Racecards
14:50 Cheltenham
Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Festival Trophy) (Class 1)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 166y
- Going: Soft (Heavy in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £350,000 added
- Winner: £199,325
- 2nd: £74,795
- 3rd: £37,450
- 4th: £18,655
- Form F3-1232
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 166
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey D N Russell
held up in touch on outside, closed 8th, went 3rd from 10th, 2nd from 12th, led 3 out, clear when not fluent last, ridden and stayed on well flat
- Form 21-2222
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 157
- Trainer Ruth Jefferson
- Jockey B S Hughes
held up in last, not fluent 11th, closed to chase leading pair 13th, shaken up after 3 out, no impression 2 out
- Form 1F2-F22
- Age 12
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 166
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey P J Brennan
led until 6th, pushed along before 10th, soon lost place, eased and pulled up before 12th
- Form 323213
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 162
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
held up, went 4th 11th, not fluent 13th, outpaced 4 out, weakened after 4 out
- Form 222-353
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 160
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey Sean Flanagan
prominent, not fluent 7th, lost 2nd 12th, outpaced next, weakened 3 out
- Form 1112-11
- Age 10
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 168
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Paul Townend
raced enthusiastically, tracked leaders, challenged 5th, led next, clear 8th until 4 out, headed 3 out, no impression on winner last, kept on
- Form 11117-F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 170
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Unknown Jockey
NonRunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Douvan was due to run in yesterday’s Champion Chase and Ruby Walsh prefers last year’s winner UN DE SCEAUX in any case. The winner of five of his last six starts, including four Grade 1 races, Willie Mullins’ charge can become the first 10-year-old to win this since Albertas Run completed a double in the race in 2011. Cue Card won this back in 2013 but he’s in the veteran stage now and was no match for Waiting Patiently in the Ascot Chase last month, though still finished ahead of Frodon. If there is going to be an upset then Balko Des Flos could be the one to provide it as he’s been placed three times in smart company since winning the Galway Plate last August. Cloudy Dream was second to Altior in last year’s Arkle but he’s the type that always seems to find one too good. Sub Lieutenant was second to the selection last year but he’s another who finds it difficult to gatecrash the winner’s enclosure.
Formwatch
Balko Des Flos (FR) 66-1 (11-10) Led, joined approaching 5th, soon headed, prominent, slight mistake 12th, led again 5 out, attempted to assert from 2 out, strongly pressed and jumped left last, soon headed and kept on without matching winner, 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Road To Respect (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Cloudy Dream (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) Shade keen, tracked leading pair, 2nd and closed 4 out, held 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, no chance with winner, 2nd of 3, 12l behind Native River (11-6) at Newbury 2m 7f (1) sft in Feb.
Cue Card 9-1 (11-7) Led and set good pace, headed after 7th, led again after 11th, ridden and headed approaching last, short of room on inside switched left and battled on gamely run-in, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Waiting Patiently (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) sft in Feb.
Frodon (FR) 9-1 (11-7) Chased leader until after 6th, chased leading pair, 2nd again 13th until 3 out, mistake and weakened next, 3rd of 7, 17 3/4l behind Waiting Patiently (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) sft in Feb.
Sub Lieutenant (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Led, headed before 4th, disputed 2nd from 5th, 3rd 6 out, ridden 3 out, no impression entering straight, kept on same pace from before last, 3rd of 6, 9 3/4l behind Sizing John (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) hvy in Dec.
Un De Sceaux (FR) 4-9fav (11-7) Wore ear plugs, tracked clear leader, closer 3 out, led on bit before 2 out, 3 lengths ahead and going strongly when left clear 2 out, kept up to work run-in, won at Ascot 2m 1f (1) sft in Jan beating Speredek (11-7) by 7l, 5 ran.
Douvan (FR) 2-9fav (11-10) Led until after 1st, tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th, hit 3 out, lost 2nd and soon beaten, well held 2 out, 7th of 10, 11 1/2l behind Special Tiara (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.