To describe today's £105,000 Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Leopardstown as competitive looking is rather like describing the recent weather as a tad breezy, but with value the byword, it could be that Ryhane represents a reasonable each way bet.
By its very nature, this three-mile contest, the richest jump race run in Ireland, rules out any definitive predictions, but even with the Ted Walsh-trained Papillon and JP McManus' Gimme Five heading the market, Ryhane does appear to have a lot going for him.
For one thing, he usually jumps and stays well, which will be important today, but it could be that the race itself will be run to suit Ryhane who can emerge best of Arthur Moore's powerful quartet of runners.
Ryhane does have a tendency to pull quite hard in his races and ruined his chance when going much too fast in a valuable handicap at Listowel in September. When Ryhane is more tractable, he looks a far more formidable proposition though, as he showed when an initial disaster turned into a blessing at Wexford in October.
On that occasion, Ryhane completely missed the break, but he then settled and crept through his field to beat Corymandel by a length. On today's ground and with a fast pace likely, Ryhane should be able to settle and it's encouraging that Tommy Treacy, who rode him at Wexford, takes the ride again.
Conor O'Dwyer has elected to ride Whale Of A Knight from the Moore string, but the Naas trainer wasn't ruling any of his runners out of contention yesterday and said: "It's good that there's a race like this for the handicappers and Ryhane looks to have a nice weight."
Wylde Hide tops the handicap, but on this extremely testing going, he will be in his element. Nevertheless, the weight could find him out and O'Dwyer looks correct to have overlooked him, but an even more obvious danger looks to be Papillion who picked up a penalty for winning at Fairyhouse, but still looks a nicely-handicapped improving animal.
However, Ted Walsh said yesterday that Papillon has never encountered ground as testing as he will face now, so that must be a worry. But the other ante-post joint favourite Gimme Five will handle the going and is a clear danger judged on his Troytown third to Heist.
Tell The Nipper and Una's Choice are other horses at longer prices that look interesting but at around 20/1 Ryhane and Tommy Treacy look a decent value bet.
Aidan O'Brien's hardy juvenile Rainbow Frontier overturned the hot favourite Khairabar in the big three-year-old race yesterday and in the IAWS Novices Hurdle today, he looks to have the ammunition to do something similar with Cloone Bridge.
Noel Meade's Walk On Mix proved himself a highly-promising type when sauntering all over Penny Native and Amberleigh House at Fairyhouse a month ago, while Unarmed hinted at better things to come when winning at Cork. French Ballerina, Group class on the flat, could be anything over hurdles, but Cloone Bridge should handle the ground and stay judged by an easy win at Galway and a good third to Feathered Leader last time.
O'Brien's Penndara should also handle the ground and go close in the Quinns Of Baltinglass Handicap Chase.
