Taquin Du Seuil: has been supplemented for the Ryanair Chase

 PICTURE: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

TAQUIN DU SEUIL has been supplemented for the Ryanair Chase and features among 23 confirmations for Thursday’s 2m5f Grade 1 chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Jonjo O’Neill-trained Taquin Du Seuil enjoyed his finest hour as a chaser when winning the JLT Novices’ Chase on the same card two seasons ago and has been installed as a 14-1 chance by Ladbrokes to win the Ryanair.

Vautour, who is widely expected to run in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup, has also been left in the Ryanair at the six-day confirmation stage and is a best price of 10-11 with Betfair Sportsbook, out of the firms offering a non runner no bet concession.

World Hurdle 18

A total of 18 horses remain in contention for the World Hurdle but Annie Power, the runner-up two years ago, is not one of them.

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She is instead likely to run in the Champion Hurdle on the opening day of the meeting. Vroum Vroum Mag, who represents the same connections in Rich Ricci and Willie Mullins, remains a possible runner but is more likely to contest the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle, for which she is a short-priced favourite.

The Colin Tizzard-trained Thistlecrack, who has been an impressive winner of all three starts this season, heads the World Hurdle market at 6-5 with Betfred and William Hill, while Alpha Des Obeaux, who will be tasked with becoming just the second Irish-trained winner of the race since 1995, is the 6-1 second favourite.

Last year’s one-two, Cole Harden and Saphir Du Rheu, are other fancied contenders who remain in contention.

No More Of That in JLT

There are also 18 horses remaining in the JLT Novices’ Chase, although Jonjo O’Neill’s star novice More Of That is not among them. He now looks sure to contest the RSA Chase, for which he is the 9-4 favourite.

There were no other surprise defections and the likes of Bristol De Mai, Outlander and Garde La Victoire, all of whom are prominent in the market, remain possible runners.

Douvan is a surprising name among the six-day acceptors for the JLT, though this looks like a back-up option should he suffer a mishap in the Racing Post Arkle.

Handicap news

There were no shock absentees in the Pertemps Network Final, in which 39 horses go forward at the six-day stage, while there will be plenty of trainers and amateur riders sweating on getting a run in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup as 68 remain in contention.

Taquin Du Seuil may have been taken out of the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate but trainer Jonjo O’Neill could still play a strong hand as he is responsible for Johns Spirit, a general 8-1 favourite. He is one of 57 horses left in at the six-day confirmation stage.

The Willie Mullins-trained Limini, who has attracted strong ante-post support, is one of 25 possible contenders in the inaugural running of the Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

fonte : RacingPost