Conflated heading towards Ryanair
Gigginstown House Stud are leaning towards trying to win their own Ryanair Chase with Conflated.
A faller in that race two years ago at the Cheltenham Festival Conflated stepped up in trip for a shot at the Gold Cup 12 months ago, where he finished an honourable third behind Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame.
Although sent off the 20-1 outsider when tasked with taking on Galopin Des Champs again in the latest edition of the Irish Gold Cup on Saturday, Gordon Elliott’s 10-year-old more than played his part and was far from completely out of the equation when unseating Jack Kennedy at the final fence.
Conflated currently heads the market for the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham, but with the owners having dual winner Delta Work also in the mix for that contest and having proven he is still a capable Grade One performer, the gelding is likely to be pitched into a Ryanair with an open feel following the setback suffered by long-time ante-post favourite Allaho.
“He gave Jack the same unseat as he gave Sam Ewing at Christmas (in the Savills Chase). It was the same corner of the same fence,” explained Gigginstown’s Eddie O’Leary.
“He was running a huge race regardless and we had just dropped in behind in that moment.
“It will be more than likely be the Ryanair – he’s still in the mix for both, but it will more than likely be the Ryanair.”
He went on “We believe he is a quick three-miler who might not get an extended three miles on a staying track in heavy ground, but he’s a quick three-miler and the Ryanair should suit him down to the ground.
“You have to get three miles to win a Ryanair so hopefully that will be the race. Otherwise we have the Cross Country. But I would say it would be the Ryanair.”
Conflated is currently around 8/1 for the Ryanair.
