Cheltenham Festival news: Wednesday declarations | Douvan declared for Ryanair

Horse Racing

Tue March 13, 2018 · 7y ago

Get all the latest news as the final fields for day three of the Cheltenham Festival are published with Douvan declared for the Ryanair Chase.

JLT Novices' Chase

Willie Mullins and Graham Wylie will aim for their third successive JLT Novices' Chase when Invitation Only bids to follow in the hoofprints of Black Hercules and Yorkhill under Ruby Walsh on Thursday.

He will face 10 rivals: Benatar, Bigmartre, Finian's Oscar, Kemboy, Modus, Snow Falcon, West Approach, Terrefort and Shattered Love.

Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle

A maximum field of 24 line up for the Pertemps Final: Thomas Campbell, Who Dares Wins, Boite, Mine Now, Shantou Bob, Dell' Arca, Louis' Vac Pouch, Sykes, Lovenormoney, Wait For Me, Prime Venture, Sort It Out, Delta Work, Theo's Charm, Taj Badalandabad, Whataknight, Forza Milan, The Mighty Don, Protek des Flos, Kansas City Chief, Glenloe, Dadsintrouble, Connetable and A Great View.

The two reserves are: Arthur's Gift and Kris Spin.

The eliminations are: Stamp Your Feet, Cresswell Legend, Isaactown Lad, Sam Red, Solomn Grundy, Our Kaempfer, Poker Play, Bialco and Jump For Dough.

Ryanair Chase

Un De Sceaux will face a maximum of six rivals as he attempts to defend his Ryanair Chase title at Cheltenham on Thursday.

Willie Mullins' 10-year-old has won both his starts this season and will relish the testing conditions at Prestbury Park.

Mullins has also declared Douvan, but he is due to run in the Queen Mother Champion Chase 24 hours earlier.

Cue Card will try to regain to the two-mile-five-furlong crown he won back in 2013 having fallen in the Gold Cup the last two years.

Cloudy Dream will represent Ruth Jefferson, who decided against running Waiting Patiently last week.

Michael O'Leary's Ryanair sponsor the race but his Gigginstown House Stud have never managed to win it, despite going close on several occasions.

This year he runs Sub Lieutenant, who finished second 12 months ago, and Galway Plate winner Balko Des Flos. Both are trained by Henry De Bromhead.

Paul Nicholls' Frodon, third to Waiting Patiently at Ascot, completes the field.

Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle

Sam Spinner and Supasundae are among 17 horses declared for the Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday.

The Jedd O'Keeffe-trained Sam Spinner heads ante-post lists, with the prospect of testing conditions of no concern for the Long Walk Hurdle winner.

Supasundae bids for his second Festival success for Jessica Harrington and Robbie Power. Last year's Coral Cup hero returns to three miles having claimed the scalp of Faugheen in the Irish Champion Hurdle over two miles at Leopardstown last month.

Yanworth is sent back over hurdles by Alan King following a mixed novice campaign over fences. The eight-year-old is one of two runners for leading owner JP McManus along with Unowhatimeanharry from Harry Fry's yard.

Willie Mullins struck gold with Nichols Canyon 12 months ago. This year the Closutton handler fires a four-pronged assault with Bacardys, Penhill, Augusta Kate and Let's Dance all in contention.

Other hopefuls include the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained pair of The New One and Wholestone.

Gordon Elliott has declared Apple's Jade, but she is set to defend her crown in Tuesday's OLBG Mares' Hurdle.

Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase

A maximum field of 24 will line up for the Brown Advisory on Thursday. The field is: Village Vic, Go Conquer, Last Goodbye, Tully East, Ballybolley, The Storyteller, Oldgrangewood, Viconte du Noyer, Traffic Fluide, Mercian Prince, Quite By Chance, Romain de Senam, Movewiththetimes, Ultragold, Drumcliff, King's Socks, Pougne Bobbi, Midnight Shot, King's Odyssey, Guitar Pete, Willie Boy, Ballyalton, Shanahan's Turn and Splash Of Ginge.

The two reserves are: Kilcrea Vale and Plaisir d'Amour.

Eliminations: Bentelimar, Cepage, Brandon Hill, Katachenko, Patricks Park, Minella Present, Pressurize, Brelan d'As, Clan Legend, Poker School, Thomas Crapper, Calipto and Orbas.

Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle

Willie Mullins' Laurina heads 15 runners in the Trull House Stud Mares' Novices Hurdle (registered as the Dawn Run). Her rivals are: Cap Soleil, Maria's Benefit, Dawn Shadow, Angels Antics, Champayne Lady, Countister, Cut The Mustard, Dame de Compagnie, Ellie Mac, High School Days, Pietralunga, Rouergate, Salsaretta and Spice Girl.

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase

A total of 23 amateur jockeys will line up in the Kim Muir, the final race on Thursday. The 23 horses they will be riding are: Pendra, Actinpieces, Wild West Wind, Mall Dini, Mall Dini, Double Ross, Final Nudge, Tintern Theatre, Missed Approach, Sugar Baron, Braquer d'Or, Squouateur, Very First Time, The Young Master, Aubusson, Marinero, Heron Heights, Pressurize, Band of Blood, Arctic Gold, Captain Buck's, Millanisi Boy, Racng Pulse and West Wizard.