14:50 Cheltenham

Thursday 12 March 2020

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

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

  • 5YO plus  |   Class 1  |   2m 4f 127y  |   Soft (Good to Soft in places)  |   8 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 14:50  |   Winning time: 5m 19.66s
1st
Horse silk
5
911-10
2/1
T: W P MullinsJ: P Townend
Tracked leader, led narrowly 5th, made most after, joined turning in, shaken up before last, ridden 11/2 lengths clear flat, hard pressed towards finish, edged right, all out op 15/8 tchd 9/4
2nd
Horse silk
nk
7
16/1
T: H WhittingtonJ: G Sheehan
Held up in touch in last trio, tracked leaders on inside 3 out, ridden to challenge between last 2, hit and lost ground last, rallied towards finish, just held op 20/1 tchd 16/1 and tchd 22/1
3rd
Horse silk
1 ½
1
7/4f
T: H De BromheadJ: Rachael Blackmore
Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, headway before 3 out, joined winner turning in, ridden after 2 out, one pace in 3rd approaching last, kept on under pressure flat, not quite able to get back on terms with front pair tchd 13/8, 15/8 in places
4th
Horse silk
13
4
811-10
11/2
T: P F NichollsJ: Bryony Frost
Led to 5th, tracked leaders, driven after 3 out, one pace before next, never able to get back on terms, well held in 4th between last 2
5th
Horse silk
nk
3
18/1
T: W P MullinsJ: R M Power
Held up in touch in last trio, headway 3 out, chased leaders on outside turning in, no extra before 2 out, ridden and no impression between last 2 op 20/1 tchd 16/1
6th
Horse silk
8 ½
8
20/1
T: G ElliottJ: M P Walsh
Prominent, pressed winner from 6th, ridden and lost place turning in, weakened 2 out op 22/1
7th
Horse silk
35
2
1011-10
25/1
T: Miss V WilliamsJ: Charlie Deutsch
Prominent on outside, led briefly 7th, pushed along and lost place 5 out, soon behind, tailed off 3 out

Also Ran

F
Horse silk
6
11/1
T: N A Twiston-DaviesJ: Sam Twiston-Davies
Held up in touch in last trio, switched towards outside before 8th, headway and close up when fell 3 out tchd 12/1 in a place

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Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£2.70Pl:£1.30, £3.70, £1.20EX:£30.50Trifecta:£86.00Tricast:£64.65SF:£30.53Swingers:£5.70, £1.50, £6.20

Forecasts

A Plus Tard (7/4), Min (2/1), Frodon (11/2), Riders Onthe Storm (11/1), Saint Calvados (16/1), Duc Des Genievres (18/1), Shattered Love (20/1), Aso (25/1)

Verdict

Frodon returns to his beloved Cheltenham for the first time since an ultra-game win in last year's Ryanair Chase (Aso second). Min is advancing in terms of years but has shown no obvious signs of decline during a relatively light campaign, while last year's impressive Close Brothers winner A Plus Tard is fast-emerging as a proper Grade 1 chaser. However, electing to overlook the more obvious candidates a chance is taken on Harry Whittington's SAINT CALVADOS. Totally unexposed over 2m4f, and assuming that Gavin Sheehan can harness his natural enthusiasm for racing (settle him in the rear), his sharp turn of foot could prove a potent weapon come the finish.
  1. Saint Calvados
  2. A Plus Tard
  3. Min

Previous Winners

2019
Frodon
Weight: 11-10  |Age: 7
9/2

Prize Money

1st: £196,945.002nd: £74,200.003rd: £37,135.004th: £18,550.005th: £9,310.006th: £4,655.007th: £2,310.008th: £1,190.00

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