Michael O'Leary leaning towards Ryanair Chase with Conflated

Gigginstown House Stud supremo Michael O'Leary is in favour of running Conflated in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, instead of bidding for Boodles Gold Cup glory.

The Gordon Elliott-trained eight-year-old proved he has what it takes to make his mark at the highest level when landing the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown earlier this month.

But with Elliott responsible for another leading Gold Cup contender in Savills Chase winner Galvin, O'Leary would prefer his charge to run in a race he sponsors and won for the first time with Balko Des Flos in 2018.

"I don't think Conflated will win the Gold Cup, because if Galvin runs in the Gold Cup for Gordon, I think we'll switch Conflated to the Ryanair," he told Sky Sports Racing.

"I don't think Conflated would beat Galvin and I think it would make sense from Gordon's point of view to divide the two horses.

"We'll go and take on Willie (Mullins) in the Ryanair."

Big surprise in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup as 18-1 shot Conflated takes the spoils for Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell #DublinRacingFestival @LeopardstownRC #rteracing pic.twitter.com/lOuvPYu4lH

O'Leary also confirmed his dual Grand National hero Tiger Roll will be retired after bidding for a sixth Festival win in the Glenfarclas Chase, having already ruled out going for a third National triumph.

Connections have long been unhappy with his handicap mark in Britain, and O'Leary issued a statement just hours after the unveiling of the National weights on 15 February in which he described his rating of 161 as "absurd".

Asked what he would have been happy to run off, O'Leary said: "If he (British Horseracing Authority handicapper Martin Greenwood) rated him at around 150 and gave him a 5lb premium for his