Ryanair 2020

[archie]

At least he'll go for the most suitable race with the retained jockey.

 

[Saxon Warrior]

Yep, they have Janika too, for Ryanair or Champion Chase and Bristol De Mai for Gold Cup. Maybe we need to keep these in mind when assessing Footpad's target.

 

[Scooby91]

Yep, they have Janika too, for Ryanair or Champion Chase and Bristol De Mai for Gold Cup. Maybe we need to keep these in mind when assessing Footpad's target.

2 miler sceau royal
2 1/2 footpad
3 bristol de mai.

Janika can slot in wherever, hes not proven at the top level yet.

 

[delsie777]

At least he'll go for the most suitable race with the retained jockey.

Not necessarily. I'm sure they have the Gold Cup in mind.

I made the trip over to Ireland to ride Footpad in the Boomerang Chase at Thurles on Thursday and he gave me a great feel when winning without breaking sweat.
I thought he put in a very polished display, it was great to see the old Footpad, he jumped fantastic and felt very fresh, it was mission accomplished and nice to see.
Obviously the opposition weren’t Gold Cup class, but the most important thing was to get him back onto the track, we didn’t want to throw him into Grade One company straight away.

 

[Lobos]

Henderson says, depending on what happens tomorrow/KG, Altior will run in either the Champion Chase or the Gold Cup. He will not be going Ryanair.

 

[Eggs]

Henderson says, depending on what happens tomorrow/KG, Altior will run in either the Champion Chase or the Gold Cup. He will not be going Ryanair.

...poor Lydia, her first Cheltenham selection only lasted a day.

 

[Lobos]

...poor Lydia, her first Cheltenham selection only lasted a day.

I know. Weird selection. Hendo would never run him in that race. The more Hendo talks the more I think he wants Altior to get beat tomorrow. A very strange situation.

 

[ComplyOrDie]

Genuinely think we could see Altior here after reading the Hendo Unibet blog. Starts off by saying "I have no doubt he got the trip" which suggests to me he may well be staying in and around this trip. Think he could easily go the Vautour route of King George / Ryanair myself.

 

[Scooby91]

Genuinely think we could see Altior here after reading the Hendo Unibet blog. Starts off by saying "I have no doubt he got the trip" which suggests to me he may well be staying in and around this trip. Think he could easily go the Vautour route of King George / Ryanair myself.

Pretty sure he categorically said CC or GC.
I'm sure they're aware most people would be pretty disgusted if atior went for a Ryanair.

He'll go cc now unless he genuinely has lost a gear, then theyd go for the big one.

 

[ComplyOrDie]

Pretty sure he categorically said CC or GC.
I'm sure they're aware most people would be pretty disgusted if atior went for a Ryanair.

He'll go cc now unless he genuinely has lost a gear, then theyd go for the big one.

Vautour was Gold Cup or nothing too

 

[Scooby91]

Vautour was Gold Cup or nothing too

Not sure what that achieves, apart from Ricci's lack of integrity. And the power of ruby.

 

[ComplyOrDie]

Not sure what that achieves, apart from Ricci's lack of integrity. And the power of ruby.

Just proof that taking it at face value, no matter the owner or trainer, that a horse is only going for one of two races when a third is available is not how I would operate.

What happened to Hendersons integrity when he said Binocular was out for the season so JP's boys could load up on the machine, before winning the Champion Hurdle.

I don't trust too many owners/trainers word tbh.

 

[Ribocco]

As each year goes by The Ryanair becomes a more prestigious race. Just because it was invented when the 4 day festival came about doesn't make it any the poorer. At the end of the day all races were invented at some point and a lot have being messed about with over the years.

 

[Craigy14]

As each year goes by The Ryanair becomes a more prestigious race. Just because it was invented when the 4 day festival came about doesn't make it any the poorer. At the end of the day all races were invented at some point and a lot have being messed about with over the years.

This is a good point, I definitely think because it’s a fairly new race it maybe doesn’t get the credit it deserves, also possibly the sponsor of the race is very much a marmite character. The novice chases are grade 1’s over 3 distances so why not the same in open company. All horses are able to run over differing distances so if the gold cup is a step too far for horses then the Ryanair becomes the perfect distance for them, as was seen with Frodon this year/last season. The tradition of older races always appeals more but in years to come we will possibly say the same about another new race and Ryanair being spoken as tradition.

 

[The King Pimm]

I agree to a certain extent that the sponsor of the race does tarnish the races kudos and credibility as so many people in Britain and Ireland spend many days of their life hating Ryanair!! I really like the race and I think if they upped the prize money again it wouldn’t be seen as a reserve gold cup. The same can be said of the stayers, maybe it’s just something that will change with time or forever be the equivalent of the Europa League

 

[Saxon Warrior]

I agree to a certain extent that the sponsor of the race does tarnish the races kudos and credibility as so many people in Britain and Ireland spend many days of their life hating Ryanair!! I really like the race and I think if they upped the prize money again it wouldn’t be seen as a reserve gold cup. The same can be said of the stayers, maybe it’s just something that will change with time or forever be the equivalent of the Europa League

Maybe the race needs a name change, to give it a non-sponsors title, with sponsors added over the top, like the Ryanair (or something else) Centaur Cup.

 

[Istabraq]

The Ryanair was introduced in 2005, three years before the Mares hurdle and that race hasn’t struggled for respect.
I think what people/punters get frustrated about is that good horses avoid a crack at the Champ chase and Gold Cup particularly when ante post punting.

It’s a great race but not (yet) a championship race so won’t get the coverage it could...

 

[Kevloaf]

Maybe they should have a greys only race over each distance too, over hurdlers and fences. Then a 3 mile bumper race for horses that find 2m too sharp.

Maybe a Mares Novice Chase for the mares not good enough to go against the boys despite the 7lb weight allowance.





I feel like I'm Scar in The Lion King.

I don't care what the best middle distance chaser is, I want all horses to try the QMCC or the GC.

If they're not good enough for either, FINE ... there is an entire season to race and Aintree has that G1 covered.



I don't understand why anyone that enjoys the principle of horse racing wants it to get watered down to have every distance covered.

Why not have a 2m, 2m2f, 2m4f, 3m and 3m2f novice chase/hurdle ?




....because it'd kill the competitive element? Correct

 

[Pendil]

Because it makes sense. if you have 3 x novice hurdles and 3 x novice chases it surely makes sense to have third championship chase over intermediate distance

 

[Istabraq]

I think the Punchestown festival has 40 races, people forget how much mediocrity there is at that meeting, and I’m not sure whether it’s still the case but there used to be 8 bumpers, yes 8 !

The UK festivals have always been about quality and when Cheltenham had 18 and latterly 21 races from the three day meeting it worked well, however, money talks and another day means another x millions in gate receipts, advertising, sponsorship, TV money etc etc etc, 3 into 4 was too lucritive to ignore just as I can see 4 turning into 5 in years to come.
But if it means multiple bumpers, duplicate divisions and general lower grade racing that may well be a dilution too far...