Cheltenham: Ryanair Chase

the Ryanair Chase, the successor to the old Cathcart Chase, has quickly established itself as a major event in its own right. The race run today over 2 miles 5 furlongs at 15.40 CET is aimed at horses for whom the distance of the Queen Mother (2 miles) is too short and of the Gold Cup (3 1/4 miles) too far. Voy por Ustedes (Alan King/ Robert Thornton - if fit- otherwise Tony McCoy) fits into this category, although he might have run in yesterday´s Queen Mother, which he won in 2007, had not Master Minded been going there. At Christmas Voy por Ustedes found the 3 miles of the King George too far, although he still finished well ahead of Imperial Commander (Nigel Twiston-Davies/ Paddy Brennan), while Our Vic (David Pipe/ Timmy Murphy) was pulled up. With both those stables now in better form, they can be expected to make more of a fight of it, especially course specialist Our Vic, who won this last year. The only other one in the feld of 10 with a serious chance is Tidal Bay (H oward Johnson/ Denis O´Regan), who won the Arkle last year over 2 miles but has been searching for his best trip ever since.