The two miles five furlongs of the Ryanair Chase hits a nice sweet spot between the skeltering speed of a Champion Chase and the enduring grind of a Gold Cup.
There are some horses who are just not suited to either extreme and have found their place in this race.
Allahho, Vautour and Albertas Run were real talents whose stamina wouldn’t have seen them home over three miles two furlongs on the Friday, who therefore benefited from this race’s inauguration in 2005.
Desert Orchid, Florida Pearl and One Man are names coming to mind that would have specialised at this distance instead of stretching their limits in one direction or the other.
A valid point can be made that it detracts from the two headline chases at the Festival, and yes, while Fact To File might add to the Gold Cup or Il Est Francais’ jumping could challenge the Champion Chase, this is their trip.
Twenty years later and the race has never fully caught the imagination. Maybe it just needs two really good horses that belong here. Not just two that are swerving stronger foe but proper middle distance horses. Perhaps we have two.
Fact To File stunned here last year over three miles but had been even more impressive over 2m 5f at Leopardstown. The keen traveller over-exerts in staying races, a chance to get in to a more natural tempo will give him the opportunity to produce his best. A best which we got a glimpse of in the John Durkan at Punchestown but possibly have not yet seen in its entirety.
A strong early gallop will make it easier for Mark Walsh to relax Fact To File into that tempo that's expected if Il Est Francais charges the tapes. A rare French-trained raider, the phenomenal jumper is another who is coming back in trip with questions over his stamina.
His racing style is great to watch, multiple French champion jockey James Reveley will lie forward up his neck and let him loose, catch me if you can. James won't interfere much, he knows what a special jumper this is and that he can trust the horse to let rip.
He keeps a contact through the reins but gives little instruction. The horse knows what he is doing, he concentrates on the fences ahead, picks his own strides and he can fly.
It takes cojones to give an animal that much autonomy and not interfering isn’t as easy as it sounds in a symbiotic partnership. This rider has the deft touch needed.
Previous winners Envoi Allen and Protektorat along with the talented but injurious Jungle Boogie add depth and intrigue. This has the making of a top class, thrilling race. Let’s hope it lives up to the line-up and provide prestige to the middle distance.
The World Hurdle has its own niche, often the home of a quirky horse, or a failed chaser, the three-mile hurdle takes a huge amounts of stamina and many winners of this often race lazily, just doing enough when it counts. Four-time winner Big Buck's had plenty up his sleeve while making punters and Ruby Walsh sweat as he idled on the run in, year after year.
Teahupoo is none of those things, he is just a straightforward, talented hurdler that wants three miles.
His three runs last season saw him collect the Fairyhouse Hatton’s Grace, Stayers Hurdle and Irish Stayers. His sole appearance this year was a second placing back at the Hatton’s Grace behind Lossiemouth, a good show.
He’s dependable and, for good reasons, is short odds, and it's easy to see why Gordon Elliott has put him forward as his most likely winner for the week. His other runner The Wallpark is another that JP McManus has added to the team sheet of late.
Home By The Lee fits more in to the quirky category. His racing style is as inconsistent as his form. At 10 maybe he is getting his act together, appearing better than ever in the Savills at Christmas. It’s not unusual for stayers to keep improving, Sire Du Berlais was 11 when he managed to win it.
Declan Queally’s bold placing of Rocky’s Diamond has been backed up by a placing in the Savills Hurdle and a win in the Galmoy. At the other end of the age scale the fast improving five-year-old would be the youngest to winner of the race in its current form, that goes back to 1972.
Langer Dan is the epitome of 'horses for courses’, hit the frame every year here since 2019 bar when getting brought down in ’22.
The shrewd Skeltons will have him primed once more with the same skilful handling they have on each of those occasions.
Unfortunately he was declared a non-runner this morning so Teahupoo's serious opposition is dwindling.
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