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Cheltenham Festival 2024 Tips - March 12-15

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2024 Ryanair Chase Tips - Will our ante-post selection do the business?

jon-vine
Jon Vine
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Last updated: Thu 29 Feb 2024 11:27
The 2024 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival is wide open after Allaho was ruled out. Banbridge is the current favourite, with concerns about soft ground affecting his performance. Envoi Allen and Stage Star are also contenders. Meanwhile, defending champion Envoi Allen and Fugitif are seen as promising candidates. The article offers deeper insights into these horses and more.
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Jon Vine 29 Feb 2024
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  • Free guide to the 2024 Ryanair Chase
  • This Grade One takes place on day three of the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday 14th March
  • Our ante-post tip Banbridge features in our verdict
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ryanair chase
Rachael Blackmore riding Envoi Allen clear the last to win The Ryanair Chase during day three of the Cheltenham Festival 2023. (Getty)

The unofficial fifth Championship race at the Cheltenham Festival is the Ryanair Chase. After former two-time winner, Allaho met with another setback, the betting was blown wide open and a case can be made for a larger number of this year's entrants.

Here's our free guide to the 2024 Ryanair Chase. You'll find our best betting tips in the verdict section below.

2024 Ryanair Chase - Ante-Post Position


Before his return in the Silviniaco Conti Chase, I put up Banbridge for the Ryanair at 12/1 in my ante-post tips series. A Grade One-winning novice last season, Joseph O'Brien had his star ready to run during the first half of the season, but soft ground delayed his comeback.

Harry Cobden attempted to make all on Pic D'Orhy, a tactic that worked wonders in the Ascot Chase the following month. JJ Slevin tracked the leader throughout and an excellent jump at the final flight allowed Banbridge to wrestle a narrow advantage, which O'Brien's raider maintained in the closing stages.

Given what Pic D'Orhy went on to achieve at Ascot, that looks like an outstanding piece of form. Banbridge is now favourite for the Ryanair with most bookmakers, and on good ground, he's most certainly the one to beat.

banbridge
JJ Slevin riding Banbridge (red cap) clear the last to win The Racehorse Lotto Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree Racecourse. (Getty)

2024 Ryanair Chase Tips 


The problem is, are we going to get decent ground on day three of the Cheltenham Festival? Rain seems to have fallen continuously throughout February in the UK and the long-term weather forecast predicts a fairly wet build-up. Cheltenham drains as well as most courses, but I fear that the ground will be too soft for Banbridge to produce his best form.

I could see a situation where defending champion, Envoi Allen gets backed into favouritism for the Ryanair. Henry De Bromhead's star ran out an impressive winner of this contest 12 months ago and Rachael Blackmore's mount has been freshened up for this assignment. 

Stage Star still sits third in the market, despite a shocking performance on heavy ground at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. Last year's Turners winner is at his best when fresh, but that's hardly the ideal prep for a horse who still has something to prove.

Capodanno runs here as part of his final preparations for the Grand National. Two-and-a-half miles is surely going to be a bit sharp for Willie Mullins' Cotswold Chase winner. Protektorat is in a similar boat, despite coming into the Ryanair with form behind two of Britain's leading Gold Cup hopes. Ahoy Senor also looks likely to run in this Grade One following his effort in the Ascot Chase, but Aintree is where you see Lucinda Russell's nine-year-old to best effect.

Gordon Elliott has two interesting contenders, including Conflated, who'll represent the race sponsors despite Elliott's intention to run him in the Cross Country. Fil Dor could throw his hat into the ring too, but neither get my motor running at their current prices.

Hitman was only beaten three lengths in this race 12 months ago and Paul Nicholls' star returned to form behind Shishkin on his last outing at Newbury. Fugitif came from the clouds to win the December Gold Cup and kept on valiantly to place third in the rescheduled Clarence House, having been badly outpaced over the minimum distance.

Ashtree Meadow and Classic Getaway are available at lengthy prices too and neither would be devoid of a chance. So, there are some viable alternatives to the market leaders, should you fancy an each-way punt.

Verdict

I would love to see Banbridge claim victory, not least because I've backed him at 12/1. Soft ground is a real worry for the market leader, though, and I just don't see how the going can be any better than soft, given the amount of rain that's fallen.

Juicy ground certainly wouldn't inconvenience Fugitif, who brings plenty of course form to the table. Richard Hobson's nine-year-old is rated a little below the level you need to challenge in a Ryanair Chase, but he could be worth chancing in what looks like a weak renewal of this Grade One.

Best Bet1: Banbridge 2024 Ryanair Chase Best Bet @11/4 at BOYLE Sports - 15 Units
Best Bet2: Fugitif E/W 2024 Ryanair Chase Value Bet @20/1 at BOYLE Sports - 5 Units
Banbridge
2024 Ryanair Chase Best Bet
@11/4 - 15 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
in free bets

18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. T&Cs Apply 18+. IRE/NI & UK online only. Max Free Bet £/€10. Win or win part of e/w outright singles. 5+ runners. 1st bet on each race. Free/void/antepost bets don't qualify. In event of a dead heat, offer won’t apply. Applies to First Past the Post result. Unnamed 2nd Favs don’t qualify. Acc & Payment restrictions apply. T&Cs apply.

Bet at BOYLE Sports
Fugitif E/W
2024 Ryanair Chase Value Bet
@20/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
in free bets

18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. T&Cs Apply 18+. IRE/NI & UK online only. Max Free Bet £/€10. Win or win part of e/w outright singles. 5+ runners. 1st bet on each race. Free/void/antepost bets don't qualify. In event of a dead heat, offer won’t apply. Applies to First Past the Post result. Unnamed 2nd Favs don’t qualify. Acc & Payment restrictions apply. T&Cs apply.

Bet at BOYLE Sports

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