English/Ire
Fact To File’s Festival target remains uncertain
Fact To File’s Cheltenham Festival target remains up in the air after he featured amongst the fourteen confirmations made for the Ryanair Chase on Friday lunchtime.
Last year's Ryanair Chase hero bounced back from a below-par effort in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day to run out a facile winner of the Irish Gold Cup, but his participation in the English equivalent will rely on owner JP McManus paying the £25,000 supplementary fee.
Speaking ahead of William Hill's Cheltenham Preview Night on Thursday, AP McCoy, who remains a key part of the JP McManus team, said: "I'd say he will run in the Ryanair. JP will make that decision, but with the ground going as it is, I would think it might be the Ryanair.
"It's probably the most open Gold Cup you'll see in a long while and I wouldn't be surprised if seven or eight of them won it. Fact To File would probably start favourite for the Gold Cup, but he would be long odds-on in the Ryanair. I'm not saying he'll definitely win it, but he'll be a short price.
"If I was riding, I would like him to be in the Ryanair and then take my chance and hope I'd pick the right one in the Gold Cup. I'd like to have a short-priced one on my side in the Ryanair."
Willie Mullins' nine-year-old is odds-on to retain his crown should he turn up over the intermediate distance, with stablemate Gaelic Warrior, who chased him home at the Dublin Racing Festival, also still in contention. The latter looks more likely to line up in the Boodles Gold Cup on the Friday, but Mullins could still hold a strong hand in the Ryanair, with Energumene, Il Etait Temps and Impaire Et Passe others currently in the mix.
Gordon Elliott's novice Romeo Coolio, who also has the option of the Singer Arkle Chase and Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, was left in the Ryanair, as was Nicky Henderson's Jonbon, although he looks set to skip the Cheltenham Festival altogether in favour of a return trip to Aintree.
Gordon Elliott is also responsible for the confirmations of Firefox and Croke Park, while Heart Wood adds further Irish depth for Henry de Bromhead. Banbridge was also left in by Joseph O'Brien.
Dan Skelton's recent Kelso winner Protektorat wasn't confirmed, with the former Ryanair scorer set for Grade 1 action at Aintree instead.
Lossiemouth remains in Mares' Hurdle
Willie Mullins has also left Lossiemouth in the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle as her Cheltenham Festival target still remains unclear.
Owned by Rich Ricci, Lossiemouth could still head to the Champion Hurdle having been left in contention by connections earlier in the week, although last year's Mares' Hurdle winner could also return to Cheltenham to defend her crown after she featured among the fourteen confirmations this afternoon.
Stablemates Jade De Grugy and Murcia were both left in contention, while Dan Skelton's duo of Nurse Susan and Take No Chances featured alongside the Gordon Elliott-trained Wodhooh, who is a staggering nine from ten over hurdles and one of the yards leading hopes for the week following wins at Ascot and Leopardstown this season.
Gordon Elliott's Brighterdaysahead is on course for the Champion Hurdle after failing to feature in the confirmations, with Golden Ace, who dramatically landed the Tuesday feature last season, also set to follow the same path.
Big guns remain in Stayers' Hurdle contention
All the main contenders in this year's Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle remain in the mix, with both Teahupoo and Bob Olinger heading the confirmations. The former came out on top in 2024 and will head to Cheltenham on the back of an impressive win over Henry de Bromhead's charge at Leopardstown at Christmas, while the latter got the better of him twelve months ago and looks poised to put up a bold defence of his title.
Impressive Relkeel Hurdle winner Kabral du Mathan looks set to step up to three miles for the first time after being given the green light by Dan Skelton.
Emma Lavelle, famously associated with the contest thanks to stable star Paisley Park, will be hoping for further success as she saddles the progressive Ma Shantou, while Nicky Henderson is responsible for two entries courtesy of Impose Toi and Doddiethegreat.
Ballyburn, the sole entry of Willie Mullins, was also confirmed alongside fellow Irish-trained contenders Honest Policy, Home By The Lee, Hewick and Feet Of A Dancer.
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