Cheltenham Festival News: Business class win for Allaho in Ryanair Chase
- Tom Reed
- 17 March 2022
Class act Allaho made it consecutive Ryanair Chase wins with a regulation victory at Cheltenham under Paul Townend for Willie Mullins.
Willie Mullins' class act Allaho led from start to finish to fly away with the Ryanair Chase under Paul Townend.
As long as 4/7 favourite Allaho ran and jumped, the eight-year-old had the Grade 1 in the bag and so it proved as he jumped like a stag and ran on for a facile victory.
It was a regulation win for the Cheveley Park Stud runner to make it back-to-back wins in the two miles, four and a half furlong test after victory in the same race in 2021.
Gordon Elliott's Conflated looked to be making late ground but fell, leaving Allaho to take the exhibition win with stablemate and 12/1 shot Janadil in second and Colin Tizzard's 14/1 chance Eldorado Allen in third place.
Victorious jockey Paul Townend said "It would make you wonder why I didn't pick him (Allaho) last year wouldn't it? He's an animal to gallop and jump. He's just really good. I got into a lovely rhythm on him again, it was straightforward.
"We took our time in learning about him but I think we've got there now. That's what he likes doing, he's built for it, look at the size of him. I'm delighted."
Meanwhile, winning trainer Mullins was suitably pleased saying "That was excellent. There as a lot of pressure on Paul after the way the horse jumped and galloped for Rachael (Blackmore) last year.
"There was a lot of pressure coming into this competition and after what happened in the first race there was even more added pressure, but as I always say Paul Townend is better with pressure - when there's someone leaning on his neck, he excels.
"You wouldn't think he had any nerves at all the way he jumped out, jumped from fence to fence and came down to the last as if it wasn't there. That's the mark of a champion.
"I was a nervous wreck watching. The horse was doing everything right for Paul and coming to the last I was thinking 'here we go again', but he got over it and jumped it well.
"Last year was exhilarating. I don't know what the formbook says, but 12 months ago I was standing here in awe of him. This year I suppose we're used to it."
