File, Francais and Protektorat all set for mouthwatering Ryanair showdown

Fact To File and Il Est Francais drop back in trip in the Ryanair Chase for what seems certain to be a fascinating battle with the evergreen Protektorat, who attempts to defend his crown at Cheltenham on Thursday.

Fact To File won last year’s Brown Advisory at the Festival, but has found esteemed stablemate Galopin Des Champs too strong over three miles of late, while Il Est Francais led his rivals a merry dance in the King George before being agonisingly caught by Banbridge.

As a result, connections of both have opted for the intermediate championship over an extended two and a half miles in preference to the Gold Cup – which was an option for both – and the Champion Chase.

Noel George, joint-trainer of Il Est Francais, said: “There’s no Gaelic Warrior in there, but you’ve got Fact To File and one or two others and it’s a competitive race.

“Our horse is in great form, all the prep has gone well and it’s just a question mark whether he handles Cheltenham, but he’s a very well-balanced horse and he’s a brilliant jumper, so I don’t think it should be an issue.

“We’ve had a good prep and we’re looking forward to running him.”

Frank Berry, racing manager to Fact To File’s owner JP McManus, said of the Willie Mullins-trained gelding: “It’s a change of tack and a big day on Thursday, but Willie is happy with him, the horse is well and we’re hoping for the best.

“He’s beaten Galopin Des Champs once, but he’s been well beat by him twice since and we make no excuses. Hopefully we’re going for the easier option, but we wouldn’t mind a drop of rain.

“He’s in great shape and he’s still a young horse and there’s every chance he could be back next year maybe in the Gold Cup, but for now we’ll hope for the best in this race.”

The Dan Skelton-trained Protektorat was impressive 12 months ago when winning by four lengths going away from Envoi Allen, who locks horns again.

The 10-year-old returned to winning ways last time out at Windsor when routing the reopposing Djelo in the Fleur De Lys Chase.

Skelton said: “The end of the season was always going to be better than his start.

“Of course there are new challengers, from France and Ireland and maybe he’ll have to be better this year, but at the same time last year he beat Envoi Allen and he was a dual Festival winner and defending champion and we went and won by four lengths in the end.

“It’s always nice to think there’s an extra performance in the locker because he’s an incredible horse, he’s a credit to himself.”

Envoi Allen bids to put a mishap in the King George behind him.

The 11-year-old unseated Rachael Blackmore early on at Kempton and returns to Prestbury Park two years after seeing off Shishkin for Ryanair glory.

His only other start this season saw him get his nose ahead of Hewick in the Champion Chase at Down Royal and trainer Henry de Bromhead said: “He’s in good form and has a similar profile to the year he won the Ryanair.

“He obviously won in Down Royal and was desperate in the King George, not for the first time. I just thought I had a good reason why it happened the first time and he always strikes me as a real King George horse, but I think he’s proven at this stage he’s not.

“He won it two years ago and was second last year. The nicer the ground the better he’ll run, I would say. I felt that’s what beat us last year, albeit he was beaten by a very good horse in Protektorat.”

The County Waterford handler will be tripled handed, with Ascot winner Jungle Boogie and Heart Wood also taking their chance.

De Bromhead said of Jungle Boogie: “He ran really well in the Gold Cup last year, he just didn’t stay. He was there at the second-last. He’s a high-class horse.”

Heart Wood was only just touched off in the Drinmore Novice Chase by Croke Park before finishing fourth to Galopin Des Champs and Fact To File in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown.

De Bromhead added: “I thought he ran really well in the Savills, he travelled everywhere and a bit like Aintree last year he just didn’t quite see it out.

“I think the Ryanair could be an ideal race for him.”