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Ryanair Chase

The Ryanair Chase is the second of two blue riband events run on Day 3 of the Festival.

Run over the intermediate distance of two and a half miles, it is an alternative target to the Champion Chase or the Cheltenham Gold Cup. 

Ryanair-Chase-Trophy
Grade 1 | 5yo+ | Thursday 16.00
2 miles 4½ furlongs | 17 fences | New Course
Weight: 11st 8lb (5yo) / 11st 10lb (6yo+) | Allowance: 7lb for mares
Prize money: £375,000

Registered as The Festival Trophy, it was introduced when a fourth day was added to the Cheltenham Festival in 2005.

Called the Daily Telegraph Festival Trophy Chase in it's inaugural year, it replaced the Cathcart Challenge Cup Chase which was run over roughly the same distance.

It has been sponsored by Ryanair since 2006.

The race has been a stepping stone to future Gold Cup glory for A Plus Tard (3rd in 2020), Don Cossack (3rd in 2015) and Imperial Commander (winner in 2009).

Ryanair Chase Trends

12 of the last 12 winners were French-breds
6 of the last 10 winners were trained by Willie Mullins
15 of the last 18 winners had won or been placed at the Festival before
17/21 winners had won at Cheltenham previously
16/21 winners were priced 6/1 or less
15/21 winners were from the front 2 in the market
8/21 favourites won (1 joint-favourite)
Updated to include 2025 renewal

Since its inception, Ryanair Chase trends have strongly pointed to horses with course form and proven stamina.

It’s now impossible to look beyond French-bred horses.

In 2025, six of the nine runners carried the (FR) suffix, including the 1-2-3-4 finishers.

In 2024, French-breds claimed 1st, 2nd and 4th; in 2023, they filled 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th; and in 2022, four of the seven runners were French-bred, finishing 1-2-3-4.

This extended the winning streak for French-breds to 12 consecutive victories.

There have been two back-to-back winners of the Ryanair Chase: Albertas Run (2010/11) and Allaho (2021/22).

Previous Winners

YEAR
WINNER
JOCKEY / TRAINER
SP
2025
Fact To File
Mark Walsh / Willie Mullins
6/4f
2024
Protektorat
Harry Skelton / Dan Skelton
17/2
2023
Envoi Allen
Rachael Blackmore / Henry De Bromhead
13/2
2022
Allaho
Paul Townend / Willie Mullins
4/7f
2021
Allaho
Rachael Blackmore / Willie Mullins
3/1f
2020
Min
Paul Townend / Willie Mullins
2/1
2019
Frodon
Bryony Frost / Paul Nicholls
9/2
2018
Balko Des Flos
Davy Russell / Henry De Bromhead
8/1
2017
Un De Sceaux
Ruby Walsh / Willie Mullins
7/4f
2016
Vautour
Ruby Walsh / Willie Mullins
Evensf
2015
Uxizandre
Tony McCoy / Alan King
16/1
2014
Dynaste
Tom Scudamore / David Pipe
3/1f
2013
Cue Card
Joe Tizzard / Colin Tizzard
7/2
2012
Riverside Theatre
Barry Geraghty / Nicky Henderson
7/2f
2011
Albertas Run
Tony McCoy / Jonjo O'Neill
6/1
2010
Albertas Run
Tony McCoy / Jonjo O'Neill
14/1
2009
Imperial Commander
Paddy Brennan / Nigel Twiston-Davies
6/1
2008
Our Vic
Timmy Murphy / David Pipe
4/1
2007
Taranis
Ruby Walsh / Paul Nicholls
9/2
2006
Fondmort
Mick Fitzgerald / Nicky Henderson
100/30jf
2005
Thisthatandtother
Ruby Walsh / Paul Nicholls
9/2

Fact To File turned the 2025 Ryanair Chase into a procession, going clear before two out and winning unchallenged.

It was a Festival hat-trick for the eight-year-old who won the Champion Bumper in 2023 and the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase in 2024.

Jockey Mark Walsh was full of praise:

‘HE NEVER MISSED A BEAT TODAY, HE WINGED EVERYTHING...I WAS STRUGGLING TO PULL HIM UP’

Having finished third and fifth in the last two Gold Cups, Protektorat was ideally suited to the drop in trip on soft ground in the 2024 Ryanair.

With plenty of pace to ensure a proper test, the nine-year-old powered clear of last year’s winner on the run-in, guided by Harry Skelton for his brother and trainer, Dan:

‘WHAT A GRITTY, UNBELIEVABLE HORSE. SOME HORSES JUST LOVE TO RUN AND HE’S LIKE FORREST GUMP, HE JUST RUNS’

Envoi Allen tanked through the race in 2023 and finished nearly three lengths ahead of short-priced favourite Shishkin, who made a bad blunder three from home.

It was the nine-year-old's third Festival victory, following wins in the 2019 Bumper and what is now the Turners Novices' Hurdle in 2020.

It marked a reminder of the class that had seen him heralded as a superstar early in his career, with jockey Rachael Blackmore in no doubt about his quality:

‘HE PUT IN A PHENOMENAL PERFORMANCE, BUT I DON’T THINK IT’S A SURPRISE TO ANYONE - HE’S A SUPREMELY TALENTED HORSE’

Allaho retained his Ryanair Chase crown in style in 2022, this time under Paul Townend, who had opted to ride former winner Min 12 months earlier.

He produced an almost identical display of domination to the previous year, jumping boldly and galloping his rivals into submission to beat stablemate Janidil by 14 lengths.

‘IT MAKES YOU WONDER WHY I DIDN’T PICK HIM LAST YEAR’

In 2021 Allaho was given a bold front-running ride by Rachael Blackmore and cruised to a 12-length victory:

‘IT WAS INCREDIBLE, HE JUMPED AND HE GALLOPED. HE WAS A DREAM TO RIDE...HE FELT IN HIS COMFORT ZONE EVERYWHERE’

Having previously chased home Altior in both the Supreme and Champion Chase, Min finally broke his Festival duck in 2020:

Bryony Frost rode her beloved Frodon to victory in 2019, becoming the first woman to win a Grade 1 chase at the Festival:

‘HE IS PEGASUS, HE HAS GOT WINGS’

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary finally won the Ryanair with Balko Des Flos in 2018:

Ruby Walsh won with Un De Sceaux in 2017 with some breathtaking jumping:

Vautour produced perhaps the greatest Ryanair Chase performance in 2016 (the next six home were all Grade 1 winners):

Tony McCoy's victory on Uxizandre in 2015 was his final ever Festival winner:

In 2014 the grey Dynaste stayed on strongly to win under Tom Scudamore:

Perhaps the most popular Ryanair Chase winner was Cue Card in 2013:

Riverside Theatre 2012

Albertas Run 2011

Albertas Run 2010

Imperial Commander 2009

Our Vic 2008

Taranis 2007

Fondmort 2006

Thisthatandtother 2005