Ryanair Chase 2021

[Block 205]

Very pleased with that from Allaho - I know that he was getting a few pounds from some of the others and was entitled to win at the weights, but he well and truly smashed them apart from Elimay, and it was an impressive performance from her too (Townend barely got to work at all on the winner though, and you get the impression that the winning distance could have been far greater if he'd have really gone for it).

Hopefully that will set him up very nicely for the Ryanair, and will arguably be running at the right trip at the Festival for the first time - he's already got two very respectable pieces of Festival form to his name and goes perfectly well on better ground, so will hopefully put in a big run.

[Topofthegame2021]

Imperial Aura will want to be up with the pace too. We are in for a really great race. Possibly the race of the festival

[taylorch1990]

Of the two I think it's more likely Min would take a lead from Allaho. Min only went from the front in last year's Ryanair as Frodon was trying to get a soft lead. I'd expect Allaho to go out setting a good pace and Min to sit just behind and only take it up if Allaho tries to slow the pace.

[Faugheen_Machine]

The jockey bookings will be so interesting.

Min and Allaho both look like they want to be ridden the same way?

They'll have to work that out beforehand.... and who does Paul Townend pick? Can he jump off the current Champion? Would be some statement about how much they fancy Allaho.

Depends how they're working in 40-odd days time I suppose!

It would be a brave call to get off Min for any of the others.

Let's say Townend rides Min, who would ride the others? No obvious ride for Rachel Blackmore....

[Kevloaf]

It would be a brave call to get off Min for any of the others.

Let's say Townend rides Min, who would ride the others? No obvious ride for Rachel Blackmore....

Not sure.... Power has been on Min before hasn't he.... although not that it means much.

[KingSprinterSacre]

I dont understand how PT could choose Allaho over Min.
Min is the current champion, 6 time grade 1 winner in open company and has already walloped Allaho this season.
Allaho is a nice horse, but so far he has 1 grade 2 win to his name (and a grade 3 over hurdles).

I know i have a strong bias towards Min as my current fav horse but i just dont see how you could logically pick Allaho over Min unless Min is completely flat in the runup and even then its a risk (vautour sparked appar lol).

[Block 205]

I don't know how much the jockeys would take age into account, but Min's now 10 and Allaho just 7 - the last 10 year old winner of the Ryanair was Albertas Run in 2011, and 5 of the last 8 winners have been aged 7, so in that respect it might pay to be on the younger legs.

Having said that though, Albertas Run was winning it for the second year in a row in 2011 (as Min would be this year), and only missed out on the hat-trick in 2012 by half a length, so Min could be the one to emulate that, and it certainly won't be a straightforward choice either way.

[FinalFurlong91]

I'd be very surprised if townend chose allaho

[Run4Home]

Yeh very short odds on Paul being on Min , couldn't see him jumping off for Allaho

[Kevloaf]

That's why it'd be interesting if he didn't ride Min.

[Block 205]

Assuming that both CPS and Min take up their entries in the 2m1f Dublin Chase at the DRF, and that CPS beats Min (as the odds indicate would be expected), what kind of margin of defeat would Min Ryanair backers think would still qualify as being respectable enough to prevent Townend from jumping ship from Min to Allaho in the Ryanair?

CPS won by 3.5 lengths last year, but that obviously didn't prove to be any issue when Min was stepped up in trip at the Festival. Given that 2m1f will seemingly be a tougher challenge for Min this year as he'll probably have lost a bit more speed along the way, would anything within 6 lengths be considered acceptable over the shorter trip? I'd think that anything much over 5L would start to make Townend wonder whether this might also indicate a general decline that could also apply over 2m5f, but would be interested to hear other views.

[Kevloaf]

Assuming that both CPS and Min take up their entries in the 2m1f Dublin Chase at the DRF, and that CPS beats Min (as the odds indicate would be expected), what kind of margin of defeat would Min Ryanair backers think would still qualify as being respectable enough to prevent Townend from jumping ship from Min to Allaho in the Ryanair?

CPS won by 3.5 lengths last year, but that obviously didn't prove to be any issue when Min was stepped up in trip at the Festival. Given that 2m1f will seemingly be a tougher challenge for Min this year as he'll probably have lost a bit more speed along the way, would anything within 6 lengths be considered acceptable over the shorter trip? I'd think that anything much over 5L would start to make Townend wonder whether this might also indicate a general decline that could also apply over 2m5f, but would be interested to hear other views.

I'd agree with you there.

I think it's a bit premature to call it so clearly that he'll ride Min.

He won't ride Min in that race will he at the DRF, he'll be on Chacun Pour Soi, so is it automatic he jumps back on the 10 year old for the festival?

[Spectre]

Actually it raises a question about which jockeys Willie uses for the Grade 1's. Patrick potentially won't be able to ride because he's an amateur, and David Mullins has retired, leaving Townend and Danny Mullins. Two senior jockey for Min, Allaho, and Melon doesn't work. Yes Melon could go to the Gold Cup and solve the problem, but what if they prefer not to? Who gets the leg up? The same issue potentially exists for other races too. Presumably he won't be using Robbie Power after the Mares last year, so who comes in for all the third string horses?

[PresentingPercy]

Actually it raises a question about which jockeys Willie uses for the Grade 1's. Patrick potentially won't be able to ride because he's an amateur, and David Mullins has retired, leaving Townend and Danny Mullins. Two senior jockey for Min, Allaho, and Melon doesn't work. Yes Melon could go to the Gold Cup and solve the problem, but what if they prefer not to? Who gets the leg up? The same issue potentially exists for other races too. Presumably he won't be using Robbie Power after the Mares last year, so who comes in for all the third string horses?

Rachel Blackmore rides out for Willie now a couple of days a week so she may get on something like Allaho if Henry didn't have a runner

[Kevloaf]

Actually it raises a question about which jockeys Willie uses for the Grade 1's. Patrick potentially won't be able to ride because he's an amateur, and David Mullins has retired, leaving Townend and Danny Mullins. Two senior jockey for Min, Allaho, and Melon doesn't work. Yes Melon could go to the Gold Cup and solve the problem, but what if they prefer not to? Who gets the leg up? The same issue potentially exists for other races too. Presumably he won't be using Robbie Power after the Mares last year, so who comes in for all the third string horses?

Mark Walsh, if there isn't a JP Irish runner?

Davy Russell and Rachel Blackmore don't have obvious rides in the Ryanair?

They might just be waiting to see, as Patrick slots in so easily for them.


Brian Hayes stepped in too on Ganapathi not long ago....

Paul Townend, Danny Mullins, Patrick Mullins, Brian Hayes.....

Then the pick of whoever is free?