Elsworth feels Ryanair fits Somersby

Jockey Dominic Elsworth feels Somersby would be well served stepping back up in trip at the Cheltenham Festival by running in the Ryanair Chase.

Henrietta Knight's likeable eight-year-old secured the big-race victory his consistent efforts deserved when claiming the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

Somersby also has the two-mile Queen Mother Champion Chase as a possible Festival objective, but his regular jockey believes he will be best served in the Ryanair over two miles and five furlongs.

"I just feel over two miles he can miss a jump out here and there," said Elsworth, who was securing his first Grade One winner at the weekend.

"It (the Ryanair) would be definitely more up his street.

"He does stay, and he's got the pace to lay it up to them over two and a half miles.

"He can miss a fence now and again and obviously Ascot being a bigger, longer, galloping track definitely played to his strengths He's as good as anything else in the Ryanair," Elsworth told At The Races.