The Giant Bolster

Has he been taken out of the Racing+ Chase?

To answer my own question, yes he has. Will be interesting to see if he pops in the entries for any of the Festival handicaps this week.

THE GIANT BOLSTER (40) set a strong pace and just kept on going to run away with a Grade 3 handicap chase over 2m 5f at Cheltenham by seventeen lengths. He's now won all three times he's completed the course over less than three miles in steeplechases.

My ratings suggest The Giant Bolster is a few lengths shy of what's needed to win the Ryanair. But his jumping has often been dodgy when he's been crowded at a fence in big fields (indeed he was a bit sketchy at a few jumps here to halfway). So I think the smaller field of the Ryanair will suit him better than the William Hill Festival Plate where a bigger field is almost certain.

nickmordin.com

Might try the Festival Plate too - find out more when the Handicap entries are out.

If he sets off like he has the twice then he's not likely to get crowded at his fences in any race he runs in!   Agree he has a few pounds to find if they supplement him for the Ryanair though.  You'd think the handicapper might give him a bit of a stopping weight in a handicap which is a shame.

I think the Ryanair is a real puzzle with no standout. Albertas Run is the gamest from the front I have seen in recent years. No easy leads but he has still managed to fight off all comers. If he could return a similar performance to last years then he is the one to beat again - there is nothing obviously better amongst the opposition this year. Unfortunately, it is a big if. He is also the only the horse at this level I believe AP make a difference on. If he doesn't run and Little Josh is also out of the way after the ridiculous prep run the Twister gave him then I believe The Giant Bolster would have as good a chance as anything.

He is still entered in both the Gold Cup and the World Hurdle. He didn't disgrace himself against Long Run and co. on Friday - a simiar performnce in the Gold Cup would give him a place chace based on last year's running.

If either of those are the intention they are just going for a day out - complete waste - he couldn't place over 3m with an easy lead so what realistic chance has he got over 2f further on a stiffer track - see rtb stats above.

if they were planning a run in one of the handicaps at the Festival I doubt they would have run in the Denman chase. He will get an inevitable rise of 4 or 5 lbs for that run which is ludicrous - I have him running at least 3lb below his handicap win and he is going to be badly off in handicaps now

be great if he runs in the Ryan Air and blasts off in front - that's exactly what I want for Medermit ie very fast early fractions