Ryanair Chase Form

The Ryanair Chase is becoming one of the highlights of the entire week at Cheltenham and as such there are a number of trial races to follow through the season. We will be following all of the main contenders through the season and right to Cheltenham to help punters make their bet.

One race that we always put plenty of focus on is the Paddy Power Gold Cup, the race is run at Cheltenham itself and provides a great form guide to the Ryanair Chase itself. A number of potential Ryanair runners take their chance at the Open Meeting and it is worth keeping a close eye on before having a bet.

Ryanair Chase Racecard/Form Guide 2012

We have seen Albertas Run win the Ryanair Chase for the past two season's and he made his seasonal debut at Aintree in the Old Roan Chase. The Jonjo O'Neill horse was impressive once again as he won well to hold off a charge from Pure Faith while pre race hot pot Master Minded was back in third. Master Minded is being stepped up in trip this season but jumped poorly for favourite backers, his Festival race will likely be either be the Ryanair or the Gold Cup.

We have seen two potential Ryanair Chase contenders make their seasonal debuts in the Haldon gold cup and it was Medermit who stayed on well to take the win for Alan King. Arkle winner Captain Chris unseated at the last when he was going ok and both may be aimed towards the Ryanair Chase.

Paul Nicholls has a fascinating potential Ryanair Chase contender in his yard this season and that is the exciting Kauto Stone. The Half brother to the great Kauto Star, the french import won the Ladbrokes Chase at Down Royal in some style on his first start for Nicholls and at five looks to have plenty of improving to do.

Noble Prince won the Jewson Novices Chase at the Festival last season and he could be aimed at the Ryanair Chase this term for connections. He won the Poplar Novices Chase at Naas in style before finishing second behind Big Zeb in the Fortria Chase at Navan in November. Noble Prince followed that run up with another second place behind Big Zeb at Leopardstown over Christmas before coming in second again at Fairyhouse in the Normans Grove Chase. Noble Prince has been decent this season if unspectacular with a number of second places on his record but we know he loves Cheltenham and has to be respected.

Connections of Rubi Light are still to decide if he is a Ryanair Chase or a Gold Cup horse but either way he looks an exciting type for trainer Robert Hennessy. He looked highly impressive when winning the John Durkan in style at Punchestown recently and looks to be a horse with a bright future and could be  big Cheltenham star.

Henrietta Knight is likely to run Somersby in the Ryanair Chase this season and he has to be a major contender. Connections have struggled to find his best trip, his best run of the season saw him winning the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot over 2m 1f. That day he beat Finians Rainbow in a good finish and that came after he came 4th in the King George Chase over three miles at Kempton on Boxing Day. He ran over 2m 3f in the Amlin Chase in November only to be beaten three lengths by Master Minded which still looks like decent form. Somersby never runs a bad race but his best trip remains a mystery which is a negative for him.

• Ryanair Chase Form Guide and Race Card 2011

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