Vautour 6/4 to fly high as Ryanair Chase entries revealed

Other Irish entries vie with Vautour

There are a record 22 Irish entries for the race, including 11 from the stable of Vautour’s trainer Willie Mullins.

The County Carlow handler, has also put in Festival scorers Champagne Fever and Sir Des Champs, as well as Punchestown Grade 1 winner Valseur Lido (9/1) and exciting mare Vroum Vroum Mag (12/1).

Gigginstown House Stud, whose owner Michael O’Leary is chief executive officer of Ryanair, has eight entries in total headed by the highest-rated chaser in training Don Cossack (10/1)and dual Grade 1 winner Road To Riches (12/1).

Don Cossack a surprise inclusion

Don Cossack finished third in last year’s renewal after encountering trouble in-running, and has since won four of his five completed starts over fences to become the highest rated chaser in training.

He would be a major player if lining up, but the Gold Cup has long been considered his target and he is currently 5/1 joint-second favourite with Coral for that contest.

English entries must know their Place

The home challenge is led by two greys – Hennessy Gold Cup hero Smad Place (6/1 second-favourite with Coral) and Al Ferof (10/1) who was third behind Cue Card and Vautour in the King George VI Chase.

Village Vic (20/1), a dual course and distance winner this season, is one of three entries for Philip Hobbs, while fellow Somerset handler Paul Nicholls has four contenders led by Vibrato Valtat (20/1) and Sound Investment (14/1).

Related

Coral have plenty more Cheltenham content over on our dedicated page to fill punters’ Festival needs.