Date: Thursday 16th March 2023
The Ryanair remains one of the most predictable races of the Festival when you stick closely enough to the profile of the winner.
The strongest angles continue to be age, intermediate-trip form, previous Cheltenham form and Grade 1 class. Irish-trained horses dominate this race now and once again the shortlist is heavily shaped by that trend.
These are the three that come out strongest on the Turf Talk ratings.
TURF TALK RATINGS - LEADING CONTENDERS
| Horse | Turf Talk Rating |
|---|---|
| Shishkin | 221 |
| Envoi Allen | 216 |
| Blue Lord | 198 |
| Janidil | 189 |
| Fury Road | 181 |
| Hitman | 173 |
| Ga Law | 166 |
The ratings this year place a little more emphasis on proven class than usual because a few of the market leaders are arriving from different routes. Even so, intermediate-trip form and previous Cheltenham experience remain crucial.
MAIN SELECTION
Shishkin (11/4 available)
He comes out narrowly top on the ratings and his class edge is very hard to ignore.
Although best known as a two-mile horse, he has the raw ability and the sort of proven Grade 1 profile that can carry a horse a long way in this race. If he settles and sees the trip out properly, he could simply be too good for these.
BACKUP SELECTION 1
Envoi Allen (6/1 available)
A very solid alternative and one who fits many of the strongest Ryanair trends.
He has Cheltenham form, the right age and enough Grade 1 class to play a major role. He may not have the same ceiling as the main pick on pure talent, but his profile for this specific race is rock solid.
BACKUP SELECTION 2
Blue Lord (5/1 available)
A horse with plenty of class and enough tactical pace to be dangerous if seeing this out strongly.
He comes from the dominant yard and still has a touch of upside over this sort of trip. He is slightly less convincing than the top two on proven stamina, but still makes the shortlist comfortably.
SUMMARY
Shishkin tops the ratings and gets the vote on pure class, with Envoi Allen the stronger race-fit alternative and Blue Lord another who makes plenty of appeal in a contest that still revolves around proven intermediate-trip quality.
