Ryanair the target for Mossbank

Michael Hourigan has confirmed that Mossbank will run in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham next week and not the Gold Cup.

Owned by Ryanair boss Michael O´Leary, the gelding had been under consideration for the big one but connections have decided he will contest the blue riband next season instead.

"He´ll run in the Ryanair on Thursday and Davy Russell will ride him," said Hourigan.

"He´s been a big backward horse for two seasons. He´s just starting to come right this season and we think he´ll be a better horse again next year.

"If he´s good enough to win the Ryanair this year so be it, and we´ll train him for the Gold Cup next year hopefully.

"He´s only run the three times and he´s just been a better horse fresh each time he has run so that is why we have decided to keep him fresh.

"I think he´ll improve on the ground, it should suit him a lot better at Cheltenham than it does at home.

"He has done nothing wrong at home, when he ran in the Lexus he ran round the outside of the track and if he had gone down the inner he might have been closer," he told At The Races.

Mossbank is a general 4-1 chance for the Ryanair Chase.