Cheltenham Ryanair Chase Preview
Day 3 at the Cheltenham Festival sees the course celebrate all things Irish, with the track’s annual St. Patrick’s Thursday – not that those making the trip over from the Emerald Isle need any encouragement to get the party started!
Turning to the action on the track, the Stayers Hurdle is the official headline act, but only a whisker behind it is one of the meeting's signature contests over fences – the Ryanair Chase. Of the major races at the meeting, few have seen so many market shake-ups as this event, but with under a week to go, things (finally) seem to have settled down. Here we take a look at the main contenders and make our prediction for the top three.
The Hot Favourite: Shiskin 4/5 @ Betfred
Following the injury to the 2021 and 2022 winner, Allaho, this looked like being one of the more wide-open Grade 1 events of the meeting. However, all that has now changed, courtesy of Nicky Henderson’s latest display of resurrecting one of his stable stars.
Whilst not quite of Sprinter Sacre proportions, the renaissance of Shiskin is nevertheless another example of Henderson’s perseverance and tender handling. A previous winner of the Supreme Novice Hurdle and Arkle Chase at this meeting, it all went wrong for Shiskin when pulled up in the Champion Chase here last year. A rare bone condition was to blame that day, but things weren’t too much better when he was beaten 15 lengths on his comeback in the Tingle Creek Chase – a result which put his Cheltenham target up in the air.
Henderson was of the opinion that 2m is simply too short a trip for one of his stable stars these days, and rolled the dice on that assessment when plunging the horse into the Grade 1 2m5f Ascot Chase last time out. What followed was one of the most scintillating chase displays of the season to date. Looking far more comfortable going a half stride slower, Shiskin showed all his old zest in pulverising his rivals by 16 lengths – and promptly rocketed to the head of the betting for this.
The Main Challenger: Blue Lord 11/2 @ BetUK
If Shiskin turns up in anything like the same form as at Ascot, the rest will likely be racing for second. However, it isn’t a certainty that he will, and there are a host of talented chasers ready and waiting to pounce should the jolly underperform.
The most likely threat to the Henderson star - at least according to the betting market - is the Willie Mullins trained, Blue Lord. This one boasts a solid record at the Festival, having looked booked for second when falling at the last in the 2021 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, and finishing third in last season's Arkle. A three-time Grade 1 winner, and successful over this trip at Clonmel in November, he looks solid to go well.
The Lively Outsider: Envoi Allen 11/1 @ Virgin Bet
Looking a little further down the list, last season's runner-up Janidil will likely run his usual solid race, whilst Gordon Elliott’s, Fury Road has an impressive record of hitting the frame, but usually comes up short at this level.
At a double-figure price, the most appealing each-way bet for our money is a punt on the Henry De Bromhead-trained, Envoi Allen. A winner of the Champion Bumper in 2019 and the Ballymore Novices Hurdle in 2020, at one stage, this Cheveley Park runner was one of the most talked about horses in training. Things haven't gone as well as connections would have hoped in recent seasons, but he showed the ability still remains when landing a Grade 1 at Down Royal in November. A subsequent flop in the King George needs to be forgiven, but he has been given a break since and can go well back at a track which suits him well.
Race Prediction
- 1st - Shiskin
- 2nd - Envoi Allen
- 3rd - Janidil
More Cheltenham Festival Articles:
Cheltenham Gold Cup Preview 2023
Cheltenham Champion Hurdle Preview
Cheltenham Queen Mother Champion Chase Preview
Top 20 Betting Offers
|
18+. New Customers Only. Max 1 x £10 Free Bet. Qualifying bets at Odds of 1/1 or greater. Paid as Bonus Token Min 4/5 Odds Req. Skrill, Neteller, Paypal not eligible. T&Cs Apply |
|||||
|
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 1 x £10 Football Free Bet, 1 x £10 Horse Racing Free Bet, 2 x £10 Free Bet Builders. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required. |
|||||
|
18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £5 free bets. Stake not returned. Restrictions + Free bet T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
New customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Only valid with code B10G40 on registration. £10 min qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min £10 Win + £10 Place). Receive £20 Tote Credit, £10 Free Sports Bet and 50 Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. 7-day expiry on free bets & Tote Credit. Your first bet will be your qualifying bet. One per customer. UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org.Full T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
18+ New UK+ROI Customers only. Min deposit & bet £10 at min odds 1/2 to qualify for 4 x £10 free bets. Certain deposit methods and bet types excl. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile or app & bet £10+ on any football market at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 6x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly |
|||||
|
New UK Customers only. Use code welcomeMB40. Sign up and place at least 3 bets of £10 or more on seperate events on your first day of betting. If account has net sportsbook losses at the end of first day's betting, Gentleman Jim will refund 50% of these as a free bet up to £40. Full Terms apply. 18+ begambleaware. |
|||||
|
New UK Customers. Register using code BETGETSPORTS. Must bet £10 in total on 4+ legs, min odds 4.0. £20 awarded as 4 X £5 free bets once settled, AND 50 Free Spins to use on Big Bass Splash (valued at 10p per spin). Free bet T&Cs Apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.org |
|||||
|
18+. BeGambleAware.org. New customers only. Min. £10 deposit, debit card only. Up to 50x wagering, game contributions vary, max. stake applies, 7 day expiry. See full terms. #AD |
|||||
|
1st deposit only | min deposit £10 | max bonus £10 | Min Odds 1/1 (2.0) | Max winnings £100 | 5 day bonus expiry | User agreement & Bonus T&Cs apply |
|||||
|
New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, payment method exclusions apply; New customers only. T&C apply; 18+ |
|||||
|
18+. New customers only. Place a minimum £50 bet on any selection with minimum odds of Evens (2.00) and receive a £20 free bet upon bet settlement. Freebet expires after 7 days. BeGambleAware.org. T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
18+. New Customers Only. Min deposit £20. Maximum one £10 Free Bet & two £5 Bet Builder Free Bets. Qualifying bet must be placed at odds of Evens (2.00) or greater. Paid as bonus tokens: Token 1 Min odds Req: 4/5 (1.80). Token 2 & 3 are valid for Bet Builder only and are subject to min odds of 2/1 (3.00). T&Cs Apply. |
|||||
|
New Customers place a £25 fixed odds bet at minimum odds of 1/2. Get £50 in Free Bets as: 5 x £5 free fixed odds bets + 4 x £5 free Total Goals spread bets + 50 free spins on Starburst 18+. Full promotions terms apply. |
|||||
|
New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via Debit Card and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
New Customers. Min Deposit: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First qualifying bet with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00+ (2/1). If first bet loses free bets will be credited after bet settled. 100 Free Spins on Gold Blitz credited on settlement of qualifying Acca bet. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Bet The Responsible Way. Full terms apply |
|||||
|
New customers Deposit and place your first bet on Sports at odds of Evens (2.0) or greater. Once bet is settled you will receive 1x £10 Free Bet Token to be used on Football, 1x £10 Free Bet Token to be used on Horse Racing, and 20 Extra spins (value per spin 50p), to be used on Book of Dead. Total bonus value £30. Full terms apply. 18+ begambleaware. |
|||||
|
New Customers Only. Sign up with bonus code: EB20. Bet £20 and get £20 in Free Bets. Paid as £5 Free Bet on Soccer, £5 Free Bet on Horse Racing, £5 Free Bet on Multiples and a £5 Free Bet on any Market. Terms apply 18+ gambleaware.org. |
|||||
|
£10 min deposit. First bet mins odds 1.5 placed within 14 days of sign-up. 2 x £10 in Free Bets: valid for 7 days, free bet stakes not returned. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. 18+ T&Cs apply.
|
