Envoi Allen and Rachael Blackmore win the Ryanair Chase Grade One 2023 © Photo Healy Racing
Henry de Bromhead is confident the lack of a recent run will not harm Envoi Allen’s chances of becoming the third horse to claim back-to-back wins in the Ryanair Chase.
Albertas Run did the double for Jonjo O’Neill in 2010 and 2011, while Allaho struck twice for Willie Mullins in 2021 and 2022.
De Bromhead can take heart from the fact the former was a 10-year-old when successfully defending his title and there is also a link to the latter, who carried the same Cheveley Park Stud colours as Envoi Allen.
Last year, Envoi Allen kept on well to see off Shishkin in this race, which made it three Cheltenham Festival victories following the 2019 Champion Bumper and 12 months later prevailing in what is now known as the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle.
He has only had a couple of outings this term, the most recent a neck second to Gerri Colombe at Down Royal back in mid-November. But De Bromhead has no fears of that proving a negative factor.
“He seems in mighty form, we’re happy with him, so fingers crossed,” said the County Waterford handler.
“I’m not at all worried that he hasn’t run since Down Royal; he’s fit and well, he’s worked well and he runs well fresh.”
Stage Star is another proven Cheltenham performer, galloping on strongly to score in the Turners Novices’ Chase at last year’s Festival and winning for the third time at Prestbury Park when surviving a final-fence blunder in November’s Paddy Power Gold Cup.
The eight-year-old blotted his copybook when pulled up here on New Year’s Day but Paul Nicholls is happy to write that off as simply a blip on what was bottomless ground.
“If he hadn’t run last time, I’d say he’d probably be favourite for the Ryanair,” said the Ditcheat handler. “We’re very happy he’s back where he is, he needs a bit of nice ground and he likes that New course.
“I just felt it was a long time between the Paddy Power and the Ryanair and sometimes you make the wrong call, but he’s very happy again now.
“If I’d had half an excuse on New Year’s Day not to run, I wouldn’t have, but no harm done, we’re very happy with him now.”
Nicholls will also saddle last year’s third Hitman, who returned to form when runner-up behind Shishkin in the Denman Chase at Newbury.
“Hitman’s form was red-hot last time when he was third to Shishkin,” added the champion trainer. “He’s a different horse to when he was third last year and he will be thereabouts again.”
Protektorat was just half a length behind Hitman in that race last month and faces a different Festival test this term after finishing fifth and third in the past two renewals of the Gold Cup.
“He’s just not hit the Gold Cup markers this year and that’s fine,” commented Dan Skelton.
“We’ve tried in two Gold Cups and finished third getting a lead and fifth turning for home in front. It hasn’t worked and we’ve left no stone unturned there.
“If you look at him in comparison to the other horses in the Ryanair, he’s equal top on ratings and he will stay that trip out really well – why not have a go.”
Conflated was third in last season’s Gold Cup and was disputing second when falling two out a couple of years ago.
He parted company with his jockey late on in two runs behind Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown but Gordon Elliott is not giving up on his charge, who has Grade One wins in the Irish Gold Cup and the Savills Chase on his CV.
Elliott said: “He’s in good form and the Ryanair will suit him. He unseated his jockey on his last couple of runs, but he was running well both days and we’re looking forward to Thursday.”
Stablemate Fil Dor was runner-up in the 2022 Triumph and Elliott showed his faith in the six-year-old when retaining him at Cullentra House for €620,000 at the recent Andy and Gemma Brown dispersal sale.
“He’s a new recruit in the Robcour colours and we’re looking forward to him,” said Robbie Power, racing manager for his new owners.
“He’s had some good runs behind El Fabiolo over two miles – especially at Cork the last day. If stepping up in trip brings improvement, I don’t think he will be too far away.”
Banbridge is unbeaten at Cheltenham after landing the 2022 Martin Pipe contest and an Arkle trial last season.
Joseph O’Brien’s eight-year-old has enjoyed his last two trips to the UK just as much, claiming the Grade One Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree last April and Kempton’s Silviniaco Conti a couple of months ago.
Capodanno is another Irish raider who does not suffer from travel sickness, judged on January’s Cotswold Chase success for Willie Mullins.
Lucinda Russell’s Ahoy Senior was well held in fourth that day, but did claim the same prize at Prestbury Park 12 months earlier, plus he was a good second to L’Homme Presse in the 2022 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase here.
The Jamie Snowden-trained Ga Law and Richard Hobson’s Fugitif have both secured valuable handicap victories at this venue during the current campaign.
