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14:50 Cheltenham

Thursday 15 March 2018

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

The Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) (registered As The Festival Trophy)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 5m 23.3s

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Selected odds by:

Balko Des Flos⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 157| D

8/1

Produced a career best to land the Galway Plate in convincing fashion and excelled himself in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown when last seen. Better ground appeared to suit there (handles soft/heavy) but not ruled out of this on recent form.

Form: F3-1232

Cloudy Dream³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 158| BF| D

10/1

Strong travelling chaser who is versatile with regards to distance but looks best short of 3m. Yet to win this season (set some tough tasks) and is now returned to a more suitable distance although does need to find more off the bridle.

Form: 21-2222

Cue Card^t¹¹⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: P J Brennan| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 168| CD

9/2

Now reaching the veteran stage but he's still capable of top class form as he showed when second to an up-and-coming chaser last time. Had his ups-and-downs since his last win but hard to write off in what could be his swansong. Won this in 2013.

Form: 21F2-F2

Frodon^t⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 154| CD

9/1

Already a smart chaser when he produced a career best to land a big handicap here on his penultimate start. That run has forced him into a better grade and he showed he was up to the task, running with credit last time; will be at home in the mud.

Form: 5-32321

Sub Lieutenant^t⁹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: S W Flanagan| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 161

18/1

Sound jumper who was second in this last year (to Un De Sceaux) and returned to form when last seen in December on heavy ground. Has run well when fresh before so absence is no problem and this remains his best trip; usually prominently ridden.

Form: 222-353

Un De Sceaux⁵⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 167| CD

8/11

Always appears at home at the Festival and put up one of the best performances seen in this race last year. Has proved his well being in his last two races both over 2m on deep ground and comes here once again as a worthy market leader.

Form: 1112-11

Non-Runners

Douvan³⁶⁵

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: W P Mullins J: Unknown Jockey

Forecasts

Un De Sceaux (8/11), Douvan (4/1), Cue Card (9/2), Balko Des Flos (8/1), Frodon (9/1), Cloudy Dream (10/1), Sub Lieutenant (18/1)

An intriguing contest where despite the dominance of UN DE SCEAUX, you could make a case for all of the other likely five runners. Last year’s winner does look the most likely victor again having looked in good form of late over shorter trips and if the ground does stay testing it should suit. A win for Cue Card would bring the house down and provide what would be a likely fitting end to his career but he may just come up short. Balko Des Flos acts on this ground but may just prefer a firmer surface while it remains to be seen if Frodon and Cloudy Dream can handle a test such as this.