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2026 Ryanair Chase

archie said:
Jonbon's record is statistically impressive but like most stats you can rephrase them to suit your purpose.

In 27 races under rules he has finished in front of just 118 competitors who, in recent years, have been repeat victims like Edwardstone. He has only ever run in 6 races where the bookies have paid 3 places and he only won 3 of them (2 of them being his first 2 hurdle races).

That's not his fault but, for all the criticism of Henderson, it's been a masterclass in the placement of a horse.
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I think logic would have him skipping Cheltenham, but it depends on how much notice JP takes of the 'he deserves a big one at Cheltenham' nonsense. If it's not much, then that clears the way for Fact To File, although it shouldn't need clearing too much as the Ryanair is easily his best chance of winning again at the Festival.
 
Lobos said:
All over 2m though. From day one on here , many have said he looks more of a Stayer.
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kinloch brae said:
I think logic would have him skipping Cheltenham, but it depends on how much notice JP takes of the 'he deserves a big one at Cheltenham' nonsense. If it's not much, then that clears the way for Fact To File, although it shouldn't need clearing too much as the Ryanair is easily his best chance of winning again at the Festival.
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I just can’t see jonbon turning up at Cheltenham. He’ll be saved for aintree and sandown. He’s had two tough races in quick succession and although we all love him, he’s not a world beater at Cheltenham
 
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Guinness Village said:
I just can’t see jonbon turning up at Cheltenham. He’ll be saved for aintree and sandown. He’s had two tough races in quick succession and although we all love him, he’s not a world beater at Cheltenham
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Yep, the reason he might not make the Ryanair is if they feel he’s not recovered from his recent races.
Cheltenham will be the priority now though, JP loves this horse and will want him there.
If he has him in the race I can see him supplementing his Irish Gold Cup winner.He might do that anyway. Should do imo .
Time will tell.
 
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This might be a bit far fetched, but can we see a Ryanair on soft ground without both Fact to File and Gaelic Warrior because both owners want to give their horse a chance of winning the gold cup 🤔
Without Jonbon because he’s being saved for aintree and sandown (he’s had a couple of hard races anyway so not one to run a mile from) 🤔
Banbridge not being seen at his best because the ground is soft 🤔

Would leave the race very open with probably Heartwood as favourite…….. Step forward Found a Fifty 😳 he’s 50/1 on the exchanges and been in and around some really good horses, even beating some of them, he tried the champion chase last year which didn’t go that well, he’s ran and won at this sort of distance before……… if the above was to happen, however likely or unlikely that is, I would say Found a Fifty goes off single figures!
 
kinloch brae said:
I think logic would have him skipping Cheltenham, but it depends on how much notice JP takes of the 'he deserves a big one at Cheltenham' nonsense. If it's not much, then that clears the way for Fact To File, although it shouldn't need clearing too much as the Ryanair is easily his best chance of winning again at the Festival.
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No notice that’s how much. If he’s comfortable laying down the law to Willie there is no way he will be swayed by Hendos sentimentality. There is no evidence that Jonbon is close to being as effective at Cheltenham as he is elsewhere (the rprs are consistently his lowest anywhere almost every fucking time). No horse deserves anything the same as no athlete deserves anything. It’s a fucking ridiculous thing to say and typical Hendo fucking nonsense. Being far superior to British competition over tracks he acts well on does not fucking entitle him to beat the best of the Irish at tracks he doesn’t. He has had plenty of chances to get what he supposedly deserves and failed every time. Move on.

And I love the horse by the way but facts are facts and Hendo appears to be about the only one not paying them any attention. Could that possibly be because he is too emotionally involved to be objective. Of course it fucking is. Yes he could win a poor Ryanair but he could also just as easily bomb out yet again, and for what, for the possibility of him putting up a mid 160 performance and winning a poor renewal of a race that many of us want to see scrapped.

Someone please help me out here
 
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darlojim said:
Fact to File fav on the machine now for this

Decent amount on the lay side too
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Gordon said he'd be shocked if he didn't go Gold Cup. Of course it's nothing to do with him but that was enough for me to back him. He's been moving backwards and forwards for weeks now.
 
Lobos said:
Gordon said he'd be shocked if he didn't go Gold Cup. Of course it's nothing to do with him but that was enough for me to back him. He's been moving backwards and forwards for weeks now.
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I'd be thinking the exact opposite - trainers work to their own agendas. Elliot prefers F2F in the GC because he has no dog in the fight. Get him out of the Ryanair and gives Firefox a bit of a better chance.

They interviewed Skelton at the weekend and mentioned Con Hill. Before he answered, I thought it's nailed on he says he should have a flat career - which he then did. Nothing to do with the horse, just wants a better chance for The New Lion in the CH!
 
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darlojim said:
Did I read that right

You've backed him because Gordon said he goes Gold Cup????
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Yep. Plenty of others are of the same opinion as well. Not sure I've heard many trainers/media say Ryanair. His Irish Gold Cup win was hugely impressive and he wasn't stopping in testing ground. They simply have to send him there especially with GDC looking like time has caught up with him. Willie will surely want to win the GC.
 
Willie will have nothing to do with it
 
Muswell said:
Willie will have nothing to do with it
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JP will surely want to win the Gold Cup especially with Inothewayurthikin looking a shadow of last year.....
 
Lobos said:
Yep. Plenty of others are of the same opinion as well. Not sure I've heard many trainers/media say Ryanair. His Irish Gold Cup win was hugely impressive and he wasn't stopping in testing ground. They simply have to send him there especially with GDC looking like time has caught up with him. Willie will surely want to win the GC.
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It seems that most people are saying they’d be surprised if they didn’t go for the Gold Cup. I was listening to Barry Geraghty on a podcast over the weekend and he was saying he JP would prefer to have the Gold Cup fav then the Ryanair fav...

It also feels like many of those pushing the Ryanair angle might be talking from their own pocket. who knows JP may already have had a few bets himself
 
Can you imagine Rory giving an opinion on what club Bryson should take on his approach to 18 in the Masters with scores level...
 
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