Ryanair Chase Entries

HANLON HOPING CYCLONE CAN MAKE A STORM IN RYANAIR CHASE​

A total of 39 entries have been received for the £275,000 Grade One Ryanair Chase, the chasing highlight on day three of The Festival, St Patrick’s Thursday, March 14.
Barry Geraghty gave Riverside Theatre one of the rides of the season when he denied dual Ryanair Chase winner Albertas Run by a half length in last season’s renewal, and the nine-year-old is one of three entries from the formidable Henderson stable.

Colin Tizzard could be represented by impressive Haldon Gold Cup scorer Cue Card, while Philip Hobbs has entered Menorah, who won the rearranged Peterborough Chase at Kempton Park over Christmas.

A top-class 15-strong Irish-trained entry includes First Lieutenant, triple Grade One winner Flemenstar and Sir Des Champs, one of six entries for the country’s champion trainer Willie Mullins. The trio came second, third and fourth respectively in the three-mile Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28. Sizing Europe has a Ryanair Chase option as well as holding entries in the Sportingbet Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Alongside First Lieutenant, Mouse Morris has entered Punchestown Gold Cup victor China Rock. Shark Hanlon is aiming his stable star Hidden Cyclone at the two mile, five furlong contest and the lightly-raced eight-year-old was placed at the highest level over hurdles. Hidden Cyclone has won three of his five starts over fences and came home eighth in the Lexus Chase after making much of the running.

Hanlon said yesterday: “We are looking at the Ryanair Chase over two and a half miles with Hidden Cylone because I felt he didn’t stay three miles at Leopardstown the last day.

“He came out of the Lexus really well but he just got too excited before the race and pulled too hard during it. I think going a stride quicker over two and a half will suit him a lot better.

“He goes for the Leopardstown Handicap Chase first and from there he will go for the Ryanair. I don’t think the track at Cheltenham will hold any fears for him but my only concern would be if the ground came up real quick.”

 

THE RYANAIR CHASE​

Class 1, Grade 1, 2m 5f, £275,000 Total Prize Fund. Cheltenham, Thursday, March 14, 2013. For 5yo+ which are allotted a rating of 130 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including March 7 - horses which are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain, Ireland or France may also be entered & such horses may be eligible providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse’s racecourse performances up to and including March 8 would merit a minimum rating of 130 (the decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final). Weights: 5yo 11st 9lb; 6yo+ 11st 10lb. Allowances: mares 7lb. Entries closed January 8, entries revealed January 10 (39 entries), scratchings deadline February 12, £13,750 supplementary entry stage and six-day confirmation stage March 8. Final 48-hour declaration stage, 10.00am, March 12. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Tuesday, January 8.

Form Horse Age Owner Trainer

P12/123- ALBERTAS RUN (IRE) 12 Trevor Hemmings Jonjo O'Neill
031133 BLAZING TEMPO (IRE) 9 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
210-511 BLESS THE WINGS (IRE) 8 Mrs Lesley Field Alan King
F13-F11 BOG WARRIOR (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Tony Martin IRE
1114-11 BOLD SIR BRIAN (IRE) 7 Alexander Trotter Lucinda Russell
234-F21 CALL THE POLICE (IRE) 10 DD Racing Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
3122-24 CHAMPION COURT (IRE) 8 Martin Boothright Martin Keighley
45041-5 CHINA ROCK (IRE) 10 Michael O'Flynn Mouse Morris IRE
U212-15 CUE CARD 7 Jean Bishop Colin Tizzard
1/1211-4 FINIAN'S RAINBOW (IRE) 10 Michael Buckley Nicky Henderson
23-4232 FIRST LIEUTENANT (IRE) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE
111-113 FLEMENSTAR (IRE) 8 Stephen Curran Peter Casey IRE
213-125 FOR NON STOP (IRE) 8 Potensis Limited & Chris Giles Nick Williams
460-133 GHIZAO (GER) 9 The Johnson & Stewart Families Paul Nicholls
1114-P3 GRANDS CRUS (FR) 8 Roger Stanley & Yvonne Reynolds III David Pipe
1/13-110 HIDDEN CYCLONE (IRE) 8 Mrs A F Mee & David Mee John Hanlon IRE
20F0-1P KAUTO STONE (FR) 7 Robin Geffen Paul Nicholls
01236-1 LAMBRO (IRE) 8 Byerley Thoroughbred Racing Willie Mullins IRE
5/6P00-1 LITTLE JOSH (IRE) 11 Tony Bloom Nigel Twiston-Davies
22211//4- MAIL DE BIEVRE (FR) 8 Patrick Atkinson Tom George
F314-31 MENORAH (IRE) 8 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs
01//13P/-4 MR GARDNER (IRE) 10 Richard & Lizzie Kelvin Hughes Polly Gundry
5U26-4P POQUELIN (FR) 10 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
351/51-1 PRINCE DE BEAUCHENE (FR) 10 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE
F1113-0 QUEL ESPRIT (FR) 9 Red Barn Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
52-0442 REALT DUBH (IRE) 9 Derek Sharkey Noel Meade IRE
21/11P-6 RIVERSIDE THEATRE 9 Jimmy Nesbitt Partnership Nicky Henderson
0-51111 ROI DU MEE (FR) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
2154-32 RUBI LIGHT (FR) 8 Bill Hennessy Robbie Hennessy IRE
1111-24 SIR DES CHAMPS (FR) 7 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins IRE
121-111 SIZING EUROPE (IRE) 11 Ann & Alan Potts Partnership Henry de Bromhead IRE
224102- SOMERSBY (IRE) 9 Camilla Radford Mick Channon
1532-36 STAGECOACH PEARL 9 John & Jaqueline Conroy Sue Smith
1/35/1-50 TATANIANO (FR) 9 The Stewart Family Richard Rowe
65-1131 UNIONISTE (FR) 5 John Hales Paul Nicholls
345P-22 WALKON (FR) 8 McNeill Family Alan King
0111/-11 WILLIAM'S WISHES (IRE) 8 Mrs D E Cheshire Evan Williams
F25-214 WISHFULL THINKING 10 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs
2144U0- ZAYNAR (FR) 8 Men In Our Position David Pipe

39 entries

 

There could be some interesting sorts that end up in this race, after deciding to dodge either the Gold Cup or the tank known as Sprinter Sacre. Would love Albertas Run to put on another bold show. Must have one of the best Cheltenham Festival records in living memory. An RSA win, 2 x Ryanair's, 1 x place in Ryanair, 1 x place in Gold Cup.

 

If flemenstar goes for the ryanair he must have an outstanding chance

 

Cor blimey, I wasn’t aware that my old fave, the legendary Tataniano, had been transferred by the Stewart’s to Richard Rowe’s yard! Interesting move and if the change of scenery works the oracle and the old boy returns to his best form he’d have a leading say in this race. I see Ladbrokes are offering 100/1 for Tataniano re this race and I’ll tell you what, people, that quote is Huge, and I do mean Huge, with a capital ‘H’.

In his pomp during 2010/11 this was one of the best novice chasers that I have ever seen (Azertyioup and Sprinter Sacre included) and his performance to win a Grade 2 at Cheltenham’s ‘Open’ meeting and then his Grade 1 at Aintree were supreme and on both days I don’t think that I have ever seen a novice chaser travel, jump and then quicken like he did that day. A-May-Zing! Injuries have, of course, been cruel to him since then but Tataniano is still only a 9YO so still has ample time to fulfil his undoubted potential.