Ascot and he will not face of rival on that calibre in this contest. 

Shishkin is clear on official ratings and he has few miles on the clock for a horse of his age. He could easily dominate this division for some time.