Cheltenham: Protektorat enjoys less distance with Ryanair Chase victory

In the last two years, the French-bred gelding Protektorat finished third and fifth in the Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup at 3 5/16 miles at Cheltenham Racecourse in Britain, jump racing’s premier weight-for-age race.

It turns out Protektorat is certainly a Grade 1 horse, just not at that distance. On Thursday at Cheltenham, Protektorat won the most prestigious race of his seven-year career in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at about 2 1/2 miles.

A 9-year-old, Protektorat is co-owned by Alex Ferguson, the former manager of Manchester United.

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Protektorat ($20.20 in American pools) closed from a stalking position in a field of 11 to win the $496,000 Ryanair Chase by four lengths over 8-5 favorite Envoi Allen, who won the race in 2023.

Protektorat is trained by Dan Skelton, and was ridden by his brother Harry. Protektorat, co-owned by Ged Mason and John and Lisa Hales, has won 7 of 26 starts in a career that began in France in 2018 when the then-colt was a 3-year-old.

Ferguson and his partners on Protektorat were already in the midst of a successful day before the Ryanair Chase. In the preceding race, a three-mile handicap hurdle, they watched Monmiral ($63.40) record the biggest upset so far of the four-day Cheltenham festival, which continues through Friday with a program highlighted by the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The Ryanair Chase was the richest race of seven on a rainy Thursday at Cheltenham.

In the Grade 1 Stayers’ Hurdle at three miles, favored Teahupoo ($4) had an ideal trip under jockey Jack Kennedy, racing in midpack before winning by 2 1/4 lengths over 8-1 Flooring Porter.

Trained in Ireland by Gordon Elliott, Teahupoo was third in the 2023 Stayers’ Hurdle. This year’s race had a purse of $415,300.

Thursday’s program was a day for former British soccer managers turned horse owners.

In a handicap chase at 2 9/16 miles, Shakeem Up’Arry ($14.80) recorded a minor upset for Harry Redknapp, who has coached no fewer than 10 teams in Britain and in the United States, including the Seattle Sounders in the 1970s.

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