The Ryanair Chase is one of two championship races on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival, and while the ante-post favourite Fact To File is sure to attract the bulk of the attention from punters, identifying a well-priced outsider with the potential to outrun expectations can be the key to finding value.
Fact To File, who is 6/4 in the Ryanair Chase odds, has had a couple of tough runs when facing Galopin Des Champs this season, so that could have a knock-on effect in terms of fitness going into the Cheltenham Festival, while Willie Mullins hasn’t ruled out still going down the Gold Cup route with JP McManus’ horse.
Therefore, we’re going to take a closer look at some under-the-radar runners who could shake up the market.
Whether they’re unexposed, coming into form at the right time, or simply potentially underrated by the bookies, these horses deserve consideration for those seeking an alternative to Fact To File.
Protektorat – 7/1
Not a massive outsider per se, Protektorat’s odds make him roughly the fifth or sixth favourite for the Festival Trophy, coming in at around 7/1 depending on the operator—so there is still value to be had on Dan Skelton’s runner.
The experienced 10-year-old won this contest last year from similar odds when beating Envoi Allen by four lengths, and in typical fashion, took a while to get going this campaign when sixth on reappearance before finishing second to Djelo in the Peterborough Chase.
However, Protektorat reversed the form convincingly in the Fleur De Lys Chase at Windsor when beating the Venetia Williams-trained horse by a whopping 23 lengths in Berkshire. Based on that, he should have every chance of defending his title, or at least going close, at Cheltenham.
Djelo – 14/1
A consistent performer for the in-form Williams this season, the aforementioned Djelo could be worth taking on at 14/1 if he can handle the step up to Grade 1 level for the first time in open company this campaign.
Given his form figures (2121), there’s nothing to suggest that he can’t cope with the tougher competition. After all, he has already beaten Proketorat over the Ryanair Chase’s distance in that noteworthy Peterborough Chase success.
Djelo’s most recent victory saw him fend off Hitman over almost three miles in the Grade 2 Denman Chase at Newbury, but that displays his versatility, and Williams stated afterward that it will be straight to the Ryanair for his potentially classy seven-year-old in a bid to shake up the horse racing betting odds.
Found A Fifty – 16/1
A dual Grade 1 winner as a novice, notably winning the Maghull Novices’ Chase at the Grand National meeting last season, Found A Fifty appeared to be going in the right direction in open company for Gordon Elliott this season.
The consistent eight-year-old, who was also second in last year’s Arkle at Cheltenham, won back-to-back Grade 2s—kicking things off at Down Royal in November before holding off Solness by a neck in the Fortria Chase at Navan later in the month.
However, when last seen, he was pulled up when weakening and losing touch in a Grade 1 at the prestigious Leopardstown Christmas Festival, and a vet later reported nasal discharge post-race. If back to full fitness, Found A Fifty could pose a real threat.
