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Thursday's highlight is the Ryanair Chase.
It is of course Gr 1 and will have 8 runners. A Plus Tard doesn't normally wait till later and should see home another winner for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore. 13/8 looks about right. We also a very fond of Min who is on 5/2 for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend, and Frodon brings the battle of the women jockeys to the fore with Bryony Frost riding Frodon for Paul Nicholls and they are on 5/1. Our roughie in this is Saint Calvados on 20/1.
The afternoon's first Gr 1 is the Marsh Novices' Chase with 12 starters. Samcro has had a successful wind op and now looks ready to achieve his potential and comes into this on 7/2 for Elliott-Russell. Itchy Feet looks well placed here and is on 4/1, but we have to go for the wonderful 12yo Faugheen who loves Cheltenham and is on 9/2 for Mullins-Townend. We have another Mullins runner who also loves Cheltenham here as our roughie – Melon on 12/1.
The Stayers' Hurdle Gr 1 has 15 runners sees the excellent Paisley Park out to repeat last year's win with Aidan Coleman riding for Emma Lovelle and they are on 4/6. Summerville Boy is 9/1 but we prefer some e/w value thanks to an odds-on fav with Rendlesham winner Emitom on 12/1 and Apple's Jade 16/1.
The Mares' Hurdle Gr 2 has 22 runners with Minella Melody on 11/4 for de Bromhead and Blackmore. Concertista was second in this last year and is on 9/2 with stablemate Colreevy 7/1, both from the Mullins yard. Our roughie here is Emma's Joy for the Skeltons who is going very well at present.
And Wednesday's results: Envoi Allen kept up his excellent run in the Novices' Hurdle winning by 4 ½ lengths from Easywork 12/1 and The Big Getaway 7/1 third.
Champ lived up to his name in the RSA relegating Minella Indo to another second and Allaho third, with the other runners a long way behind the top three.
The Queen Mum saw Chacun Pour Soi scratched reducing the field to 5. Defi de Seuil started favourite but was awful and the race went to Politologue 6/1 who headed the stablemate Dynamite Dollars to give Paul Nicholls a quinella. Bun Doran 33/1 was third.
