2022 Ryanair Chase Tips - 33/1 value play in Cheltenham's fifth major

I’ve taken a look through the ante-post betting for the 2022 Ryanair and picked out my best Cheltenham Festival bets.

Albertas Run remains the only horse to have successfully defended their Ryanair crown, but that could all change in 2022. Allaho produced one of the most dominant performances ever seen in a Grade One at Cheltenham when winning this race 12 months ago, galloping his rivals into submission under Rachael Blackmore to win by 12 lengths eased down.

A clearly undercooked Allaho made a winning reappearance in the John Durkan, after which Willie Mullins claimed his star chaser would go straight to Cheltenham. A change of heart saw Paul Townend’s mount line up in the Horse & Jockey Chase at Thurles for the second year in a row and Allaho was back firing on all cylinders, cruising to an effortless victory over Fakir D’Oudairies and Notebook.

Willie Mullins accounted for four of the 11 entries in last year’s Ryanair, so there’s a good chance Allaho won’t be his sole representative this year. Energumene sits second in the betting, despite the fact he's guaranteed to run in the Champion Chase. Tornado Flyer is also prominent in the ante-post market, but a run in the Gold Cup seems much more likely for the King George winner.

Asterion Forlonge could drop back down in trip having struggled over three miles in the Irish Gold Cup. Despite running well in both the Savills Chase and the Irish Gold Cup, this seems to be Janidil’s most likely Cheltenham target. Melon has finished second in the Supreme, twice in the Champion Hurdle and again in the 2020 Turners Novices’ Chase, but was pulled up in this race 12 months ago and plans remain up in the air.

Fakir D’Oudairies stayed on to finish a distant second behind Allaho on day three of the Cheltenham Festival. Joseph O’Brien’s star repeated that placing in the Horse & Jockey Chase, despite a shocking error at just the second fence.

Envoi Allen could enter the fray, if Henry De Bromhead decides this race is more suitable than the Champion Chase for the two-time Cheltenham Festival winner. Mick Winters will likely pitch Chatham Street Lad into Grade One company again, while Gordon Elliott has handed entries to Samcro and Battleoverdoyen.

Saint Calvados came within a whisker of winning the Ryanair two years ago, finishing just a neck short of Min and a place ahead of A Plus Tard. Gavin Sheehan gave Paul Nicholls’ recruit a bizarre ride on his stable debut in the King George. Harry Cobden will now take over the reins and a good effort in the Ascot Chase would cement Saint Calvados’ position as Allaho’s biggest danger.

Shan Blue hasn’t been seen since that crashing fall when miles clear of the field in the Charlie Hall Chase. Dan Skelton has been busy readying his eight-year-old for a spring campaign, but it’s very hard to know whether Shan Blue will run here, take his chance in a handicap off a lenient mark of 148, or bypass Cheltenham completely and wait for Aintree.

Mister Fisher ran out an easy winner of the Silviniaco Conti Chase last time out and could step back up into Grade One company. Colin Tizzard has handed entries to Lostintranslation and Eldorado Allen. Fanion D’Estruval could make his second appearance in the Ryanair, with Ascot Chase winner, Dashel Drasher another possible runner.

Allaho is one of the best chasers in the sport. Only Shishkin, Energumene and Minella Indo hold a higher rating. Willie Mullins’ star has won four of his last five starts and it took a freakish performance from Chacun Pour Soi to thwart Allaho when they met over two miles at Punchestown last season. On ratings, Allaho has at least ten pounds on the rest of the field.

There’s even an argument to suggest that Allaho still represents decent value at the head of the Ryanair Chase betting. He’s got just as good a chance of retaining his crown as Honeysuckle has in the Champion Hurdle and his task looks easier than what Shishkin will face in the Champion Chase. Yet, they are both long odds-on and Allaho can be backed at 5/4.

It's going to take a fall or a total capitulation for Allaho to relinquish his hold on the Ryanair crown. I wouldn’t put any off backing the defending champion. That being said, there will be at least two paid placed up for grabs on the day of the race, so it could be worth looking down the market to find a bit of value.

Saint Calvados is a horse I have a soft spot for and he will be a player for the places. Asterion Forlonge has the talent to compete in races at this level and last year’s runner-up, Fakir D’Oudairies cannot be ruled out either. There is, however, another I like at a much bigger price, and that’s ELDORADO ALLEN.

Colin Tizzard’s grey was ridden cold in last season’s Arkle in the hope of catching a place. That plan unfolded perfectly, as Harry Cobden’s mount stayed on strongly up the hill, passing Captain Guinness and Allmankind to finish a distant second behind Shishkin.

Eldorado Allen kicked off this season with a battling victory in the Haldon Gold Cup. Brendan Powell’s mount than stayed on from the rear to finish third under a penalty in the Peterborough Chase, before keeping on well again to push Mister Fisher all the way to the line at Kempton last time out.

Tizzard’s eight-year-old jinks to his left when going right-handed and has won a Grade Two over fences at Cheltenham, so returning to Prestbury Park is most certainly a plus. Eldorado Allen will most likely be ridden to try and catch a place and he’s proven himself to be a very strong finisher.