Michael O'Leary is “leaning towards” the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham with Irish Gold Cup winner Conflated.
The Gordon Elliott-trained eight-year-old can be backed at 10-1 for both the Ryanair Chase and the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup after his 18-1 victory in the three-mile Grade 1 at Leopardstown 15 days ago.
But concerns over Conflated’s stamina for the extended three-mile, two-furlong Gold Cup trip could see the son of Yeats take in Thursday’s Ryanair Chase over an extended two and a half miles – the race sponsored by his owner – in preference to chasing’s blue riband the following day.