Fille the power of Ryanair mare

MA FILLEULE is a confident choice to land tomorrow’s Ryanair Chase on day three of the Cheltenham Festival.

Nicky Henderson’s springheeled grey has gradually been coming to the boil this season and, with the mare’s allowance of seven pounds to help her tomorrow, has a great chance of winning a Grade One contest.

Though she was beaten by Balder Succes at Ascot last time, I expect the placings to be reversed.

Ma Filleule needed that outing and the better ground she encounters tomorrow will be a big help.

Factor-in Ma Filleule being a much better mare in the spring and you have every reason to believe she will make a bold bid, given her excellent second to major Gold Cup fancy Holywell at this meeting a year ago.

Don Cossack, who has done nothing but improve this season, is a worthy favourite, but might find the going lively enough as all his winning in Ireland during the winter has been achieved with plenty of give in the ground.

Fellow Irish raider Hidden Cyclone ran a blinder to be second to Dynaste last year and warrants respect, along with a third hope from across the water in Foxrock, who made Carlingford Lough pull out all the stops at Leopardstown last time.

Course specialist Johns River and stable companion Taquin Du Seuil are not out of it either, while one to consider at a big price is Double Ross, who likes this course and will appreciate stepping back in trip.

With More Of That sidelined, the Ladbrokes World Hurdle has an open look to it, but I recommended Zarkandar at much bigger odds than his current price and see no reason to desert him.

Noel Fehily will need to deliver him late, but is a cool customer who should be up to the task.

Stable companion Saphir Du Rheu, improving Irish raider Lieutenant Colonel and the evergreen Rock

On Ruby will have their supporters, while the each-way bet of the race could be Cole Harden, who is said to be in flying form at home following a wind operation.