Noel Meade has revealed that Tout Est Permis is set to swerve the Cheltenham Gold Cup and race in the Ryanair Chase instead.
The six-year-old grey, who is owned by Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary, has enjoyed victories at Galway, the Troytown Chase at Navan and a Grade Two at Thurles since the County Meath trainer, Meade, took him on.
There was the possibility of a Gold Cup run at the Cheltenham Festival in march, but Meade has now confirmed that his victory over stablemate Sub Lieutenant at Thurles has persuaded connections that the Ryanair is the one to aim for.
“Tout Est Permis is in good form since Thurles,” said Meade. “Eddie [O’Leary, racing manager] is quite keen that he’d run in the Ryanair if everything goes well and the ground is soft. “The handicapper put him up another 7lb, so he’s going the right way.”
