2025 Ryanair Chase

[Lobos]

Maybe it's me but I don't see Iroko as a National type at all ? Inothewayurthinkin just screams National to me. I Am Maximus must surely go GC unless Willie messes about with his Hcp mark which just isn't his way. I'm even more keen on Corbett's Cross now for Ryanair.......Cheers for that HTO. Legend.

 

[HesTheOne]

Maybe it's me but I don't see Iroko as a National type at all ? Inothewayurthinkin just screams National to me. I Am Maximus must surely go GC unless Willie messes about with his Hcp mark which just isn't his way. I'm even more keen on Corbett's Cross now for Ryanair.......Cheers for that HTO. Legend.

Yea I don’t see the Iroko angle apart from being low down the JP chaser ratings

 

[Lobos]

Official Ratings of JP's best staying Chasers.....


I Am Maximus 169
Corbetts Cross 166
Fact To File 162
Inothewayurthinkin 157
Spillane's Tower 155
Iroko 152

​​​​​​​Where do they go?? Gold Cup, Ryanair, Festival Handicap or Grand National??

 

[charlie]

Official Ratings of JP's best staying Chasers.....

Gold Cup - Fact To File

I think he'd be effective in a Ryanair but they didn't take on the BANC and win at 6 so not have a tilt at the big one at 7 would be criminal IMO. He could always come back in trip if he doesnt cut the mustard in open company because he does have speed but I think the Gold Cup will be the plan for now.

Gold Cup or Ryanair - Spillane's Tower

Spillane's Tower at 28 on the machine is interesting for the Ryanair IMO. Walk In The Park has been all the rage as a sire and probably disappointed overall but I don't think most of them want marathon trips (for all Inothewayurthinkin does).​ That being said he's 6 and won over 3m LTO so he could fit in the either/or category depending on how he gets on in open company.

Ryanair - Iroko

Not sure he's as effective over 3m yet. After his chase debut OG said 'On a tighter track like Kempton on better ground you could go three miles, but we will see how we go. The Kauto Star could be considered. If it is soft ground at Cheltenham he would probably stay at two and a half miles and if it was quick he would go over three miles'. Won at the festival over 2m4f and given his prep and layoff I think his run in the Turners can be marked up.

Festival Handicap

Too early to say

Grand National - I Am Maximus, Corbett's Cross and Inothewayurthinkin

I Am Maximus and Corbett's Cross have marks that take handicaps off the table and Inothewayurthinkin looks like he wants 9m so Aintree beckons.




​

 

[Benjy23]

I backed Iroko for the Ryanair in the summer but they've since said he'll be targeted at the National. Which wouldn't make him look a great Ryanair bet at this point... I'd cash it out if I could.

Indiana Dream another interesting JP chaser. For all he's a horrible record for an antepost bet. Not got an OR (152 actually maybe) but an RPR of 149 after just one chase start is right up there last year. ​​​​​​

 

[Quevega]

Does it ? He rode him in the NHC so clearly he felt that he was at the end of his stamina levels maybe? JP obviously just loves the bloke and I'm sure would respect what he says ?

He’d respect what he says for sure.
Then remind him he just won over 3m6f on the bridle by 17 lengths and a strung out field.

 

[Lobos]

He’d respect what he says for sure.
Then remind him he just won over 3m6f on the bridle by 17 lengths and a strung out field.

Only he knows how he felt underneath though Q. Like me I doubt you've ever ridden a racehorse. He rode him very quietly at the back to save as much energy as possible. The horses behind didn't run their race as well so he was flattered by the distance he won by. Whilst it looked like he could go round again, Derek clearly felt not and that he would be unlikely to produce that again over an extreme distance against deeper opposition .

 

[ComplyOrDie]

Only he knows how he felt underneath though Q. Like me I doubt you've ever ridden a racehorse. He rode him very quietly at the back to save as much energy as possible. The horses behind didn't run their race as well so he was flattered by the distance he won by. Whilst it looked like he could go round again, Derek clearly felt not and that he would be unlikely to produce that again over an extreme distance against deeper opposition .

Class horses can (not always, of course) win shit races over an inadequate trip. And that NH Chase was a shit race. As Derek alluded to, his class got him through it.

I don't subscribe to the fact the horses in behind didn't run their races, I just think CC was and is the much classier animal.

 

[Lobos]

Agree COD. Willie did say Embassy Gardens didn't run his race but he could just be sour or ,as you say, they were all just outclassed by a far superior animal.

 

[ComplyOrDie]

Agree COD. Willie did say Embassy Gardens didn't run his race but he could just be sour or ,as you say, they were all just outclassed by a far superior animal.

Embassy Gardens didn't run his race in the Albert Bartlett the season before either. Recurring theme with him when it comes to Cheltenham.

 

[Quevega]

No matter how it’s spun
It don’t make much sense based on facts.
Derek is implying he’d be better in open company at shorter trips.
He may prove to be but so far that’s not been the case as a novice.
They said his class helped him win over 2 miles as a hurdler.
Just jockey waffle IMO

Not saying for a minute that 25-1 isn’t a good shout for Ryanair though. And he’d have a shout.

Having watched all his races though, he’d need to sharpen up his jumping and general travelling to be competitive in that race or the Gold cup.

 

[Runragged]

I don't buy this Corbetts Cross Ryanair idea either. Think it is people putting 2 and 2 together and coming up 5 regarding jockey comments and what horses JP possesses. He doesn't jump like a 2 1/2 miler, he doesn't travel like a 2 1/2 miler. I don't think they ran him in the Bowl last year taking on experienced three milers with the idea he is going to be a Ryanair horse. He's finished 2 3/4 lengths behind the Gold Cup 2nd whilst still a novice and his current official rating equals the highest that was in the Ryanair last year with the 166 of Conflated and Stage Star. At this moment in time he is surely going Gold Cup.

 

[darlojim]

Embassy Gardens didn't run his race in the Albert Bartlett the season before either. Recurring theme with him when it comes to Cheltenham.

Sure he burst did he not?

 

[The Giant Bolster]

Sure he burst did he not?

I think it was an irregular heartbeat in the NHC. He certainly didn't run his race (even if he probably still wouldn't have been good enough). I agree that Corbett's Cross winning margin shouldn't be taken too literally.

 

[ComplyOrDie]

Sure he burst did he not?

Didn't in the Bartlett though, and I imagine it couldn't have been overly serious otherwise Willie most definitely would not have run him at Punchestown.

Edit: Irregular heartbeat, as TBG said.

 

[Craigy14]

I think the problem with Corbetts Cross you don’t know which one will turn up. In his novice season he’s won over mid trips and longer trips and over both trips there were occasions where he took far too long to get into a decent rhythm and his jumping let him down and he was beat. Connections mentioned this as well, including Derek O’Conner.

If that was to remain he’d have to be a national horse for me and couldn’t have him for open grade 1 chases over the mid trip.

The price probably reflects the couple issues imo and isn’t a bad price.

 

[Lobos]

I don't buy this Corbetts Cross Ryanair idea either. Think it is people putting 2 and 2 together and coming up 5 regarding jockey comments and what horses JP possesses. He doesn't jump like a 2 1/2 miler, he doesn't travel like a 2 1/2 miler. I don't think they ran him in the Bowl last year taking on experienced three milers with the idea he is going to be a Ryanair horse. He's finished 2 3/4 lengths behind the Gold Cup 2nd whilst still a novice and his current official rating equals the highest that was in the Ryanair last year with the 166 of Conflated and Stage Star. At this moment in time he is surely going Gold Cup.

JP obviously has Fact to File and I Am Maximus that are going to be targeted at the GC so it's whether he wants to throw 3 of his best at it or keep a classy one for the Ryanair. Corbetts just looks the obvious candidate of the three and O'Connor comments might swing it.

 

[darlojim]

I think it was an irregular heartbeat in the NHC. He certainly didn't run his race (even if he probably still wouldn't have been good enough). I agree that Corbett's Cross winning margin shouldn't be taken too literally.

Ahhh yeah that was it, I remember something given the under par performance

 

[ComplyOrDie]

JP obviously has Fact to File and I Am Maximus that are going to be targeted at the GC so it's whether he wants to throw 3 of his best at it or keep a classy one for the Ryanair. Corbetts just looks the obvious candidate of the three and O'Connor comments might swing it.

You could make a case for Fact To File to drop back in trip, but ultimately right now the GC would be the aim.

Only takes one defeat though.

 

[Lobos]

You could make a case for Fact To File to drop back in trip, but ultimately right now the GC would be the aim.

Only takes one defeat though.

You could but I really don't see that happening. He's my current Number 1 for the GC. The fact they went straight over fences says a lot and he was almost foot perfect last season. He was ultra impressive in the BANC winning it very easily. He looks super classy and Willie has always been bullish about him. I'd not be surprised at all if he went off a strong fav in March.