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135nu |
| Ryanair Chase - Thursday March 15th 2012 |
Albertas Run Heads 17 Possibles for Ryanair
09/03/12
Dual winner Albertas Run heads the 17 remaining entries for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham on March 15.
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Jonjo O'Neill's gelding has won the last two renewals of the two-mile-five-furlong Grade One prize and could bid for a hat-trick in 2012. He has been taken out of the Jewson Novices' Chase winner Noble Prince heads the ante-post lists for Paul Nolan, who is hoping for improvement in his charge, following his disappointing run at Fairyhouse on January 22.
Davy Russell is set for the ride on Noble Prince, if, as expected, Tony McCoy is required to maintain his partnership with Albertas Run.
"It's looking likely that AP will have to ride Albertas Run," said Nolan, yesterday.
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The eight-year-old remains a leading fancy despite the loss at the hands of Blazing Tempo in the Normans Grove Chase.
Another major challenger from the Emerald Isle is the Robbie Hennessy-trained Rubi Light, a highly-creditable third in the race last season and arguably an improved horse now judged on his Grade One victory earlier in the campaign.
Jockey Dominic Elsworth believes though that a step back up to the two-miles-five-furlongs of the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase will be ideal for Riverside Theatre and Great Endeavour are other notable contenders.
Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)
260000.00 added, 5yo plus, 2m 5f, Class 1
| Form | Horse | Age | Wt | Trainer |
| 4FP12-1 | Albertas Run (IRE) | 11 | 11-10 | Jonjo O'Neill |
| 11-1U3P | Captain Chris (IRE) | 8 | 11-10 | P J Hobbs |
| 2P-2334 | Forpadydeplasterer (IRE) | 10 | 11-10 | Thomas Cooper |
| 2F6-140 | Great Endeavour (IRE) | 8 | 11-10 | D Pipe |
| 542P-5P | Kalahari King (FR) | 11 | 11-10 | Ferdy Murphy |
| 103-120 | Kauto Stone (FR) | 6 | 11-10 | P F Nicholls |
| 1155-6P | Little Josh (IRE) | 10 | 11-10 | N A Twiston-Davies |
| 42-1322 | Medermit (FR) | 8 | 11-10 | A King |
| 1-F1222 | Noble Prince (GER) | 8 | 11-10 | Paul Nolan |
| 141-5U2 | Poquelin (FR) | 9 | 11-10 | P F Nicholls |
| 2113-12 | Realt Dubh (IRE) | 8 | 11-10 | N Meade |
| 5F/121-1 | Riverside Theatre | 8 | 11-10 | N J Henderson |
| 512F53 | Roi Du Mee (FR) | 7 | 11-10 | G Elliott |
| 13-3121 | Rubi Light (FR) | 7 | 11-10 | Robert Hennessy |
| 3-12241 | Somersby (IRE) | 8 | 11-10 | Miss H C Knight |
| 04-5060 | Tartak (FR) | 9 | 11-10 | Tim Vaughan |
| 143111 | Blazing Tempo (IRE) | 8 | 11-3 | W P Mullins |
17 runners
Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
