14:50 Cheltenham

Thursday 12 March 2020

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

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

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 5m 19.66s

A Plus Tard⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 166| C

7/4

Deeply impressive 16L winner of Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed) at last year's Festival; progressive since, posting a career best when downing none other than Chacun Pour Soi in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown (2m1f, soft) over Christmas.

Form: 121-321

Aso^b1⁷⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 162| CD

25/1

Headed on the run-in when finishing 1¼L second to Frodon in last year's Ryanair Chase; comfortably below that level of form in the Charlie Hall (third), the Peterborough Chase (fifth) and the King George (fourth) this season; blinkers go on.

Form: 162-354

Duc Des Genievres^t⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: W P Mullins| OR: 161| C

18/1

Stayed on strongly when winning last year's Grade 1 Arkle Chase; has under-performed this season; well held fourth (behind A Plus Tard) in Navan's Fortria Chase (2m) in November; it's perfectly feasible that he could be suited by returning to 2m4f.

Form: 1-3482F

Frodon^t⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 168| CD

11/2

Adores Cheltenham; contests the Ryanair Chase for the third successive year (fifth in 2018, and a brave rallying winner in 2019); back on song with a solid front-running display in the Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti at Kempton latest.

Form: 111-331

Min⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 170

2/1

In the shadow of Altior at previous Festivals (2016 Supreme Novices', 2018 Champion Chase); three-times a Grade 1 winner over this trip, including when thrashing Politologue by 20L in Aintree's Melling Chase; merits immense respect.

Form: 151-212

Riders Onthe Storm²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 162| D

11/1

Fell in last year's Close Brothers (won by A Plus Tard); has raised his form to a whole new level since joining Nigel Twiston-Davies (3-3); a shade fortunate when winning the Grade 1 Ascot Chase (2m5f, soft) latest; shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: 1FP-111

Saint Calvados⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: G Sheehan| T: H Whittington| OR: 161| C

16/1

Talented chaser, albeit failed to make a splash in Grade 1's over 2m (seventh in last year's Champion Chase); remains unexposed at 2m4f; ridden with restraint when losing out by a nose to Oldgrangewood over C&D on New Year's Day; could go well.

Form: 337-142

Shattered Love^p,t²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 151| C| D

20/1

Decisive winner of the 2018 JLT (Marsh) Novices' Chase; finished well down the field (ninth) in last year's Gold Cup; somewhat in and out this season; runner-up (favourite Real Steel a flop) in the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park latest.

Form: P-51732

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)

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.