Ryanair Chase

One of the more recent additions to the world championships of jumps racing, the Ryanair Chase sees contending navigating seventeen fences over a 2m5f course. Imperial Commander defied convention to win this race before going on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup the following year. Ruby Walsh and Paul Nicholls have teamed up on two of the winners in its five year history.

Notable Runners

Poquelin– Six of his last eight races have run at Cheltenham and he has only finished outside of the top two on a single occasion. He enters the race as a lukewarm favourite and will likely get Ruby Walsh aboard for this one. He only has one victory in the past year and a bit but it was his last race so he enters with plenty of momentum.

Albertas Run– Jonjo O’Neill’s 10 year-old son of Accordion ended last season off with a real bang by capturing a pair of Grade 1’s with a victory in this race and then a score in the Melling Chase at Aintree. His 2010/11 campaign has been a rough one but he will be a major factor with a bit of luck here.

Tranquil Sea– Eoin O’Grady’s nine year-old has only been out twice this season but scored on both occasions, winning a Grade 2 at Clonmel and the Grade 1 John Durkan at Fairyhouse. AJ McNamara and him have a solid understanding and they’ll be looking to improve on their disappointing ninth-place finish in this one last year.