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2026 Ryanair Chase

EnvoiAlien said:
Thandy really hasnt the slighest, I know the pre trainers for the Gosden yard, when he went to visit he said the same phrase for the first 3 horses they showed him, it was incorrect & out of context all 3 times as well, they ushered him away from the horses after that, he really is "the big eared lad who the farmer keeps hidden from guests" level stupid.
If nepotism had a face, it'd be his & Patricks both fighting to be placed first.
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😆
Oh dear
 
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Just looked at the market again

How many do we see turning up here? 5?

Is Croke Park at 100/1 NRNB an e/w play through process of elimination?
 
Hurricane fly said:
Just looked at the market again

How many do we see turning up here? 5?

Is Croke Park at 100/1 NRNB an e/w play through process of elimination?
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I tried to look at (and discuss) this the other day. Came to the same sort of number. But JPR One (and Handstands NRNB) is where I landed. Really pleased with that Ryanair pun...

Croke Park got in pretty lightly from the handicapper really didn't he. Looked like no tax on his Irish mark, if I remember correctly. So they may be tempted to go down that route. But I didn't see a mention of him at all in Gordon's stable tour.

Handstands they seem to fancy being well handicapped as well so I think Ultima is on the table for him.

But I'm sure some connections will see the easy prize money on offer here. And I guess Croke Park trying to get some of it back for team Ryanair could make sense!

Think JPR One is going to look a good bet for a place on ratings, if nothing else. Maybe even improving for the trip last time out.
 
Of what I’ve read we’re likely to see:

Fact To File
Heart Wood
Firefox
JPR One
Matata
Croke Park

Then maybe:

Jonbon
Banbridge
Handstands
 
Exar Essay said:
Of what I’ve read we’re likely to see:

Fact To File
Heart Wood
Firefox
JPR One
Matata
Croke Park

Then maybe:

Jonbon
Banbridge
Handstands
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Firefox going Gold Cup isn't he? Have they changed mind on that one?
 
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Exar Essay said:
Gordon said Ryanair at the Tattersall’s preview. But he does seem to have told the media Gold Cup two weeks previous during the media day. So pop him into the maybe column.
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Fair play. I'd ruled him out when looking for the placers, so be a bit annoying if they had changed their mind. Can understand why they might though.
 
Benjy23 said:
Fair play. I'd ruled him out when looking for the placers, so be a bit annoying if they had changed their mind. Can understand why they might though.
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Just edited my post with the video. Sounded pretty confident and even tipped him.
 
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Exar Essay said:
Of what I’ve read we’re likely to see:

Fact To File
Heart Wood
Firefox
JPR One
Matata
Croke Park

Then maybe:

Jonbon
Banbridge
Handstands
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Banbridge with PT up on drying ground would be my pick if F2F had a bad day.
 
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Lobos said:
Banbridge with PT up on drying ground would be my pick if F2F had a bad day.
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Mine too. I'd have liked to see they ride him quietly in a good ground gold cup. It's ground rather than trip that is key to him imo.
 
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Faugheen_Machine said:
Mine too. I'd have liked to see they ride him quietly in a good ground gold cup. It's ground rather than trip that is key to him imo.
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I get the feeling he just doesnt handle the track.

Ground was fine last year wasnt it? Officially good to soft, and jockeys seemed to all say the ground was quick enough after the gold cup.

Even if you do believe its ground, I'm not sure they ever let the ground be officially "good" anymore, theyd probably water it so theres some soft in the description.
 
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riccirich said:
I get the feeling he just doesnt handle the track.

Ground was fine last year wasnt it? Officially good to soft, and jockeys seemed to all say the ground was quick enough after the gold cup.

Even if you do believe its ground, I'm not sure they ever let the ground be officially "good" anymore, theyd probably water it so theres some soft in the description.
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Was he not really really good round there in his novice year if my mind is not playing tricks on me? 🤔
 
Craigy14 said:
Aye he won the Martin pipe.
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Won the Arkle trial too at the november meeting, although it wasn't much of a race & Penland Hills was never comfortable over a fence imo, El Fab smacked him in the DRF Arkle afterwards so they skipped the festival that season and went to Aintree instead, think that set the tone as they've been back twice for the festival and both times he's not performed.
 
Pigeon Island said:
Was he not really really good round there in his novice year if my mind is not playing tricks on me? 🤔
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Yep...and won an Arkle trial very impressively. He's no trouble with the course.
 
Pigeon Island said:
Was he not really really good round there in his novice year if my mind is not playing tricks on me? 🤔
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Doesn't handle it was probably the wrong phrase, not his favourite is probably better, when we're talking about top races.

He won an arkle trial which was weak, and a martin pipe which was also a poor edition when you look at who was behind him, and he was very well in off 137.

I don't think there was much excuse for his Gold Cup run last year, ground was fine for him I think, and he looked to be beaten before the trip would have been an issue. Ryanair run was also shocking, ground probably an excuse that day alright, but he has run well a few times on yielding and soft, like when falling at the last when against energumene. So I'd be hesistant to put that ryanair run down to the ground entirely too, after seeing his Gold Cup run on better ground.
 
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