It is the big St Patrick’s’ Day celebration at Cheltenham 2017 on Thursday and one of the most popular races of the day will be the Ryanair Chase. It is one of the premier races at the festival with the Festival Trophy up for grabs. There is a tinge of sadness about the running of the Ryanair this year because last year’s winner, the great Vautour, lost his life in a training accident this season. With Douvan taking on the challenge of the Queen Mother Champion Chase, former Arkle winner Un De Sceaux (2/1 at Bet365) has been backed into favouritism for this renewal.
Un De Sceaux has pedigree of course and is the reigning Tingle Creek and Clarence House title holder and has gone over two and a half miles often enough to hold his own in the Ryanair. Un De Sceaux hasn’t been beaten between 19 and 21.5 furlongs in his career and even though he was given a really tough run at Sandown by Sire De Grugy this season, he stayed on there with the power to get the win and that just throws more weight at his ability to go out and do the extra distance in the Ryanair. It is that supreme staying power which may just make the difference for him.
Uxizandre is back for another crack at the Ryanair. The 2015 Ryanair winner has been hampered by injury for a long time but then he made a return at the Clarence House this season. He wasn’t an entity in the early race of course and took a while to find any kind of jumping rhythm. However, it was with notable credit that he managed to pull himself back in the race after trailing at the back for most of it to finish second, five lengths back of Un De Sceaux. Maybe a better start will get him in the picture at Cheltenham. But is that one Ascot comeback race enough to see him stop the favourite?
Empire of Dirt has been slowly coming in in price in the Ryanair Chase 2017 betting. That is because of that big heroic showing in January last year at Leopardstown but at Cheltenham as well. He was looking geared towards the Grand National, but instead has been pulled into the Ryanair with a good shot as well. However, he could well get the nod instead to switch over to the depleted Cheltenham Gold Cup challengers that the Gigginstown stables have there because of injuries. He is a great fit for the Ryanair and well worth a shot for a top three finish if he lines up here.
There is a big each way price of 20/1 at Bet365 on Taquin Du Seuil, despite him having won over course and distance at Cheltenham three times before in his career, including one of those wins this season as well with a huge weight burden as well. He carried it well to land the BetVictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase and was fifth in the season’s Lexus Chase. He is going to be more comfortable at this distance in the Ryanair and just about as perfect of an each way shot that you could wish to find in the field.
Josses Hill will be looking to put in a good performance after trailing home eighth in last season’s Ryanair. He has been going much better this season in his graded outing despite a last place finish a the King George VI Chase. Pretty much a shot in the dark but perhaps too many misses to put a lot of stock in. Sub Lieutenant though has been running cracking early season form with a couple of place finishing in Grade 1 challenges this season and he took a win over Lexus Chase winner Outlander at Down Royal last year. A good runner and no reason why he can’t challenge for a place in the Ryanair.
Ryanair Chase 2017 Betting Odds
Un De Sceaux 2/1, Empire of Dirt 10/3, Uxizandre 4/1, Josses Hill 6/1, Sub Lieutenant 8/1, bar 16/1
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Ryanair Chase 2017 Betting Preview
Everyone looks just a little too short of the quality needed to bring down Un De Sceaux in this one. He is going to have to run a flawless, powerful race though because there are contenders in there who will make him work hard for the victory. Taquin Du Seuil needs an each way flutter on him and out of the pack, Sub Lieutenant could lay down a series run over the distance to get himself in the picture.
