Barbers Looks a Snip for the Ryanair

The Queen's Barbers Shop looks to have an outstanding claim in the ultra-competitive Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and can make the most of the slight drop in class having chased home Kauto Star and Denman in his last two outings.

It sounds strange to suggest that competing in a Grade 1 is a drop in class, but that is really the case here. This time around the Gold Cup Cheltenham, the showpiece race at the March event, is of a standard not seen for many a year.

Barber Shop, third in the King George VI Chase and previously fourth in the Hennessy Gold Cup, has always run well at Cheltenham and the two-mile, five-furlong trip, combined with the stiff uphill finish will surely play to his strengths.

Poquelin is the obvious danger having won the Boylesports Gold Cup over course and distance in December, but I favour the royal runner who has the extra touch of class necessary to prevail in what might turn out to be a terrific event.

The big Irish hope is Joncol, who ducks a meeting with the big two in the Gold Cup to go against Barbers Shop, Poquelin, and fellow Irish raider and serious contender Tranquil Sea.

However, connections have stated that Joncol's main focus is the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown in a few weeks' time, a race that may well take the edge off him for Cheltenham.

Ladbrokes offer of 6/1 for Barbers Shop looks a fair price as he could well start much shorter on the day. For me, he looks one of the best bets of the whole event and potential Cheltenham Festival jockeys should be queuing up to ride him.