3 minute read

Dynaste put the disappointment of last year behind him when running out the two and a quarter length winner of the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham this afternoon.

The eight-year-old grey went into last year's JLT Novices' Chase as the red-hot 11/8 favourite but he could finish second behind Benefficient.

However, the 3/1 favourite made no mistake this year, staying on strongly for jockey Tom Scudamore to give him his fourth Festival winner.

"That's definitely made up for last year!" said Scudamore.

"I came here thinking he was a certainty 12 months ago but there's no such thing at The Festival. He didn't disgrace himself but I don't think he did himself justice that day.

"It was a really good championship race today run at a decent pace. I was able to bide my time and he's jumped really well. The only point where I thought they'd got away from me was at the third last where he made a little mistake.

"However, this race is on the New Course and that makes all the difference to this fellow. It's just that bit stiffer which allowed him to get back into the race and I knew I'd win when he winged the second last.

"He's just a very good horse. He gives you the confidence to just get on with it. I just have to point him in the right direction and hold on tight.

"I am delighted for the horse, for the owners and David - they have done such hard work. After the King George he wasn't himself and that was the real him today. What a thrill.

"David told me to go and ride him with balls and I have just waited and waited. I wasn't really going early on and the further he has gone, the better he has gone. He is just a very good horse and when they are very good horses, you have the confidence that, when they start moving and jumping, they will get you back into those positions.

"I was able to challenge late and job done.

"This week has been amazing. I've had some great rides and to win two Grade One races is something special."

Dynaste came home a popular winner when justifying 3/1 favouritism to win the Ryanair Chase for trainer David Pipe and jockey Tom Scudamore.

"You always need the fates to work for you a bit and we had the extra furlong compared to when he ran here last year, they watered and the race was run to suit us. I'd like to have seen him travel a bit better but he got there," said Pipe.

"I thought Hidden Cyclone had nicked a couple of lengths on us but Tom crept back and rode the race exactly as we'd planned. Everything played into our favour.

"It's fantastic. I was bit nervous after his poor run in the King George but I thought he had a great chance if he was back to the form of his Betfair Chase run. He took a long time to come right after Kempton, he was off for three or four weeks. He pulled muscles behind his quarters so we didn't have time to get a run into beforehand. But we did a lot with him at home, he takes a fair bit of work to get fit. It's a great effort by everyone back at home.

"He'll get three-mile plus. The more we switch him off, the further he'll go.

"To get one winner this week is superb and two, winning the Ryanair - which is a great race to win, is brilliant.

"I was confident that, if we got him back to his run in the Betfair Chase, he would basically win or run very well. He wasn't right after the King George - our vets Mary Bromley and Ray Dillaway, Sarah Buckley, who looks after him, did a lot of work with him. He wasn't travelling from a very early stage in the King George. No one knows where he damaged himself.

"Everything was good at home - the tests were good and he seemed to be his usual self - but you never quite know until you go out there. We were pleased with the signs at home and Tom has given him a great ride.

"The way we ride him now, he will probably get three miles plus. Some people say that he never quite saw it out in the Betfair but I don't know. The more we switch him off, the further he will get.

"He has operations for his wind but he has never made a noise. He's a stuffy horse, so it takes a fair bit of work to get fit at home. He has done plenty of work and it came off today. It's a great effort by everyone at home and it's paid off today.

"I have never been 100 per cent convinced about his jumping, to be honest. He has his own way of doing it, probably French style. He's not the strongest horse behind but perhaps I look into things too much. Everyone does nowadays.

"We will see about Aintree and Punchestown and I'll have a chat with John. Obviously, he won around Aintree last year and I expect he will be out again somewhere this season."

Owner John White added: "You just hope for the best and the main thing is that it was a wonderful race. It's great for everybody back at the stable, everybody back home. We know that the horse is good and he proved it today. The ride Tom has given him was absolutely brilliant - the best jockey and the best horse."

Consistent Hidden Cyclone led towards the final fence in the Ryanair Chase, but was deprived on the run to the line once again in pursuit of a Grade One win.

After his horse finished second, beaten two and a quarter lengths by winner Dynaste, trainer Shark Hanlon, said: "It is so heartbreaking for a horse like him, that is so good, not to win a Grade One. He's been second three times in them!

"I'm gutted because he did everything right today, he jumped brilliantly. A good horse beat us and last time out we went to Ascot and another good horse beat us [Sire De Grugy] - I seem to be able to find a good one to beat him. Everyone keeps telling me he is a two-mile horse, but in my opinion on better ground he wants two and a half miles or two miles, five furlongs.

"If we ran against Sire De Grugy yesterday we wouldn't have been able to go with them early because he just doesn't have that toe. We'll have to keep trying.

"Now he's going to the field and you won't see him until next season. He's done enough for now."

Nicky Henderson was pleased with both Rajdhani Express and Hunt Ball, who were third and fourth. Henderson said: "They've both run fantastic races. Rajdhani Express has been waiting for better ground, but I'll talk to Robert [Waley-Cohen, the horse's owner] before making any plans.

"I don't know the plan for Hunt Ball, but there are a lot of very enthusiastic owners from America here and they have had a ball - excuse the pun. The horse is back and running his proper races again so let's hope he keeps going. They've had the time of their life, but don't mention the Grand National to them or they'll be wanting to go there and we need a bit of time to think.

"Both horses were in the handicap [today's Byrne Group Plate] but would have had top-weight. They are both just a tiny bit below Grade One horses but they have run well."

2.40pm Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)

£275,000 total prize fund. For 5yo+, 2m 5f, which are allotted a rating of 130 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including March 6th. Horses which are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain, Ireland or France may also be entered. Such horses may be eligible providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances up to and including March 6th would merit a minimum rating of 130. The decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final. Weights: 5yo 11st 9lb; 6yo+ 11st 10lb. Allowances mares 7lb. Penalty value 1st £156,612.50 2nd £58,767.50 3rd £29,425.00 4th £14,657.50 5th £7,370.00 6th £3,685.00

1) DYNASTE (FR) (Andrew White) David Pipe 8-11-10 Tom Scudamore 3/1f

2) HIDDEN CYCLONE (IRE) (David & Mrs A Mee) John Hanlon IRE p9-11-10 Andrew McNamara 10/1

3) RAJDHANI EXPRESS (Robert Waley-Cohen) Nicky Henderson 7-11-10 Mr Sam Waley-Cohen 18/1

4) HUNT BALL (IRE) (Atlantic Equine) Nicky Henderson 9-11-10 Barry Geraghty

5) AL FEROF (FR) (John & Lisa Hales) Paul Nicholls 9-11-10 Daryl Jacob

6) BOSTON BOB (IRE) (Andrea & Graham Wylie) Willie Mullins IRE 9-11-10 Ruby Walsh

7) RATHLIN (Gigginstown House Stud) Mouse Morris IRE t9-11-10 David Casey

8) MEDERMIT (FR) (The Dunkley & Reilly Partnership) Alan King 10-11-10 Robert Thornton

9) KAUTO STONE (FR) (Robin Geffen) Paul Nicholls 8-11-10 Sam Twiston-Davies

10) MENORAH (IRE) (Diana Whateley) Philip Hobbs p9-11-10 Richard Johnson

PU) BENEFFICIENT (IRE) (Adrian Sheils & Niall Reilly) Tony Martin IRE h8-11-10 Davy Russell

11 ran Non-runner: Cantlow (vets cert - lame)

Distances: 2¼, 2¼, 2¾, ½, 1¼, 13, 1¾, 30, 17