14:50 Cheltenham

Thursday 17 March 2022

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

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

Off time: 14:59 | Winning time: 5m 9.71s

Allaho^t⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 174| CD

4/7

Top-class chaser who was dominant when taking this race 12 months ago and gained second Grade 1 victory when landing John Durkan in December. Easy winner of Thurles Gr. 2 since and the one to beat.

Form: 4112-11

Conflated⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 168

7/1

Smart effort when landing 2½m Naas handicap and stepped up again to land Irish Gold Cup from Minella Indo in February. Overall strength of that form questionable but good showing likely back in trip.

Form: 14-U211

Eldorado Allen^t³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 166| C

14/1

Has taken his form up a notch this term, bagging Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter and best effort yet when taking Gr 2 Denman Chase at Newbury (23.4f) in February. Holds each-way claims.

Form: 25-1321

Fanion D'estruval²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 162

28/1

Improved performer this season, resuming winning ways at Newbury (19.8f) prior to pair of placed efforts, latterly when third in Gr 1 Ascot Chase. However, came up well short in this 12 months ago.

Form: 45-4123

Janidil⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 164

12/1

Smart hurdler who landed Grade 1 novice chase at Fairyhouse on final start last spring. Hard to knock consistency in trio of starts this campaign but may have to settle for a minor role once more.

Form: F12-253

Melon^p²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 164

16/1

High-class chaser who capitalised on drop back to Gr 2 level when landing Red Mills Chase at Gowran latest, making all and winning easily. Boasts solid Festival record but likely to find few too good.

Form: 5PP-341

Shan Blue¹³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 148| BF

10/1

Landed Grade 1 Kauto Star as a novice and in process of delivering a most visually impressive performance when falling 3 out in Charlie Hall in October. Absent since but he's fascinating nevertheless.

Form: 11252-F

Non-Runners

Mister Fisher²⁶

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: N J Henderson J: James Bowen

Saint Calvados²⁶

Weight: 11-10| Age: 9

T: P F Nicholls J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Allaho (4/7), Conflated (7/1), Shan Blue (10/1), Janidil (12/1), Eldorado Allen (14/1), Melon (16/1), Mister Fisher (25/1), Saint Calvados (25/1), Fanion D'estruval (28/1)

ALLAHO produced a performance out of the top drawer and left a host of top-class chasers trailing in his wake when landing this race 12 months ago. He's done little to alter the fact he's the one to beat again with success in the John Durkan/KInloch Brae this term and can give Willie Mullins a fifth success in this race. Shan Blue is a fascinating runner and respected along with Conflated.