Classy and deep Ryanair field could lead to championship race of the week

2.30 Cheltenham
Ryanair Chase (Registered As The Festival Trophy) (Grade 1) | 2m4½f | 5yo+ | ITV/RTV

It might seem counter-intuitive to be a staunch defender of the Ryanair while remaining ambivalent about the Marsh Novices' Chase. This year's fields, the Ryanair's in particular, show why we make the distinction.

A healthy field of 14 will line up for the Ryanair and the depth is perhaps greater than that of any championship event this week. Even though the quality is so high, you would do well to argue that any of them would improve the Gold Cup or Champion Chase.

Allaho has long been one of those horses that might get 3m, but never convinces as a genuine stayer. The Ryanair is a better home for such horses than the Gold Cup, which does not need more non-stayers than it already attracts.

He has not had a proper attempt in a race like this. His John Durkan sixth could not be seen through the fog and was seemingly a prep run for a final attempt to get him to stay in the Savills over Christmas. He could not reel in the leaders including the Gold Cup-bound A Plus Tard, hence the target switch, and all the evidence we have is a cosy warm-up win over Elimay in January.

His improvement for a stiff 2m4f, supposed by many since he was third in last year's RSA, is built into his price. No other horse has better form than Min's win in this race 12 months ago. That prep run was not as bad as being pulled up suggests. As the second string to Chacun Pour Soi in the Dublin Chase, he was soon pulled up after one bad mistake down the back.

Second in the Dublin Chase was Fakir D'Oudairies, who has long promised more for this sort of trip. He reverted to 2m after winning the Drinmore (by 22 lengths from Ronald Pump) as a novice, then failed to handle a searching 3m in the Savills. Finally, he returns to what his fans regard as the Goldilocks trip - it should be just right.

Melon and Imperial Aura are the other two on offer at single-figure odds and both have been well discussed this season. Melon has been second in two Champion Hurdles and to Samcro in last year's Marsh. He also just fails for stamina when it becomes a scrap over 3m, as the Savills showed.

Imperial Aura might have gone to the Gold Cup if the Ryanair did not exist. That implies that a couple of these might be speedier, but the aggressive riding style of David Bass might offset that. His course form is undeniable, even though his festival win last year came on the Old course.

The depth in this Ryanair becomes apparent at the lower end of the market, where there looks to be some genuine value - or at least a handful of horses you would expect to be a lot shorter for a Grade 1.

Kalashnikov keeps shaping like a 170 horse waiting to happen should he ever sort out his jumping. Chris's Dream is in the Allaho camp, stamina-wise, has roughly similar form and yet is 33-1. Fanion D'Estruval is more like Fakir D'oudairies, a 2m4f graded performer in waiting, and his form does not lag as far behind as odds of 50-1 imply. Try finding a Gold Cup or Champion Chase with so many interesting outsiders.
Keith Melrose, betting editor

Embarrassment of riches for Mullins

The running theme of the week continues in the Ryanair Chase with Willie Mullins again threatening to dominate with three of the top four in the betting as Ireland's champion trainer seeks a fourth win in this Grade 1.

Only Albertas Run, in 2010 and 2011, has managed to win the race twice since it was introduced in 2005, a feat Min will attempt having finally scored at the festival in this race last year.

A fabulous warrior, Min makes his fifth March visit to Cheltenham, having finished runner-up to the mighty Altior on his first two appearances in 2016 and 2018.

Last year he was tenacious to hold off Saint Calvados in the closing stages and Mullins said: "Min won this race last year and a reproduction of that form would put him right in the picture. He's going to like this ground."

Vying for favouritism with his stablemate is Allaho, not quite as seasoned as Min but nevertheless making his third start at the festival having finished third in the Albert Bartlett in 2019 and filling the same position in an unfathomable RSA Chase last year, when Champ swamped Allaho and Minella Indo in the dying strides.

With Paul Townend sticking with Min, Allaho will have the assistance of Champion Hurdle-winning rider Rachael Blackmore and a tongue-tie for the first time.

"Allaho won on very heavy ground over this trip at Thurles and will be more suited by the better underfoot conditions here," said his trainer.

Few would begrudge Melon his day in the festival limelight, having finished runner-up on all four of his previous spring visits to Cheltenham. He was a neck away from Champion Hurdle glory in 2018 and just a nose separated him and the reopposing Samcro in last year's Marsh.

Mullins said: "Melon seems to reserve his best form for this track and the drying ground is in his favour too."

At the other end of the market, Tornado Flyer completes the Mullins battalion and his trainer added: "If everything goes right he could be in line for one of the minor places."

Flying high

Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's chief executive, finally got his hands on the trophy his airline sponsors with Balko Des Flos in 2018 and relies on Samcro this year.

What they say

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Chris's Dream
We know he goes very well fresh, so that's why we decided to keep him for this. He looks well and seems to be in very good form.

Jeremy Scott, trainer of Dashel Drasher
I wouldn't want the ground any drier. If it is still good to soft I'll take the horse up there and walk the track but if it goes good to soft, good in places we'd probably be able to make a decision before then.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Fakir D'Oudairies
We think the trip will suit him well and he's in very good form.

Venetia, Williams, trainer of Fanion D'Estruval
I think the increase in distance will help but the step up in class will make it very tough for him.

Kim Bailey, trainer of Imperial Aura
I think it's the most competitive race of the entire meeting but I wouldn't swap him. He's in good shape and this has been the plan all season.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Mister Fisher
I couldn't be happier with him and his schooling has gone really well. He and Altior have been doing all their work together - luckily he has made it.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Real Steel
He's been a bit hard to get right this season. It transpired that he bled after Kempton but he was travelling well. Hopefully on spring ground we'll see a better horse.

Denise Foster, trainer of Samcro
This is his time of year and I think everyone knows that. We're all very excited to see him back at the track where he has already produced two terrific performances.
Reporting by Lewis Porteous

Cheltenham Festival Thursday previews:

Punters have penetrated deep into enemy territory – now for our biggest weapon (Members' Club)

A changing of the guard in the Stayers' Hurdle – but one familiar face remains (Members' Club)

1.20 Cheltenham: Keith Melrose believes there is only one viable alternative to Envoi Allen

1.55 Cheltenham: can conditional Jordan Gainford be the boss in a wide-open punting puzzle?

3.05 Cheltenham: Paisley Park primed in search for 'very special' second Stayers' Hurdle success

Can Paisley Park run below form and still win? Graeme Rodway dissects the data (Members' Club)

3.40 Cheltenham: bonus hunter The Shunter bids to bag £100,000 on return to fences

4.15 Cheltenham: Peter Fahey confident Royal Kahala can end Willie Mullins mares' monopoly

4.50 Cheltenham: Keith Melrose fancies a pair of novices to come to the fore in a tricky contest

Join Members' Club Ultimate and read tipping from the likes of Pricewise and Paul Kealy, all the big interviews and features, daily comment and news analysis – plus our Ultimate Daily newsletter. Click here to sign up.