If only Michael O’Leary had managed to win a Ryanair Chase before now, we would not now be seeing Empire Of Dirt line up on Thursday for the race sponsored by his airline. Still, that is how it is and the Irishman is clearly determined to get a winner in “his” race.
Empire Of Dirt should do that for him. He is, in my view, rather better than is generally understood, and would easily be worth his place in the Gold Cup on Friday.
Now with Gordon Elliott, he was trained by Colm Murphy to win a handicap chase over Thursday’s distance at the Festival last year, overcoming interference from a faller to pass the entire field during the race. A sound surface should show his talent to advantage, while probably also undermining the chance of his main rival, Un De Sceaux.
1.30 It is with unaccustomed trepidation that one tips a Willie Mullins-trained runner in the second half of this Festival. Any trainer on a 0/25 sequence is bound to be regarded with some suspicion by punters but the odds are good that there is nothing actually ailing the Mullins string, several of his horses having run perfectly respectably in defeat. Yorkhill, an impressive winner over hurdles at the last Festival, is the most talented in this field, but probably the most quirky as well and by no means a sure thing to approach every fence responsibly. If he keeps his head he should be too quick for Top Notch and Politologue.
2.10 Isleofhopendreams is that rare thing, a Mullins/Ruby Walsh runner somehow sailing beneath most radars at odds of 12-1. Lightly raced for a 10‑year‑old, he missed a couple of years after joining Mullins from Hen Knight but looks progressive and well weighted now. He gave weight and a beating to a useful type last time and was second in a big field at Leopardstown over Christmas.
3.30 There is nothing much wrong with the hot favourite, Unowhatimeanharry, but he had a race on his hands at Newbury in November until Snow Falcon capsized at the third-last. Noel Meade’s runner is a classy, strong‑travelling beast who was not beaten far in fifth at the 2015 Festival over too short a distance. He has no turn of foot but several bits of form suggest he might have a Grade One race in him if at his peak on the day and odds of 20-1 look too big.
4.10 Sneaking in at the bottom of the weights is Thomas Crapper, who carries just a 5lb penalty for a 20-length success a fortnight ago and is therefore in form and very well treated. Beaten only by Don Poli in the Martin Pipe of 2014, he was second over fences at the 2015 Festival from a 1lb higher mark than he has here. Robin Dickin reports him in fine form. A wind operation this season seems to have helped.
4.50 There has already been one underestimated French winner at Cheltenham this season and Titi De Montmartre could be another. Trained by Robert Collet, who won a Group One at Royal Ascot in 2011, this filly is a dual Grade Three winner in her native country who appears to be improving with each race. She will meet a very different surface here than she has been used to, which is the major risk, but odds of 40-1 more than compensate for that.
5.30 Fourth to Minella Rocco in a hot‑looking renewal of the National Hunt Chase last year, Southfield Royale looks well handicapped if able to reproduce that form. He has been dropped 6lb for a disappointing effort on his reappearance, since when he is believed to have had a wind operation.
Thursday’s tips, by Chris Cook
Cheltenham 1.30 Yorkhill 2.10 Isleofhopendreams 2.50 Empire Of Dirt (nap) 3.30 Snow Falcon 4.10 Thomas Crapper 4.50 Titi De Montmartre 5.30 Southfield Royale (nb)
Chelmsford 5.45 Ebony N Ivory 6.15 Little Nosegay 6.45 Celerity 7.15 Just Us Two 7.45 Remember The Man 8.15 Intensical 8.45 One For Jodie 9.15 Royalistic
Hexham 1.45 Hurricane Rita 2.25 Topham Bay 3.05 Kanturk Bank 3.45 The Bishop 4.25 Finaghy Ayr 5.05 Acdc 5.40 Cougar Kid
Towcester 1.20 Goodnight Charlie 1.55 General Girling 2.35 Moidore 3.15 Socksy 3.55 Shelford 4.35 Viking Mistress 5.15 Toby Lerone
