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2024 Ryanair Chase

….Conflated 25-1 from 66-1 with BFSB.
 
Eddie O'Leary on Conflated:

“He gave Jack the same unseat as he gave Sam Ewing at Christmas (in the Savills Chase). It was the same corner of the same fence,” explained Gigginstown’s Eddie O’Leary.

“He was running a huge race regardless and we had just dropped in behind in that moment. “It will be more than likely be the Ryanair (next, at Cheltenham) – he’s still in the mix for both, but it will more than likely be the Ryanair.”

“We believe he is a quick three-miler who might not get an extended three miles on a staying track in heavy ground, but he’s a quick three-miler and the Ryanair should suit him down to the ground

“You have to get three miles to win a Ryanair so hopefully that will be the race. Otherwise we have the Cross Country. But I would say it would be the Ryanair.”​
 
Good news.
That idiot that kept topping up at triple figures will be scared now.:highly_amused:
Long way to go though, so just mildly pleased, and it makes more sense from a racing perspective.
 
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Good news.
That idiot that kept topping up at triple figures will be scared now.:highly_amused:
Long way to go though, so just mildly pleased, and it makes more sense from a racing perspective.

Definitely the right decision.... owner correct over the trainer must be a fairly rare combination

Although less likely to win a Ryanair, but ya know
 
Definitely the right decision.... owner correct over the trainer must be a fairly rare combination

Although less likely to win a Ryanair, but ya know

Yeah, massive odds on that the idiot wins in the end, although I'll likely be able to lay off so we're all winners.
Excellent decision at the moment by the brothers.
Praise when praise is due.

On a similar subject but a bit of a tangent.

I really think Gordon has to change his mindset a little in order to help pick up more grade ones.
I accept he has to kind of go where he thinks the Berries are, but he has campaigned far too many graded horses like handicappers for my liking.
He's too quick to go in that direction IMO.
 
Yeah, massive odds on that the idiot wins in the end, although I'll likely be able to lay off so we're all winners.
Excellent decision at the moment by the brothers.
Praise when praise is due.

On a similar subject but a bit of a tangent.

I really think Gordon has to change his mindset a little in order to help pick up more grade ones.
I accept he has to kind of go where he thinks the Berries are, but he has campaigned far too many graded horses like handicappers for my liking.
He's too quick to go in that direction IMO.

Must be hard though, going head to head for the grade 1s when Willie has 2 or 3 that would 'be stars' and run as also rans

Il Etait Temps if he ran for Gordon would be a stable star.... for Willie he's like an unwanted step-child, whenever he wins they talk up the first born.

Big Joseph O'Brien would be the biggest danger to Willie if they actually wanted to do anything in the NH game.

Hard to imagine Gordon getting to be champion untiul WIllie retires... would be foolish to say he can't, but does need to re-think things!
 
Must be hard though, going head to head for the grade 1s when Willie has 2 or 3 that would 'be stars' and run as also rans

Il Etait Temps if he ran for Gordon would be a stable star.... for Willie he's like an unwanted step-child, whenever he wins they talk up the first born.

Big Joseph O'Brien would be the biggest danger to Willie if they actually wanted to do anything in the NH game.

Hard to imagine Gordon getting to be champion untiul WIllie retires... would be foolish to say he can't, but does need to re-think things!

Absolutely, until he figures out how to eat willies lunch rather than accepting willies leftovers it will be the same old. No it’s not easy but he has had owners that have given him a sporting chance.

I do sometimes feel there’s always a story round every corner with Gordon just waiting to distract him whether self inflicted or not and everything just seems so unsettled compared with the calm and understated excellence that Willie delivers so consistently.
 
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Ryanair or Aintree for Protektorat

“I’ve spoken to all the owners and at the moment we are not going for a Gold Cup,” said Skelton.
“We’ve got the entry and there are no more scratching stages, so I shall leave him in until confirmations. But he isn’t going for a Gold Cup unless something ridiculous happens.
“The options are Ryanair or Aintree. He will be going to the Ryanair if he is super well and we really think it is the right thing, so we will be led by the horse.
“That race has taken a funny shape and how does he compare against the others in there? I believe Hitman is going for the race, but how short in the betting is Hitman? We will take a look at the Ryanair and if we don’t go there, then we will wait for Aintree.”​

https://www.racingtv.com/news/ryanair-or-aintree-now-the-next-target-for-protektorat
 
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They'll go Aintree now imo. Not sure he's madly in love with Cheltenham and Aintree clearly suits him.
 
I see Lucinda said they may target Ahoy Senor here. I know he splits opinion and rightfully so, looking at his recent form doesn’t bode well. But when you actually look at his spring form it’s miles better than any of his winter form. Since chasing the last 2 years he’s won 2 then came second as a novice in the spring and then last year a win a second and fell when he was running a cracker in the gold cup last year. His winter form just gone as mentioned is awful but I’d say he’ll come alive again in the spring looking at his record. He’s 16/1 NRNB which I think seems fair in what is a fairly open field.
 
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I see Lucinda said they may target Ahoy Senor here. I know he splits opinion and rightfully so, looking at his recent form doesn’t bode well. But when you actually look at his spring form it’s miles better than any of his winter form. Since chasing the last 2 years he’s won 2 then came second as a novice in the spring and then last year a win a second and fell when he was running a cracker in the gold cup last year. His winter form just gone as mentioned is awful but I’d say he’ll come alive again in the spring looking at his record. He’s 16/1 NRNB which I think seems fair in what is a fairly open field.

Agree ….one of ones I think best value right now & great shout

Def win only one tho
 
I see Lucinda said they may target Ahoy Senor here. I know he splits opinion and rightfully so, looking at his recent form doesn’t bode well. But when you actually look at his spring form it’s miles better than any of his winter form. Since chasing the last 2 years he’s won 2 then came second as a novice in the spring and then last year a win a second and fell when he was running a cracker in the gold cup last year. His winter form just gone as mentioned is awful but I’d say he’ll come alive again in the spring looking at his record. He’s 16/1 NRNB which I think seems fair in what is a fairly open field.

Do have to wonder why he's not been running over hurdles all season given how crap the UK staying hurdlers are

He could have mopped up
 
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Do have to wonder why he's not been running over hurdles all season given how crap the UK staying hurdlers are

He could have mopped up

Quite possibly Ista, she must have the same stubbornness as WPM has for Vega at 2m :highly_amused:

In all seriousness though, when he puts it together he is still a very very good horse and like I said his spring form seems way clear of the winter the last couple of years.
 
Dan Skelton quote today re PROTEKTORAT "He is not quite hitting the Gold Cup level markers so we'll look at the Ryanair. He only ran last weekend and if we weren’t happy with him, we'd wait for Aintree, but I do want to run him at Cheltenham."

I think he is a great EW bet at 33/1. I'm in.
 
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Dan Skelton quote today re PROTEKTORAT "He is not quite hitting the Gold Cup level markers so we'll look at the Ryanair. He only ran last weekend and if we weren’t happy with him, we'd wait for Aintree, but I do want to run him at Cheltenham."

I think he is a great EW bet at 33/1. I'm in.

Agreed, I'm on
 
Thats going to be some race at the front end with ahoy, protek and stage star, apreciate it would be handy too i'd think...it might actually suit something picking up the pieces at the end.
 
Thats going to be some race at the front end with ahoy, protek and stage star, apreciate it would be handy too i'd think...it might actually suit something picking up the pieces at the end.

In theory ur right, but 2.5m on New Course often seems to favour front runners ….and we also see plenty of races where jockeys behind let horses get away….,Mares & Stayers last year as examples

Lot depends on pace judgement by jockeys….both at front and prob even more so any wanting to come from behind

Some of those horses like Protekt stay 3m
 
Like the look of this year's Ryanair. It lacks a star but looks really competitive and an interesting race, with a few unexpected runners. And none taking away from the CC or GC.

I'm thinking all the pace on will suit Conflated. Not often I'd fancy a horse for a Cheltenham G1 on the back of two unseats. But they were really good runs that proved he retains plenty of ability.

​