Ryanair Novice Chase Guide

Trainer - Willie Mullins

Jockey - Ruby Walsh

Chacun Pour Soi made a winning start for his new trainer Willie Mullins at Naas in March, when running away with a Beginners Chase over two miles.

An impressive victory for the Susannah Ricci debutant, he also won on his first start in France for Emmanuel Clayeux but did not win on his next three at Auteuil or Enghien.

The seven-year-old now jumps up to a Grade One, and if he is a special as his trainer thinks he is, he can take this no problem at all and upset the odds.

T - Philip Hobbs

J - Richard Johnson

Top juvenile has now found his path over fences, and recorded back-to-back Grade One victories at Sandown and Cheltenham latest.

One of the best backed favourites of the week, he took the JLT Novices Chase in excellent style under Barry Geraghty, form that has been boosted since with the wins of Lostintranslation and Kildisart at Aintree.

The drop to two would be the only concern, but if speed is still one of his prized assets, he will be hard to stop.

T - Willie Mullins

J - Paul Townend

At his real best when taking the Racing Post Arkle in scintillating fashion at the Cheltenham Festival, beating Us And Them who can only seem to finish second.

The signs were there are his victory in a Beginners Chase at Gowran in February, but there was an element of luck involved with both Kalashnikov and Ornua falling early on - both of whom have since won Grade One's at Aintree.

In other words, it is hard to gauge what the result would have been if the duo had stood up, but no faulting Duc Des Genievres who was there to pick up the pieces.

Big player.

T - Gordon Elliott

J - Jack Kennedy

Well below par the twice at Thurles and Navan in Listed and Grade Three company respectively.

Miles behind both winners of the race and probably should revert back to handicapping which saw him prevail back-to-back at Fairyhouse over the winter.

More of the same seems bound here; a tough ask.

T - Henry De Bromhead

J - Davy Russell

Made amends from his early tumble in the Arkle with a win in the Doombar Maghull Novices Chase at Aintree, which he took in commanding style.

Jumped well and made all from the front which he so often does, and sports a fine record of firsts or seconds dating back to this time last year.

He was second here to future Topham winner Cadmium back in October and will try to bravely see them off from the front end once again.

T - Joseph O'Brien

J - J J Slevin

This never-ending run of second-placed finishes continued at Aintree behind Ornua, following his decent runners-up spot in the Arkle.

He has also been next best on his three most recent outings in Ireland - twice at the hands of Le Richebourg who was forced to miss the rest of the season with injury.

Second would be another excellent result here for the owners and probably the best he can achieve, but still increasingly frustrating for his owners.

T - Willie Mullins

J - David Mullins

His victory here in a Grade Two over Hardline and stablemate Cadmium back in November really caught the eye to many that day, in how bold Voix Du Reve jumped from the front.

He could not follow that up behind Le Richebourg over Christmas in a Grade One, and after a couple of mistakes including his spill at Cheltenham, he got back to his peak when winning last week in a Grade One at Fairyhouse from stable companion Real Steel.

Needs to follow that up though.