No coincidence if Fact To File hits cruising altitude to land Ryanair Chase
LAST YEAR'S EFFORT: Fact To File, with Mark Walsh up, jump the last ahead of Monty's Star, with Rachael Blackmore up, who finished second, on their way to winning the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase on day two of the Cheltenham Racing Festival at Prestbury Park in 2024. Pic by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
When Fact To File won the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at last year’s Cheltenham Festival hopes were high that he would return to Prestbury Park in 2025 as the main threat to Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup.
Those hopes were enhanced when Fact To File beat his illustrious stablemate into third over a trip just shy of two and a half miles in the John Durkan at Punchestown on his first start outside novice company last November.
However, the tables were turned over three miles at Leopardstown at Christmas when the dual Gold Cup hero put the pretender firmly in his place in the Savills Chase.
Fact To File got a little closer in the Irish Gold Cup but there was no mistaking which horse possessed the superior stayer.
That being the case, there was a certain inevitably connections would opt to swerve a third clash with Galopin Des Champs and instead run in the Ryanair Chase over two and a half miles.
As his owner JP McManus sagely put it this week: “When a coincidence follows a coincidence sometimes it’s not a coincidence.” Over this shorter trip, the keenness that undermined Fact To File’s Christmas run won’t be an issue and jockey Mark Walsh will be able to allow his mount bowl long without any stamina concerns.
And bowl along he’ll have to because II Est Francais will make all his rivals go from the front.
If on a going day, the French raider could be hard to peg back but Fact To File has the cruising speed to keep II Est Francais within range and he should outstay him up the hill.
Djelo should also run well at an each-way price.
The Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle is the other Grade One on the day three card and reigning champion Teahupoo is difficult to oppose.
We don’t see much of the Gordon Elliott-trained eight-year-old but when he does run, he generally wins. He did fall short to Lossiemouth when looking to complete a Hatton’s Grace hat-trick on his only start this season but that form was enhanced by the mare’s Festival success on Tuesday. With credible opposition thin on the ground today, he’ll be hard to stop.
This could be a tactical affair and if that proves the case Bob Olinger might be able to hit the frame. His best efforts have come over a shorter trip so his stamina is a question mark but he’s a classy operator on his day, evidenced by the fact he has yet to taste defeat in three trips to Cheltenham. Odds of 20-1 look too big.
The rest of the card looks tricky but the Gavin Cromwell-trained Sixandahalf looks the right favourite in the opening race, the Grade Two Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle. Galileo Dame can give her most to do.
The Cromwell team might also be celebrating after the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle as Will The Wise should be in the mix providing he has fully recovered from a gruelling win on heavy at Naas last month.
In the Grade Two Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, the consistent Firefox can get the better of Springwell Bay.
The home team can take the final two races of the day with Ginny’s Destiny fancied to take the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase for Paul Nicholls while the Jonjo and AJ O’Neill-trained Johnny Who gets the vote in the finale, the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase.
1.20: Sixandahalf
2.00: Firefox
2.40: Will The Wise
3.20: Fact To File (Nap)
4.00: Teahupoo (NB)
4.40: Ginny’s Destiny
5.20: Johnny Who
1.20: Galileo Dame
2.00: Springwell Bay
2.40: D Art D Art
3.20: Djelo
4.00: Bob Olinger
4.40: Jagwar
5.20: Midnight Our Fred
