Cant decide what to read into the fact PP are biggest on Vautour in the GC and likewise in the Ryanair but shortest in the QMCC though!

"I think Vautour has enough stamina for the Gold Cup and at the minute that's where he's going".

I guess so, but it sounds fairly definitive and the camp hasn't even spoken of a Ryanair transfer since the KG, although most probably accept that he 'd be diverted if it came up really soft.
Why keep saying he'll get the trip if a volte face is imminent?

I suppose this comes down to King Ruby again.

My take on it until I saw this thread was if RTR and VL went the Ryanair, Cooper would be on RTR and Ruby would be on VL.  Then in the Gold Cup, Ruby would be on Vautour, Townend on Djakadam, Cooper on Don Poli and Russell on Don Cossack.

From my pocket point of view, I filled up on the 5/4 NRNB, but it would seriously hurt my RTR bet if the went the Ryanair, so I'd want Vautour in the GC; but not even for my pocket, but the GC has lost Coneygree and maybe RTR (although that's a big maybe), so don't want it to lose Vautour too.

Did you see the post on the Cheltenham Preview thread chief? Davy Russell was adamant at one of the nights that Vautour was going to the Ryanair and Robbie Mac agreed with him.

Haha, can understand that! Here you go mate:

See below once they started talking about the Ryanair:

Davy Russell:
Kevin O’Ryan opens the discussion stating that this is a difficult race to assess as we’re unsure what will run. This suggestion is shot down by Davy Russell as he says “we know exactly who’s going to run”! Davy tells the audience that Road To Riches will run in the Ryanair, as will Vautour – Kevin quickly tells him that Vautour is Gold Cup bound, to which Davy replies that he won’t stay the Gold Cup trip. He says that if Djakadam is 100% fit, he will run in the Gold Cup and Vautour will revert back to the Ryanair – and win. He advises people to have anything they want on Vautour with ‘non-runner no-bet’ rules and to “fill the wheelbarrow”. On the topic of Josses Hill and his jumping, Davy wishes rider Nico De Boinville “the best of luck” with Josses’ jumping.

Derek O’Connor:
Derek likes Road To Riches and thinks that he would find out Vautour at the end of the race.

Robbie McNamara:
Robbie agrees with Davy (to the surprise of Kevin) and says that if Vautour runs in the Ryanair, he will win. He says that last year, he was the only horse he thought could win the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, World Hurdle or Gold Cup. Robbie is supremely confident and says that he’d even throw his trousers on the table and back him for the Ryanair with ‘non-runner no-bet’ rules.

Meade said last night he'd run Road To Riches in the Gold Cup but it's not his decision.

Tony Mullins was on "on the line" last night and he told Chapman that he's convinced that Vautour will run in the Ryanair and is only an insurance policy in case Djakadam misses the GC.

Ruby said at a cheltenham preview on Thursday last that he would spend the next 2 weeks trying to bend Willie's and Ricci's ears to run Vautour in the Ryanair, so I think we can assume he has no intention of riding him in the GC if he does turn up there. I would say that alone will be enough to persuade RR to run in Ryanair.

I have just searched for that info, and could not find it, would be grateful if you could direct me.

I did find this in the daily mail archive,

A new born-king! Vautour is the best since Kauto Star, claims Irish jockey Ruby Walsh

He tipped smashing ryanair. But he did say about vautour as quoted above.
Also later back tracked and his charity bet was vautour/Djakadam rvfc for gold cup.

"so I think we can assume he has no intention of riding him in the GC if he does turn up there"

It has already been stated that Ruby will decide, a few days before the GC, after they both work. If Vautour is electric like he was before Cheltenham last year then it's a tough call for him so you can't assume anything right now especially from some banter speak at a preview night.

http://wpmullins.com/festival-team/

Scroll down to Vautour. Sounds as if Gold Cup is still the aim. Updated after schooling session the other day

I wouldn't pay too much attention to what RW says. He wants to win the GC for himself as much as anyone, but he can only ride one horse, so probably doesn't want the other one in the same race, as it only amounts to more competition. It wouldn't surprise me if he tried to persuade RR to put Vautour in the Ryanair, which suits him perfectly. But RR won't necessarily base his decision on RW's recommendations alone. He'll have to weigh up the pros and cons of having two chances vs one there and another elsewhere. Depends how much he wants the GC, I imagine. And a lot depends on fitness, obviously.

Don't think you can take to much into what they all say willy says the other day it's all go for the gold cup and ruby said he stays and has no doubts about it! I think he is 99% to go gold cup I think the only way they will go Ryanair if a few of Ricci good uns get beat like min, douvan, vroom and Annie then he might get desperate for a winner otherwise he wants to go for gold.

@firsttimevisor It's just preview night banter. Ruby has no idea where Vautour is going and when asked about him re. Ryanair of course he'd say he wants him in it as he's a certainty. Connections have to see how Vautour is before they decide on a target plus we don't know what the ground is going to be like which will be a factor in deciding.

Paddy Power restricting stakes on Vautour for the ryan air, just as they are for the gold cup,

Maximum stake for Vautour is 31.47, for event Ryanair Chase.

People were beginning to question the credentials of Supreme Novice Hurdle favourite, Min. However, his rider, Ruby Walsh, quashed doubt and went as far as to say that Min is “a good thing to kick off the festival.” So there. Later, AP put Min in a festival charity four-timer, alongside Thistlecrack, Douvan and Limini.
AP reckons Thistlecrack in the World Hurdle is the bet of the Festival. “He’s the most improved horse in training” said the Champ, and he thinks he’s a cut above his rivals.
Ruby admitted Annie Power will be supplemented for the Champion Hurdle as long as Vroum Vroum Mag is on course for the Mares Hurdle. There’s nothing wrong with VVM at present, but as the Mullins yard knows all too well of late, horses rarely read the script. Ruby added: “Why would we leave a cert in the Mares behind us?” Also worth noting is that Ruby said Annie Power was better than any of the horses set to run in this year’s Champion Hurdle, but doesn’t rate the current challenger on the same level as Hurricane Fly or Faugheen.
Both AP and Ruby were very bullish on the chances of More of That. It’s still unclear whether he’ll show up in the JLT or the RSA but both said something to the effect of “wherever he runs he wins”.
Ruby said he would really, really, really, really, really, prefer Vautour to run in the Ryanair and will do as much as he can to convince owner Rich Ricci and trainer Willie Mullins to run him there. However, it looks likely he’s bound for the Gold Cup where Ruby will have to decide between Vautour or Djakadam (we’re guessing Djakadam). Will Vautour stay? Ruby thinks a shorter trip might suit better. Telling.

Read more at http://blog.paddypower.com/horse-racing/2016/02/26/5-things-cheltenham-festival-punters-should-know-from-low-key-ruby-walsh-and-ap-mccoy-preview-night/#FG0PbcMsXQmhD8pt.99

I hope you're right, how can anyone not want to see vautour in the gold cup.