14:30 Cheltenham

Thursday 18 March 2021

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:50

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

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 5m 9.4s

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Selected odds by:

Allaho^t1⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: W P Mullins| OR: 162| D

3/1

Right back on track dropped in trip and high-class effort when readily landing the odds in Grade 2 at Thurles. Placed at last two Festivals and unexposed over 2m4f so he's a major player. Tongue tied.

Form: 213-641

Chris's Dream¹⁰²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 164

28/1

High-class chaser. Failed narrowly in Champion Chase at Down Royal on return but ran poorly in John Durkan in December and not seen out since. Has won off a break before but this is asking a lot.

Form: P110-25

Fakir D'Oudairies⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 162| C

11/2

High-class chaser. Best effort this season when very good 8l second of 6 to Chacun Pour Soi in Dublin Chase at Leopardstown last month. Has good record here so he shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: 122-2P2

Fanion D'estruval²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 157

66/1

Smart chaser but without a win this term and below-par fourth of 6 to Sceau Royal in Game Spirit Chase at Newbury last month. Has plenty to find on form.

Form: 15-2F44

Imperial Aura^t⁶⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 163| BF| C| D

8/1

Festival winner last March who continued his progress with ready win in Ascot Grade 2 in November. Usually fine jumper but unseated rider second at Kempton only run since. Goes well fresh. Claims.

Form: 221-11U

Kalashnikov^p,t1²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 159| BF

25/1

Without a win since landing Grade 1 event at Aintree in 2018/19 but has run some good races in defeat since, third in the Denman Chase at Newbury last time. Has it to do in re-fitted headgear.

Form: 285-723

Melon^p³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 165

8/1

High-class hurdler/chaser. Excellent third in Savills Chase over Christmas at Leopardstown but last of five in Irish Gold Cup there since. Has fine record here though and fancied to be back on song.

Form: 142-335

Min⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 168| CD

4/1

Top-class chaser who gained deserved win in this race 12 months ago. Scored on return in John Durkan but rare poor run in Dublin Chase last month. Sort to bounce back as he bids to defend his crown.

Form: 2121-1P

Mister Fisher⁹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 162| CD

8/1

Smart novice last term who got right back on track with gutsy victory in Peterborough Chase here (2m4f) in December by 1¾l from Kalashnikov. Still on the up so can make presence felt.

Form: 2114-P1

Samcro^t⁸⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 160| CD

15/2

High-class chaser who landed Golden Miller a year ago. Shaped quite well on return when third in Down Royal Grade 2 but poor effort in Savills Chase only run since. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 1F21-3P

Tornado Flyer⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 162

25/1

High-class chaser. Posted excellent second in John Durkan Chase but hasn't built on it since, never-dangerous fourth in Dublin Chase at Leopardstown last time. Others preferred.

Form: 35-2254

Non-Runners

Dashel Drasher²⁶

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: J Scott J: Matt Griffiths

Real Steel⁸²

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: P F Nicholls J: H Cobden

Saint Calvados⁴⁰

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: H Whittington J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Allaho (3/1), Min (4/1), Fakir D'Oudairies (11/2), Samcro (15/2), Melon (8/1), Imperial Aura (8/1), Mister Fisher (8/1), Saint Calvados (8/1), Dashel Drasher (14/1), Tornado Flyer (25/1), Kalashnikov (25/1), Real Steel (25/1), Chris's Dream (28/1), Fanion D'estruval (66/1)

A very open-looking Grade 1 by this week's standards. ALLAHO responded really well to forcing tactics back over this trip when a dominant winner of a Grade 2 at Thurles and is just about the pick. Fellow second-season chasers Imperial Aura and Mister Fisher warrant consideration, but last year's winner Min is the obvious danger if back on song.