Trainer Paul Nicholls

Ryanair Chase Form

The Ryanair Chase is a relatively new race to be run at the Cheltenham Festival having been introduced in 2005, when the Festival first moved to a four day meeting. Run over two and a half miles, the race is run by horses deemed two slow for the Champion Chase but who don't quite get the Gold Cup trip at Cheltenham. Races such as the Paddy Power Gold Cup and December Cold Cup, both run over course and distance are seen as the best trials. Looking at the form this season it would be advisable to concentrate on the horses who have targetted the Ryanair all season long, rather than those who decide against running in the Champion Chase or Gold Cup come the festival in March.

Get the latest odds on the 2013 Ryanair Chase.

Betfred Haldon Gold Cup

Result	Exeter - 6th Nov 2012	Age	Jockey	Trainer
1st	Cue Card 5/6F	6	J Tizzard	C Tizzard
2nd	Edgardo Sol 4/1	5	R Walsh	P Nicholls
5 ran

This was a blistering run from Cue Card who battered his opponents including second favourite Menorah by twenty lengths plus. As a result, the bookmakers introduced the six year old into the Ryanair Chase betting as one of the ante-post favourites.

Paddy Power Gold Cup

Result	Cheltenham - 17th Nov 2012	Age	Jockey	Trainer
1st	Al Ferof 8/1	7	R Walsh	P Nicholls
2nd	Walkon 7/1	7	R Thornton	A King
3rd	Nadiya De La Vega 12/1	6	A McCoy	N Henderson

Paul Nicholls won his first ever Paddy Power Gold Cup with the talented Al Ferof who enjoyed the extra half mile in slow conditions. The seven year old has been shortened in the betting for the Ryanair and the Gold Cup in March.

Amlin 1965 Chase

Result	Ascot - 24th Nov 2012	Age	Jockey	Trainer
1st	Captain Chris 7/2	8	R Johnson	P Hobbs
2nd	For Non Stop 100/30	7	N Fehily	N Williams
4 ran

This was a good win for the Phillip Hobbs trained eight year old but the ground was very heavy and fourth place Finain's Rainbow hated the conditions. The winner will go for the King George on Boxing Day and is likely to go for the Gold Cup over the Ryanair Chase.

John Durkan Chase

Result	Punchestown - 9th Dec 2012	Age	Jockey	Trainer
1st	Flemenstar EvsF	7	A Lynch	P Casey
2nd	Sir Des Champs 5/4	6	D Russell	W Mullins
3 ran

Evens favourite Flemenstar took this two and a half mile Grade 1 contest at Punchestown and immediately became the ante-post favourite for the Ryanair Chase next March. The seven year old could well go for the Gold Cup however where he's second favourite.

December Gold Cup

Result	Cheltenham - 15th Dec 2012	Age	Jockey	Trainer
1st	Unioniste 15/2	4	H Derham	P Nicholls
2nd	Walkon 7/2F	7	R Thornton	A King
3rd	Golden Chieftan 20/1	7	D Crosse	C Tizzard

The four year old Unioniste was a convincing winner of a feather weight and has been introduced into the Ryanair betting at around 16/1 as a result.

King George VI Chase

Result	Kempton - 26th Dec 2012	Age	Jockey	Trainer
1st	Long Run 15/8F	7	S Waley-Cohen	N Henderson
2nd	Captain Chris 16/1	8	R Johnson	P Hobbs
3rd	Grand Crus 7/1	7	T Scudamore	D Pipe

Long Run picked up his second King George beating Captain Chris a head on Boxing Day on really heavy going at Kempton. A number of the entries were trying three miles for the first time and the likes of Cue Card and Riverside Theatre will likely run in the Rtanair come March.