Empire Of Dirt set to stick to the Ryanair Chase over Gold Cup at Cheltenham

Empire Of Dirt looks set to stick to the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham on Thursday despite the defection of Don Poli from the Gold Cup.Third last year, Don Poli has picked up an injury that means he misses the big meeting and in the wake of that trainer Gordon Elliott said he would discuss running plans with Michael and Eddie O'Leary of Gigginstown House Stud.But speaking on At The Races, Eddie O'Leary said of the Irish Gold Cup runner-up: "I'd say we will probably go to the Ryanair with Empire Of Dirt, all going well. He has a good chance."He'll probably get taken off his legs for the first mile, but hopefully he'll get back into it after that."He added of Don Poli: "He has a leg, and when you have a leg you have a leg. So we'll treat it up and hopefully have him back at some stage."Lexus Chase winner Outlander is likely to be Gigginstown's only runner in the Gold Cup, a race they won 12 months ago with Don Cossack and in 2006 with War Of Attrition. But O'Leary is not banking on him giving the operation a third success in the blue riband.He said: "We've won it twice, but you can safely rule that out. If I could back any I'd back Djakadam (second the last two years), I think he is the moral winner. He's fresh this year, he's matured and I think he is an outstanding bet."