While the Ryanair has to continually justify its existence, it nearly always stands on its own two feet as a championship event. Fact To File is a worthy favourite, having hurt his reputation only by taking on Galopin Des Champs. Il Est Francais leads the field on form, but few horses who are as devastating as he is around Kempton are as good at undulating tracks like Cheltenham. Protektorat (second choice) is a solid alternative, with the better ground than last year being only the slightest niggle. The best bet is DJELO, who has done little but improve this season and impressed with how he travelled and quickened in the Denman last time. He is much closer to the best of these on form than forecast prices imply. [Keith Melrose]
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Third in the Grade 1 Golden Miller over C&D last March and has gone from strength to strength this season, winning Grade 2s in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon (2m4f, soft) and Denman Chase at Newbury (extended 2m7f, soft); form of the latter puts him within hailing distance of anything in this race and he has plenty of form on good/good to soft; each-way player at least.
Cheltenham Festival record of 11F312, all in Grade 1s with the most recent win in this race; 11yo now but landed a ninth Grade 1 at Down Royal (3m, good to yielding) in November and his only run since was another unsuccessful raid on the King George; vulnerable to younger legs but can be in the mix again.
Shot through the ranks in his novice season over fences, winning two Grade 1s including Brown Advisory (extended 3m, soft) at this meeting; won the John Durkan at Punchestown (extended 2m3f, soft) in November but reputation has taken a slight knock since when beaten twice at around 3m by the outstanding Galopin Des Champs; wise move to duck that rival a third time and holds strong claims back in trip.
Has been the best chaser around in Britain the last two summers, winning three times from an extended 2m3f to 3m2f; also finished second in the Silver Trophy over C&D (good) last April; up against it on his first run since finishing fourth in the Charlie Hall in early November.
Won a Listed chase at Wexford (2m7f, soft) on reappearance and built on that when 15l fourth in Savills Chase at Leopardstown in December when last seen; held by Fact To File on that form and, while he is only seven, he needs another chunk of improvement to be a major player in this race.
Has dazzled at Kempton on Boxing Day the last two years, winning a Grade 1 novice and coming so close to landing the King George (good); leads the field on that form and his attacking style usually suits the chase courses around 2m4f at Cheltenham, but he is untested on this more idiosyncratic track and he underachieves in races in his native France.
Very lightly raced 11yo who has won five of his seven career starts, one of the defeats when 21l sixth in last year's Gold Cup; 8l winner of a graduation chase at Ascot (2m5f, good to soft) in November on his only run this season; something of a wildcard but this front-runner is no forlorn hope.
Rounded off his novice season with a head second in Aintree Grade 1 and has improved this campaign; got first run on Libberty Hunter when winning the Grade 2 Game Spirit at Newbury (extended 2m, soft) in February; worth another go at this trip but the main concern is he needs to step up on form.
Has reinvented himself at around this trip in the last 12 months, starting with a win in this race (soft; beat Envoi Allen 4l) last year; brought to concert pitch for this race again, having won by 23l under an aggressive ride at Windsor (2m6f, soft) in January; rock-solid claims and while most of his form is on soft ground, he was third in the 2022 Gold Cup on good to soft.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
