Ryanair Chase- Analysis

The Ryanair Chase has attracted a superb 54-strong entry, 15 more than for the inaugural running of the two mile and five furlong Grade Two contest last season, including 16 from Ireland and one from France.

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary could be represented by the Mouse Morris-trained War Of Attrition and Kill Devil Hill, handled by Paul Nolan. Both sport the colours of his Gigginstown House Stud. The former, who defeated Kicking King in the Daily Star Chase at Punchestown in October, also holds a totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup entry, while Kill Devil Hill is engaged in the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy and the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.

The high-class French entrant is the Thierry Doumen-trained Foreman, winner of the 2004 AIG Europe Champion Hurdle for owner J P McManus, and a smooth winner of his sole chase start this term, at Lingfield in January.

Martin Pipe, Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins have the strongest hands numerically, with five entries apiece.

Pipe's entry includes Celestial Gold, winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup and Hennessy Cognac Gold in 2004, and last seen when seventh in the 2005 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, for which he is also entered this year.

Our Vic, winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November and the beaten favourite last year, and Therealbandit, who won the Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby in December, also hold Gold Cup entries.

Don't Be Shy, a Grade Two hurdle winner at Auteuil in May, won a novice chase over the distance at Haydock last month, while the 12-year-old It Takes Time completes the quintet.

The Nicholls-trained Albuhera disappointed when last of four to stablemate Napolitain in the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown last time, but won a two and a half mile Grade Two novice chase at Newbury in November. Albuhera and 2002 Smurfit Champion Hurdle winner Hors La Loi III are also entered in the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy. The latter's other Festival entries include the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, Queen Mother Champion Chase and totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Armaturk, third in the 2002 Arkle Trophy, won a two-mile Lingfield handicap chase under top weight in December and could be joined by stablemates Le Roi Miguel and My Will.

Nicky Henderson has a classy quartet engaged, the most intriguing being 2004 Victor Chandler Chase victor Isio, who was last seen chasing home Moscow Flyer at Aintree in April, 2004. The 10-year-old has the option of the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Calling Brave, a totesport Gold Cup entry, was a smart novice last term but disappointed when pulled-up behind Kicking King in the King George VI Chase in December.

Irish Hussar could take his chance, as could Fondmort who landed the Unicoin Homes Chase over two miles and five furlongs at Cheltenham in January, where he defeated Too Forward, Made In Japan, Limerick Boy and recent Cotswold Chase winner See You Sometime.

Leading Arkle hope Racing Demon is entered, but trainer Henrietta Knight could rely instead on Impek, who is more likely to contest this prize than the totesport Gold Cup for which he also holds an entry.

Nicky Richards has entered his highly regarded novices, Turpin Green and Monet's Garden. Both hold engagements in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, while the latter is also in the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy.

The Charlie Mann-trained Keltic Bard overcame a long absence to take a fine third behind A Glass In Thyne in the Sky Bet Chase at Southwell last month.

Bold Bishop won the Beards Jewellers Handicap Chase at The Open in November and followed up in a Newbury handicap chase over two and a half miles later that month. Jonjo O'Neill's charge could be joined by stablemate Risk Accessor.

Flying Spirit defeated Bold Bishop over two miles at Cheltenham in October but fell when leading four out in the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase won by Hoo La Baloo in December.

Gary Moore's seven-year-old could be joined by stablemate Tikram, winner of the Racing Post Plate in 2004, who also holds a totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup entry, as do Black De Bessy, Graphic Approach, Lacdoudal and 2004 Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle winner Fundamentalist.

The Henry Daly-trained Hand Inn Hand could run, along with Billyvoddan, who is entered in the two major novice chases. Howard Johnson could run El Vaquero, while Distant Thunder, Buckby Lane and Lease Back may line up.

The Irish challenge is particularly strong, with Willie Mullins responsible for 2005 Kerry National winner Euro Leader, Joueur d'Estruval, Mossy Green, Adamant Approach and Livingstonebramble.

Hi Cloy won a brace of Grade One chases in Ireland this season but was disappointing when fourth to Newmill at Thurles last month, where Strong Project finished third. Hi Cloy holds a Queen Mother Champion Chase entry, as do the Jim Dreaper-trained Jim and Noel Meade's Watson Lake.

Sir Oj landed the Grade Three Robin Cook Memorial Gold Cup at Cheltenham in December, while Sher Beau was impressive when winning a two and a half mile novice chase at Gowran Park last month.

Edward O'Grady's 2002 AIG Europe Champion Hurdler, Ned Kelly, was seven-lengths fourth to Hi Cloy at Punchestown in December, one place behind Gold Cup entry Forget The Past. The Pat Fahy-trained mare Mariah Rollins could also take her chance.