King favours Ryanair for Smad Place The Ryanair Chase rather than the Gold Cup may be Smad Place's intended target at the Cheltenham Festival. A drop back in trip could now be in store for the eight-year-old grey following the Hennessy hero's fourth-place finish in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton. Trainer Alan King said: "He has run well and we learned something." He added: "We are in a vintage era of staying chasers at the moment. We might come back in trip and be a bit more aggressive with him. "He might go for the Ascot Chase, then the Ryanair. "I think that's a route we could take."
