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
|
*New UK customers only. Min Stake: £5. Max Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football, Horse Racing, Tennis, Cricket or Basketball multiple with 3+ selections. Odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. 100 Free Spins on More Unusual Suspects (£0.10 per spin) credited on settlement of qualifying Acca bet. No wagering requirements on free spin winnings. Earn a £30 Uber Eats Voucher on successful Acca qualification. This offer is valid 7 days from the new account being registered. 18+ GambleAware.org. Full Terms 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 a selected game 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 customers only. Opt in and bet up to £40 (min. £20) via mobile or app on any football (odds 1/1+) within 7 days of registration. Get up to £40 in free bets on selected markets, which expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply, see below. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly |
|||||
|
New Customers use code EPL10. Deposit £10 and place a bet of £10 on any Premier League Outrights 2025/26 market at minimum odds of 2.0. Free Bet credited within 24 hours and must be wagered on English Premier League markets only. Full Terms apply. Bangers N'Cash rewards are a separate promotional scheme and must be opted into during the weekly promotional period via the BetWright Rewards Section. 18+ begambleaware. |
|||||
|
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
New customers only. Register, deposit with 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 exclusions & T&Cs Apply. |
|||||
|
T&Cs apply. 18+ New customers only. You must place a single win-only bet of £10 or more with odds of evens (2.00) or greater to qualify. Money back as £10 in free bets. Free bet is credited the day after the qualifying bet has settled. Must use code B10G10 when creating an account. |
|||||
|
18+. New customers only. Deposit and place first bet of £20 or more at min odds Evens (2.0). Get £20 in Free Bets credited as x1 £10 Free Bet and x2 £5 Bet Builder Free BetsT&Cs Apply. Please gamble responsibly. |
|||||
|
18+ New customers only. Min deposit £20. Min Wager £20 at min odds 1/1 (2.0). Max free bet £20. T&Cs apply begambleaware. |
|||||
|
18+ New customers only. Place a £5+ bet at minimum odds of 1/1 (2.0) within 14 days of sign-up. Get £25 in Free Sports Bets + 50 Free Spins (valued at £0.10 each), valid for 7 days on selected bets and games. Free stake not returned with winnings. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org |
|||||
|
#AD | Welcome bonus for new players only | Maximum bonus is 100% up to £100 | Min. deposit is £10 | No max cash out | Wagering is 40x bonus | Maximum bet with an active bonus is £5 | Eligibility is restricted for suspected abuse | Skrill & Neteller deposits excluded for welcome bonus | Cashback when offered, applies to deposits where no bonus is included | Cashback is cash with no restrictions | T&C's apply |Free bet: Min odds: 2.0 - Free bet value will be deducted from free bet winnings | 18+ | BeGambleAware.org | Gambling is addictive, please gamble responsibly! |
|||||
|
*New members only. £10+ bet on sportsbook (ex. virtuals) at 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days on sportsbook only. 2x£5 Free Bets for Bet Builder only. Stake not returned. T&Cs + deposit exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org. 18+ |
|||||
|
18+. New UK & ROI customers only . Certain deposit methods & bet types excl . Min first £10 win or E/W bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 & get 4 x £10 free bets . Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. No cashout, restrictions + T&C 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+ Please gamble responsibly. |
|||||
|
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 |
|||||
|
18+. Play Safe. Online only. For new UK register customers using promo code G40. Deposit & place £10 cash single bet (min odds 1/2) on sportsbook (excl. Virtuals). Get £40 in Free Bets (4x£10), valid for sportsbook (excl. Virtuals), 7 days expiry, must use in full (£10 each). Not valid with deposits via PayPal, Neosurf, Paysafe, Apple Pay, NETELLER, Skrill, ecoPayz, Kalibra/Postpay or WH PLUS Card. One per customer. Full T&Cs apply. www.gambleaware.org #ad |
|||||
|
New customers place a £10 fixed odds bet at minimum odds of 1/2. Get 2 x £10 free bets. 18+ begambleaware |
|||||
|
18+ | New Customers Only | Promo Code: ACCA10 | Place a £10 acca bet within 7 calendar days of registration. The Acca must have a min of 4 selections | Min odds 1/2 of each selection | Get 2 x £5 Free Bets | Free Bets valid for 7 days | Max win £250 | T&Cs apply | GB residents only | Gamble responsibly |
|||||
|
18+ New Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. 1st Deposit & Bet £/€10+ at min odds 1/2 on Sports within 14 days of account reg & Get 4x £10 Free Bets (selected sportsbook markets only, valid 7 days) Max 1 Free Bet per player. Restrictions + T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
New Customer only. £10 in real money. Bets placed on sports at odds of 2.00 or more to qualify. Bets must be placed 24 hours within registration. £10 free bets must be wagered on sports. Full terms apply. Gambling can be addictive, play responsibly. 18+ |
