Our Vic landed the race in 2008 before going on to claim the scalp of Kauto Star in the totesport Bowl at Aintree the following month, while the 2009 winner Imperial Commander returned to The Festival last year to triumph in chasing’s pinnacle, the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Albertas Run powered to a four and a half-length success over Poquelin last season before going on to further Grade One glory in Aintree’s John Smith’s Melling Chase. The Jonjo O’Neill-trained 10-year-old is set to bid to become the first dual winner of the Ryanair Chase and can be backed at best-price 12/1 (Bet365).
Poquelin, a four-time winner at Cheltenham, is also due to bid to avenge last season’s defeat and add to the excellent record of trainer Paul Nicholls, who has been successful with Thisthatandtother (2005) and Taranis (2007). He is currently best-price 5/1 (Paddy Power) to go one better this year.
A quintet of entries from the Ditcheat handler also includes the dual sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Master Minded, who made an impressive winning seasonal return over two miles and three furlongs in a Grade Two chase at Ascot in November before winning the Grade One Keith Prowse Hospitality Tingle Creek Chase over two miles at Cheltenham on December 11.
Grade Two scorer The Nightingale and dual Grade One winners Noland and Breedsbreeze may also represent the champion jump trainer.
Somersby stayed on take third behind Master Minded at Cheltenham in December and the Henrietta Knight-trained chaser boasts an excellent record at The Festival, having come home third in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2008 and finished second to the Henry de Bromhead-trained Sizing Europe in last season’s Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase. Somersby is best-price 8/1 (totesport) for the Ryanair, whilst Sizing Europe is standout best-price 20/1 (William Hill) and as short as 12/1 in places.
Knight could also run Calgary Bay, whose finest hour came when winning the Grade Two Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham in January, 2009.
Nicky Henderson, successful with Fondmort in 2006, has entered three-time Grade One winner Long Run, winner of the King George VI at Kempton yesterday, as well as Punchestowns, a Grade One winner over fences last term, last season’s Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase fifth Riverside Theatre and Jack The Giant, who took third in the same race in 2007.
An Irish-trained horse has yet to win the Ryanair Chase but a strong entry of 18 from across the Irish Sea is headed by the Edward O’Grady-trained Tranquil Sea, who broke another Irish hoodoo last season when becoming the first Irish-trainer winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup for 29 years.
The nine-year-old has since gone on to Grade One glory in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Fairyhouse on December 15, when beating J’y Vole (Willie Mullins), Roberto Goldback (Jessica Harrington) and Glencove Marina (Eoin Griffin).
Forpadydeplasterer may bid for his first victory since getting the better of the Ferdy Murphy-trained Kalahari King in the 2009 Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase, having finished second on all seven of his subsequent starts for trainer Tom Cooper, while a sextet of entries from Willie Mullins also includes Grade One winners Barker and Kempes, Grade Two victor Quiscover Fontaine as well as Golden Silver and Scotsirish, who filled the places behind Big Zeb in the Grade One Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown on December 29.
The 2008 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Captain Cee Bee may line up for trainer Edward Harty, while fellow Grade One scorer Joncol, could represent Co Wexford handler Paul Nolan. Recent Thurles Grade Three victor Psycho, from the stable of Tony Martin, Rare Bob, who landed a competitive Leopardstown handicap chase for trainer Dessie Hughes on January 9, could also make the trip across the Irish Sea.
The Tony Mullins-trained Made In Taipan, Zaarito, from the stable of Colm Murphy, and Rubi Light, representing Robbie Hennessy, complete the potential Irish challenge.
A pair of entries from Tom George consists of Grade Two winners Nacarat and Tartak, while Imperial Commander’s trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies could rely on this season’s Paddy Power Gold Cup hero Little Josh and Mahogany Blaze.
Colin Tizzard may also be double-handed courtesy of recent Grade Two Tigmi Travel Dipper Novices’ Chase scorer Hell’s Bay and Hey Big Spender, who beat the Paul Webber-trained Edgbriar in a novices’ handicap chase at Cheltenham last season.
The Emma Lavelle-trained Crack Away Jack also thrives around Cheltenham, having triumphed in the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at The Festival in 2008 and come home a fine fourth in the Stan James Champion Hurdle 12 months later, while Gauvain scored on his first start for new handler Nick Williams when taking the Sinbad Testimonial 2010/2011 Chase at The Open on November 14.
Deep Purple recorded a pair of Grade Two success last season before finishing fourth behind Albertas Run at The Festival, while Weird Al enjoyed an unbeaten novice season over fences last term, including a brace of victories at Cheltenham and a Grade Two triumph at Wetherby.
Exciting novice Medermit, runner-up in the 2009 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, may represent trainer Alan King and the entry is completed by Prince De Beauchene from the stable of Howard Johnson and the Gary Moore-trained pair of Panjo Bere and Vino Griego.
Last year's runner-up, Poquelin, is currently best-price 5/1 favourite to go one better in this years' Ryanair Chase
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