Riverside Theatre - Ryanair?

hold your money, uncle moo has informed slight chance could run in the gold cup or could miss cheltenham.

owners not sure what to do. best to wait

I'd be amazed if it went to the GC this year. I do think that connections believe it'll be better over 3 miles though and that is why they may wait for an easier 3 miles rather than run in the Ryannair or supplement for the GC. I've had this down as my idea of the Ryannair winner since last years Arkle and Saturday hasn't changed my mind any.

if hes goin for the race il be on but prob best to wait n see

^^^^^^

What reve said

soz

I weren't being sarcastic mate. I posted but didn't really say anything about backing him. I haven't backed him yet myself either and like you I'd advise waiting until we know he is going to run.

by ur post i persume u meant ..... thats what u said?

lol I can see that.

Was just intending to say that I agreed with you.

right yeah i think the course and trip is ideal for him

I thought it instantly after the race and still do now. However quite a lot of shrewd judges thought it was him not handling the course that saw him so outpaced not just the distance. I think that is what they must be weighing up in whether to hold it back for another meeting at 3 miles.

id go 4 it if i were them. henderson has nothing else 4 it anyhow

if hes declared to run he must go off the fav yes poquelin is a good horse but hes a handicapper and was beaten fair and square in this last season wheras riverside is a genuine grade 1 horse now

Agreed Alvarado. I just wish I knew cos his current price looks massive.

I have just taken an interest in RT with puddle power at 7/1.

I know he isn't certain to run but he will be 3/1 on the day if he's there. If I owned him I'd go to the Ryannair, he lost to Long Run fair and square in the KG never mind adding IC, Denman et al. Backing him now should allow me to also back Poquelain on the day at around the 9/2 or 5/1 mark I'd guess on the day as long as RT is running.

It is a gamble and I've not had a huge bet. I went to bed thinking about RT having just posted on this thread and got up this morning thinking about him (sad I know). I had to put the bet on cos I'd be kicking myself on the day when he is favourite.

Here is what Henderson and Geraghty had to say on Saturday:-

Henderson’s charge was beaten in the two-mile Arkle Trophy at last year’s Cheltenham Festival but impressed over the longer trip at Ascot, prompting the following response from jockey Barry Geraghty: "He quickened well. He ran in the Arkle last year but that was just a bit sharp for him and this trip is ideal for him.''

"He stays all day and it's much slower ground than it was at Kempton. I suppose the Ryanair could be a race for him but it's really up to Nicky," Geraghty added.

Riverside Theatre had finished runner-up to Long Run in the King George Chase over three miles at Kempton last month and gave that form a boost when beating Gauvain by ten lengths over two-and-three-quarter-miles in soft ground at Ascot on Saturday.

Bookmakers reacted by cutting the seven-year-olds odds for the Ryanair Chase from 10/1 to 7/1, although connections had been considering missing the 2011 Cheltenham Festival with Riverside Theatre in favour of running at Aintree.

However plans may be set to change as Henderson said: "We had a bit of a board meeting this afternoon because I didn't think that was his ground. He's much better on better ground, but we hadn't been thinking of going to Cheltenham and we were going to wait for Aintree.

"Having said that, I'm not going to rule anything in or out. I'm going to have to sit down with the owners at a later date. He's learnt a lot in the jumping department and it's a good compliment to Long Run."

I suspect connections will be tempted to run in the ryannair. I do however think that aintree would suit him better as a track. I'd be a little worried that his jumping holds up at a good pace round cheltenham. But looked in really good nick on saturda.I like T Sea whohas been given an easier run in to keep him fresh this year...with a bit of cut I can see him upsetting Poquelin.

I've had my fingers burnt on Tranquil Sea too many times.

After Kempton and Ascot he HAS to run in the Gold Cup imo, has every chance of reversing the King George form with Long Run and looks a stayer with speed to me..

If I owned him I'd go Ryannair this year and GC next. BG said that 2m6 was his best trip so in theory 2m5 around Chelts should be right up his street. I'm sure the owners will make their call on the feedback they get from the trainer and jockey as well as their own gut feelings. To me that points to the Ryannair or held back for Aintree at this stage.

Any word yet on whether this one is heading to Cheltenham????

Nicky Henderson is now leaning towards letting Riverside Theatre take his chance in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

After following his valiant second in the King George VI Chase with a smooth victory in the Betfair Ascot Chase last weekend, Henderson said there was a possibility the seven-year-old would wait for Aintree's spring Festival.

However, he said: "We were thinking about not going to Cheltenham, but we'll decide whether he runs in the Ryanair in a week's time.

"He was very good despite the ground at Ascot and he looked just as happy coming back in trip from the three miles at Kempton.

"If the ground is good, I should think he'll run."

Cheers BJG

lovely! Thanks for the update.

Only had 50 quid on at 7/1 but happy enough with that news.

Only had 50 quid on at 7/1 but happy enough with that news

Haha, that would be a MASSIVE bet for me!!

It's not a small bet for me generally wellchief but it's small in the context of how much I've fancied RT for this race since the Arkle last year. I'm not a high roller but when I really fancy something I'll back my judgement. If I'd have been sure of it runnung I'd be into the hundreds on it. I'd much rather have 2 OR 3 big bets on horses I really fancy a week than scattergun it everywhere and do my dough. The only time I back in every race on a day is at Chelts because I enjoy it but even then I'll have one or two big bets a day then stick to low bets in the other races.

I've just had a bit more of the 7s available at PPs but I'll leave it at that now because there is still enough doubt. If I'm on RT at 7s I will have a small saver on Poqueling to cover my stake on RT and a little bit more and leave it at that. I really fancy RT in this a race I've always done well in. Thursday is normally my most succesful day punting wise at the festival nowadays.

Best horse in race RT, but just have niggling doubt about running at Cheltenham, well documented trainer thinks he better running the other way round.
Others strike me as very good handicappers, whether RT good enough to give ground away at each fence jumping out to right would be questionable.
Still the one to beat though

dident jump right at newbury last season he can do either hes just a complete top class grade 1 animal if the same rt turns up on the form hes shown so far this season he,ll win end of

All the 7s has gone now. 6s NRNB is about though which will still look big on the day.

Article from the RP site:-

RIVERSIDE THEATRE, clear second favourite for the Ryanair Chase, is set to take on Poquelin and co in the championship event after trainer Nicky Henderson described the Grade 1 winner as "more likely than unlikely" to run at Cheltenham.

Amajor flop in last season's Irish Independent Arkle Trophy, Riverside Theatre coasted to a facile success in last month's Betfair Ascot Chase, after which connections hinted that previous plans to skip Cheltenham in favour of Aintree could be amended.

That about-turn now looks likely to be executed with Riverside Theatre - part-owned by actor Jimmy Nesbitt - as short as 5-1 to win the 2m5f event.

Henderson said: "We discussed it the other night and as long as we are happy with Riverside Theatre next week, I'd say he'd be here."



I can't believe Poquelin is still favourite if I'm honest. I think the two should be the other way around in the betting. RT will be my biggest bet of the festival.

so what happened in the Arkle??

I took the 9 on here 10 days ago and the horse will go off about 3/1 on the day. However, he does tend to get himself behind in races and going the wrong way for him , I just feel his jumping will be put to the test.

However, nothing else in the field on current form, would have the class to be placed in a King George. Albertas was placed in one behind Kauto Star and he went on the win the Ryanair so the stats look promising

Lay of the festival if he goes off 3-1 or lower. Patently didnt handle coming down the hill last year. Was tailed off - i should know as i had one of my biggest bets of the festival on him. Has also had 2 hard races in the past 6 weeks which may have left their mark. Would be a cert at Aintree if they let him miss Cheltenham but owners just cant seem to look beyond it anymore.

dnt tink last 1 was hard

That'll be 2 races in 8 weeks by the time of the festival though and only 3 races for the whole campaign. That wouldn't be enough to put me off though personally.

It is possible RT didnt handle chelts last year but it also possible that he was outpaced in a race against the best 2 mile novice chasers around and it just showed that he wasn't a champion 2 miler. We wont know if he handles Chelts until after the race IMO but he is the best horse in the race over this sort of trip this season by a fair way and it is too soon to write him off at the course after one run. At 7/1 and 6/1 I'm happy to take take the chance that it was the distance against a quality field that found him out and not the course. On what he has done this year he should be favourite and something more like 7/2.

I'm convinced the money will come for him and therefore Poquelin will get a little bigger which will allow me to bach him to cover my stake on RT. Can't see anything else beating him. Albertas in last years form would be a danger but he just hasn't shown enough this season.

Well he clearly did not perform at Chelt last March,and i believe the trainer has said he prefers going the other way.
2 reasons to think to myself-their aint no value there.

All the 6/1 gone now. Best priced 11/2 with WH. Some places go co favs 9/2 RT and Poquelin.

The horse is getting close to being favourite already.

Billies 11/2 will be gone in the morning and RT will probably be 9/2 across the board tomoz (maybe shorter) when some of the firms go NRNB

Definately will be Fav in my eyes come raceday and yes i am already on :)

Still mystified why RT was not even entered for the Gold Cup.

The trip would suit, always looked a stayer, through my eyes (proven in KG).

He's still a young horse at 7 and I think they are doing things right with him. It's hardly surprising that NH is making the most of his french bred 3 miler in Long Run while he still can and going a much more traditional route with RT.

Riverside could easily contest the Gold Cup and have a live chance at 8,9 and 10 years old whilst still having the potential to improve between now and next year. What were Imperial Commander  and Denman doing at 7? Not every horse is Kauto Star...

unlucky lads

Very dissapointed, this was my nap of the festival and had it well backed, tied up in accas from 12/1 down to 6/1.