VAUTOUR is the headline horse in this year’s Ryanair Chase. Is he a good thing Graeme Johnston (@GraemeJ_83)?
14:50 Cheltenham | Channel 4
Well the complexion of this race has changed significantly in the last few days. The addition of Vautour has blown the market apart with many runners twice the price they were on Sunday. Ante-post punters have been critical of the decision but these things happen in racing and we have to take it on the chin.
Vautour is now favourite for the race and is a shade of odds on across the board and on form he deserves to be. He is a cut above his rivals and I’m slightly surprised he isn’t shorter.
He loves the track, and last season he was spectacular over course and distance in the JLT. So after reading that you’re going to assume I’m backing him, but you’re wrong! I can’t back him here.
He was rerouted here after a poor workout told connections to miss the Gold Cup in favour of this. As good as he is if he didn’t work up to scratch over the weekend you can’t back him with confidence. Could he still win at 90%? Yes. Do I want to back a horse that connections weren’t happy with at the weekend? No. He may still win but I’m looking elsewhere for some value.
I have backed Al Ferof ante-post to win this and until Vatour was added I was confident he would run a huge race. I still think he’ll run well but Vatour’s presence deflates me a little.
He has a fantastic record at this course and he goes well fresh however he has a lot to find with Vatour on King George form but I expect him to run a solid race.
Valseur Lido has fallen and unseated on his last two starts but is still an interesting runner. At Kempton he came down late on when well beaten in the King George, however last time out he was going to go close to winning the Irish Gold Cup before unseasting at the last.
However that race was on heavy ground over further and the drop back in trip, the faster ground and his suspect jumping is enough to put me off him.
The one I like here at the prices is Road To Riches from the Noel Meade yard. He ran a huge race last season when third in the Gold Cup behind Coneygree and followed that up with another third behind Don Cossack in the Punchestown Gold Cup.
He won well earlier in the season over 2 miles 4 at Clonmel in a Grade 2 and he looked very good. Yes, he ran flat in the Irish Gold Cup but he didn’t like the ground and I expect this course, trip and ground to see him at his best here. If Vatour turns up 100% he will take some beating but I’m taking a chance on Road to Riches each way here on the off chance he doesn’t.
Best Bets
14:50 Cheltenham – Road To Riches each way (7/1 Ladbrokes)
Want TWO Free Bets And £5 Cash?
Are you yet to sign-up for a betting account at Ladbrokes? If so, now is your time as we’ve a bucket load of free bets to giveaway to new customers.
Sign-up to Ladbrokes via any of the links on this page, deposit and place your first bet and drop us a line at hello@welovebetting.co.uk. We’ll then arrange for TWO free bets to be dropped into your brand new account and we’ll also cover your first bet with instant cash up to £5.
Remember folks, if you ever want to join a new bookmaker give us a shout – no other site will give you extra bonuses such as free bets and instant cash like WLB!
How To Claim Your Free Bet And Instant Cash:
- Register for a new account at Ladbrokes via any of the links on this page. If you don’t use a link from WLB, you won’t be valid.
- Deposit and place your first bet (up to £5).
- Email hello@welovebetting.co.uk to let us know your account username and the bookmaker you’ve joined.
- We’ll arrange for TWO £10 free bets to be dropped into your new account as well as £5 instant cash to cover your first bet.
- Free bets can take up to 28 days to be credited.
- Remember, you’ll also be entitled to the new customer bonus or promotion with Ladbrokes. if you don’t join via the links on this page, you won’t be valid for our free bet and instant cash giveaway.
- Any questions? Just drop us an email or tweet us at @WeLoveBettingUK.
