New Posts For Thread: Are the JLT and Ryanair good for the festival?https://community.betfair.com/cheltenham2011/go/thread/view/113609/30786279/are-the-jlt-and-ryanair-good-for-the-festivalWhether they are a good betting heat in their own right looking at the bigger picture and adverse effect to the championship races I'll say an emphatic NO.No doubt that the JLT will draw away horses from the Arkle where horses like Douvan and Altior will frighten away all but the bravest opposition while the JLT is less of a hectic speed test. Class horses that stay 3 miles over hurdles or 3.25 miles ohttps://community.betfair.com/cheltenham2011/go/thread/view/113609/30786279/are-the-jlt-and-ryanair-good-for-the-festival?post_id=550929445#550929445No doubt that the JLT will draw away horses from the Arkle where horses like Douvan and Altior will frighten away all but the bravest opposition while the JLT is less of a hectic speed test. Class horses that stay 3 miles over hurdles or 3.25 miles oTue, 17 Jan 2017 10:43:58 -0600The classic example of a "mezzanine" horse was Native Upmanship which won only once over two miles and never over three or more, but on as many as ten occasions over the middle distance, including two Melling Chases at Aintree. The Ryanair arrived tohttps://community.betfair.com/cheltenham2011/go/thread/view/113609/30786279/are-the-jlt-and-ryanair-good-for-the-festival?post_id=550929309#550929309The classic example of a "mezzanine" horse was Native Upmanship which won only once over two miles and never over three or more, but on as many as ten occasions over the middle distance, including two Melling Chases at Aintree. The Ryanair arrived toTue, 17 Jan 2017 10:23:57 -0600I suppose it boils down to whether you want less races and those to be as competitive as possible.... or more races that are slightly watered down.Personally, I feel that the main races the past few years have still been of sufficient quality to be ghttps://community.betfair.com/cheltenham2011/go/thread/view/113609/30786279/are-the-jlt-and-ryanair-good-for-the-festival?post_id=550928087#550928087I suppose it boils down to whether you want less races and those to be as competitive as possible.... or more races that are slightly watered down.Personally, I feel that the main races the past few years have still been of sufficient quality to be gTue, 17 Jan 2017 07:39:59 -0600I have to say re Albertas Run, that he did stay 3m having won a Reynoldstown and an RSA Chase. He may have been better over 2 1/2m in the end but certainly was effective on his day over 3m.https://community.betfair.com/cheltenham2011/go/thread/view/113609/30786279/are-the-jlt-and-ryanair-good-for-the-festival?post_id=550927123#550927123I have to say re Albertas Run, that he did stay 3m having won a Reynoldstown and an RSA Chase. He may have been better over 2 1/2m in the end but certainly was effective on his day over 3m.Tue, 17 Jan 2017 05:17:44 -0600agree with your comment to an extent on Albertas, but they ran the horse in the GC in 2009 and came up well short in a time which suggested the ground was pretty decent (and a quicker time than the following year). After that the horse was run threehttps://community.betfair.com/cheltenham2011/go/thread/view/113609/30786279/are-the-jlt-and-ryanair-good-for-the-festival?post_id=550926411#550926411agree with your comment to an extent on Albertas, but they ran the horse in the GC in 2009 and came up well short in a time which suggested the ground was pretty decent (and a quicker time than the following year). After that the horse was run threeTue, 17 Jan 2017 03:29:03 -0600Albertas Run was also totally 'ground dependent', so difficult to use him as an example. Never went an inch on soft ground.https://community.betfair.com/cheltenham2011/go/thread/view/113609/30786279/are-the-jlt-and-ryanair-good-for-the-festival?post_id=550926045#550926045Albertas Run was also totally 'ground dependent', so difficult to use him as an example. Never went an inch on soft ground.Tue, 17 Jan 2017 02:27:07 -0600Albertas could have been one. Maybe oscar whiskey and riverside theatre. But then you have the kautos and sizing europes and long runs who at certain points could have competed (had entries, prominent in betting etc) in the 2 OR 3 miler. If you put ahttps://community.betfair.com/cheltenham2011/go/thread/view/113609/30786279/are-the-jlt-and-ryanair-good-for-the-festival?post_id=550925827#550925827Albertas could have been one. Maybe oscar whiskey and riverside theatre. But then you have the kautos and sizing europes and long runs who at certain points could have competed (had entries, prominent in betting etc) in the 2 OR 3 miler. If you put aTue, 17 Jan 2017 01:33:16 -0600I would put up Albertas Run as a definite 2m 5f specialist, would never have won a gold cup (well beat whenever he stepped up to 3m) and didnt have the pace to ever run in the QM. Was a a horse who benefited from the introduction of the Ryanair, Whethttps://community.betfair.com/cheltenham2011/go/thread/view/113609/30786279/are-the-jlt-and-ryanair-good-for-the-festival?post_id=550923235#550923235I would put up Albertas Run as a definite 2m 5f specialist, would never have won a gold cup (well beat whenever he stepped up to 3m) and didnt have the pace to ever run in the QM. Was a a horse who benefited from the introduction of the Ryanair, WhetMon, 16 Jan 2017 17:18:52 -0600No they aren't good for the Festival, they probably belonged at Aintree, along with the 2m4f hurdle.https://community.betfair.com/cheltenham2011/go/thread/view/113609/30786279/are-the-jlt-and-ryanair-good-for-the-festival?post_id=550922609#550922609No they aren't good for the Festival, they probably belonged at Aintree, along with the 2m4f hurdle.Mon, 16 Jan 2017 15:56:05 -0600No from me. I dont really believe in 2.5 mile specialists.I reckon 99% of them could achieve a similar level over either 2 or 3 miles. There are a few exceptions but I think I (or someone with more knowledge than me) could name as many horses who couhttps://community.betfair.com/cheltenham2011/go/thread/view/113609/30786279/are-the-jlt-and-ryanair-good-for-the-festival?post_id=550922569#550922569No from me. I dont really believe in 2.5 mile specialists.I reckon 99% of them could achieve a similar level over either 2 or 3 miles. There are a few exceptions but I think I (or someone with more knowledge than me) could name as many horses who couMon, 16 Jan 2017 15:53:34 -0600