2m4½f (2m4f127y) (New) Ryanair Chase (Registered as The Festival Trophy) (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+)
This looks wide open and last year’s winner Min is worth taking on after a very disappointing effort at the Dublin Racing Festival. The stand out price is two-time Festival winner SAMCRO at 12/1, who gets good his ideal conditions and clearly loves the course. He’s had a quiet campaign and clearly didn’t stay in soft ground over 3m at Christmas. He’ll have been laid out for this race by connections who buy horses solely for winners at Cheltenham and I’m backing him to bounce back to form. I’m going for two in the race rather than playing each-way, and can’t resist the claims of FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES, whose form ties in with the Champion Chase placed horses and, aged six, has plenty of scope to improve. The classier, fast horses who are competitive at two miles often dominate this race and both selections fit that description.
1pt win Fakir D’Oudairies @7/1, 14:30 Cheltenham, Thursday
1pt win Samcro @12/1, 14:30 Cheltenham, Thursday