Fondmort eyes Ryanair glory
Cheltenham specialist Fondmort will bid to go one place better than last year in tomorrow’s Ryanair Chase on the third day of the Festival.
Nicky Henderson’s charge was a half-length second to Thisthatandtother in the inaugural running of the two-mile-five-furlong contest in 2005, continuing his love affair with Prestbury Park.
The 10-year-old has put in many of his best performances at Cheltenham and is a three-time winner over course and distance.
Henderson said: “He has become something of a Cheltenham specialist and finds it hard to run a bad race there.
“We had campaigned him at Cheltenham before his last run at Lingfield, where he was unsuited by the testing ground but still ran his race.
“He should be in his element returning to his favourite course with conditions ideal for him.”
The Henrietta Knight-trained Impek is the 9-4 favourite with William Hill to take the Grade Two contest, while Martin Pipe’s Our Vic and Fondmort are the 3-1 second favourites.
Michael Hourigan is hoping Hi Cloy, a general 8-1 chance, can make amends after missing out on the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
The nine-year-old was a Grade One winner at Leopardstown over Christmas and Hourigan had wanted to tackle the two-mile showpiece instead.
He said: “I really wanted to go for the Champion Chase. I think the horse has never been better this season.
“Unfortunately he had a bruised foot last Friday morning but he worked at home yesterday morning and he was perfect.
“Luckily, I left him in the Ryanair but I really wanted to go for the Champion Chase.
“The extra day to get over the injury has been a great help so I’m quite happy to run in the Ryanair.”
Paul Nicholls sends out My Will and Armaturk as he tries to follow on from Thisthatandtother’s success, while Henderson will also be represented by Calling Brave.
See You Sometime, Sir Oj, Hand Inn Hand and Lacdoudal complete the 11-strong field.
