The Ryanair Chase is one of the feature Grade 1 races on day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival. The 2027 renewal will take place at 4.00pm on Thursday 18 March, with a competitive field set to go to post.
We will provide our Ryanair Chase tips here, as soon as they are live, with Andrew Mount and Matty Sutcliffe providing their best bets for the race.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Ryanair Chase Tips
Matty Sutcliffe has an ante-post position on JPR One for each-way purposes in this race, but sees Fact To File as the likeliest winner given his talent.
Joe Napier’s Ryanair Chase Tips
Joe Napier also sees Fact To File as the realistic winner. He was devastating at the Dublin Racing Festival and can defend his title in a weaker race than the Gold Cup.
Ryanair Chase Bookmaker Odds – Race 4, Thursday 12th March 4:00
All About the Ryanair Chase in 2027
This year’s Ryanair Chase will only take shape nearer the spring. Entries are unknown at this stage and plenty could change the complexion of the race prior to the third day of the Festival in March.
The 2026 Ryanair Chase is an intriguing one as last year’s hero Fact To File will be well fancied, as he opts for this event over the Gold Cup. Jonbon continues to deliver the goods over fences and is hoping for his first Cheltenham Festival success, whilst Heart Wood and Impaire Et Passe could be leading challengers.
Qualifications/Trends
Check out the key trends for the 2026 Ryanair Chase:
Ryanair Chase History
The Ryanair Chase was originally established in 2005 when it was decided that there would be a fourth day of the festival rather than three. The Championship event is run over an extended 2m4f and was created in order to have a feature race in between distances of the Queen Mother Champion Chase (2miles) and the Cheltenham Gold Cup (extended 3m2f).
Prior to 2005 there had been a contest called the Cathcart Challenge Cup but this was amended soon after as that event was only open to first and second-season chasers.
The Ryanair Chase was also originally a Grade 2 event until it was upgraded to Grade 1 status in 2008 which saw Our Vic land the prize for jockey Timmy Murphy and trainer David Pipe. Ryanair became the main sponsors of the event in 2006.
Only two runners have won back to back renewals of this contest – Albertas Run who landed the Grade 1 in 2010 and 2011 for trainer Jonjo O’Neil, and Willie Mullins’ Allaho, who won in 2021 and 2022. Albertas Run was a superb servant for connections and almost followed up in the 2012 renewal but finished runner-up to favourite Riverside Theatre. Allaho would’ve made a bold bid for the hat-trick in 2023 but was sadly ruled out.
Although this contest has been dominated by the Irish representatives in recent seasons, top British trainers have also had their fair share of success. Twelve time champion trainer Paul Nicholls has landed three Ryanair wins, whilst Nicky Henderson and David Pipe have enjoyed two winners each.
Winners since 2005
| Year | Horse | Jockey/Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Thisthatandtother | J:Ruby Walsh T:Paul Nicholls | 9/2 |
| 2006 | Fondmort | J:Mick Fitzgerald T:Nicky Henderson | 10/3J |
| 2007 | Taranis | J:Ruby Walsh T:Paul Nicholls | 9/2 |
| 2008 | Our Vic | J:Timmy Murphy T:David Pipe | 4/1 |
| 2009 | Imperial Commander | J:Paddy Brennan T:Nigel Twiston-Davies | 6/1 |
| 2010 | Albertas Run | J:Tony McCoy T:Jonjo O’Neill | 14/1 |
| 2011 | Albertas Run | J:Tony McCoy T:Jonjo O’Neill | 6/1 |
| 2012 | Riverside Theatre | J:Barry Geraghty T:Nicky Henderson | 7/2F |
| 2013 | Cue Card | J:Joe Tizzard T:Colin Tizzard | 7/2 |
| 2014 | Dynaste | J:Tom Scudamore T:David Pipe | 3/1F |
| 2015 | Uxizandre | J:Tony McCoy T:Alan King | 16/1 |
| 2016 | Vautour | J:Ruby Walsh T:Willie Mullins | EvsF |
| 2017 | Un De Sceaux | J:Ruby Walsh T:Willie Mullins | 7/4F |
| 2018 | Balko Des Flos | J:Davy Russell T:Henry De Bromhead | 8/1 |
| 2019 | Frodon | J:Bryony Frost T:Paul Nicholls | 9/2 |
| 2020 | Min | J:Paul Townend T:Willie Mullins | 2/1 |
| 2021 | Allaho | J:Rachael Blackmore T:Willie Mullins | 3/1F |
| 2022 | Allaho | J:Paul Townend T:Willie Mullins | 4/7F |
| 2023 | Envoi Allen | J:Rachael Blackmore T:Henry De Bromhead | 13/2 |
| 2024 | Protektorat | J:Harry Skelton T:Dan Skelton | 17/2 |
| 2025 | Fact To File | J:Mark Walsh T:Willie Mullins | 6/4F |
| 2026 | Heart Wood | J:Darragh O’Keeffe T:Henry De Bromhead | 9/2 |
Cheltenham Festival Racing Schedule
| Time | Race | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 1:20 | Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle | 2m 3f 168y |
| 2:00 | Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase | 2m 4f |
| 2.40 | Mares’ Hurdle | 2m 3f 200y |
| 3.20 | Ryanair Chase | 2m 4f 127y |
| 4.00 | Stayers’ Hurdle | 2m 7f 213y |
| 4:40 | Pertemps Final | 2m 7f 213y |
| 5:20 | Kim Muir Handicap Chase | 3m 2f |