Ryanair Chase
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Ryanair Chase
ClassGrade 1
LocationCheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham, England
Inaugurated2005
Race typeChase
SponsorRyanair
WebsiteCheltenham
Race information
Distance2m 4f 127y (4,139 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFive-years-old and up
Weight11 st 8 lb (5yo);
11 st 10 lb (6yo+)
Allowances
7 lb for mares
Purse£375,000(2023)
1st: £211,013
Ryanair Chase
2026
Pink and white (halved), black sleeves, black cap, pink star Emerald Green, Yellow hoops, Emerald Green cap, White star Dark blue and white diamonds, white sleeves, red cap
Heart Wood Jonbon Banbridge
Previous years
2025
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Pink and white (halved), black sleeves, black cap, pink star Red, white sash, royal blue cap
Fact To File Heart Wood Envoi Allen
2024
Yellow, red star, yellow sleeves, white armlets, yellow cap, red star Red, white sash, royal blue cap Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap
Protektorat Envoi Allen Conflated
2023
Red, white sash, royal blue cap Yellow and black check, yellow sleeves, yellow cap, black star White, royal blue epaulets, white sleeves, red spots, royal blue cap
Envoi Allen Shishkin Hitman
2022
Red, white sash, royal blue cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Yellow, black chevron, check cap
Allaho Janidil Eldorado Allen
2021
Red, white sash, royal blue cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Emerald green and white diamonds, emerald green cap
Allaho Fakir D'Oudairies Tornado Flyer
2020-2011
2020
Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap Light blue, red braces, white sleeves, red armlets, light blue and red quartered cap Red, white sash, royal blue cap
Min Saint Calvados A Plus Tard
2019
Royal blue, white chevron, hooped sleeves, white cap Royal blue, white hoop and sleeves Maroon, white star and armlet, white cap
Frodon Aso Road To Respect
2018
Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap Light blue, orange star, light blue sleeves, orange stars, light blue cap, orange star Emerald green and yellow (quartered), white sleeves and cap
Balko Des Flos Un De Sceaux Cloudy Dream
2017
Light blue, orange star, light blue sleeves, orange stars, light blue cap, orange star Maroon, white star, armlets, white cap Royal blue, white hoop and sleeves
Un De Sceaux Sub Lieutenant Aso
2016
Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap Maroon, white star, armlets and cap Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap
Vautour Valseur Lido Road To Riches
2015
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap
Uxizandre Ma Filleule Don Cossack
2014
Maroon and yellow diamonds, halved sleeves, yellow cap Emerald green and mauve (halved), sleeves reversed, emerald green and mauve quartered cap Brown, orange sleeves, quartered cap
Dynaste Hidden Cyclone Rajdhani Express
2013
Royal blue, pink star on body and cap, royal blue sleeves, pink stars Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap Red, pink hoop and armlets
Cue Card First Lieutenant For Non Stop
2012
Red and white diamonds, white sleeves, red armlets, red cap Emerald green and yellow (quartered), white sleeves and cap Orange, black star, black and orange striped sleeves
Riverside Theatre Albertas Run Medermit
2011
Emerald green and yellow (quartered), white sleeves and cap Red and white (quartered), red sleeves Light blue and maroon hoops, blue sleeves, striped cap
Albertas Run Kalahari King Rubi Light
2010-2005
2010
Emerald green and yellow (quartered), white sleeves and cap white and black (halved), red sleeves and cap Red, royal blue sleeves, red cap, royal blue star
Albertas Run Poquelin J'y Vole
2009
Black, white stars, striped sleeves, black cap Mauve and pink check, white sleeves, pink cap Red, white chevron, white chevrons on sleeves, quartered cap
Imperial Commander Voy Por Ustedes Schindlers Hunt
2008
Royal Blue, Emerald Green sleeves, White cap, Emerald Green spots Maroon, White star and armlets, Maroon cap, White star Black and White (halved), Red sleeves and cap
Our Vic Mossbank Turko
2007
Royal blue, beige cross belts Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots Emerald green and yellow quartered, white sleeves and cap
Taranis Our Vic Billyvoddan
2006
Brown, red stars, brown sleeves, red cap, brown star Light blue and royal blue diabolo, light blue sleeves and cap Light blue and maroon stripes, light blue sleeves, hooped cap
Fondmort Lacdoudal Impek
2005
Red, white cross belts, hooped sleeves and star on cap Brown, red stars, brown sleeves, red cap, brown star GREY, pink star, hooped cap
Thisthatandtother Fondmort Rathgar Beau
 

The Ryanair Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 4½ furlongs (2 miles 4 furlongs and 127 yards, or 4,139 metres), and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.

It was one of several new races introduced at the Festival when a fourth day was added to the meeting in 2005. Prior to this there had been a similar event at the Festival called the Cathcart Challenge Cup, but this was restricted to first and second-season chasers only.

The registered (non-sponsored) title of the race is the Festival Trophy, and it was initially classed at Grade 2 level. The inaugural running was sponsored by the Daily Telegraph, and since then it has been backed by Ryanair. The event has held Grade 1 status since 2008.

Records

[edit]

Most successful horse (2 wins):

  • Albertas Run – 2010, 2011
  • Allaho - 2021, 2022

Leading jockey (4 wins):

  • Ruby WalshThisthatandtother (2005), Taranis (2007), Vautour (2016), Un De Sceaux (2017)

Leading trainer (6 wins):

Winners

[edit]
Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
2005 Thisthatandtother 9 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2006 Fondmort 10 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson
2007 Taranis 6 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2008 Our Vic 10 Timmy Murphy David Pipe
2009 Imperial Commander 8 Paddy Brennan Nigel Twiston-Davies
2010 Albertas Run 9 Tony McCoy Jonjo O'Neill
2011 Albertas Run 10 Tony McCoy Jonjo O'Neill
2012 Riverside Theatre 8 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
2013 Cue Card 7 Joe Tizzard Colin Tizzard
2014 Dynaste 8 Tom Scudamore David Pipe
2015 Uxizandre 7 Tony McCoy Alan King
2016 Vautour 7 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2017 Un de Sceaux 9 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2018 Balko des Flos 7 Davy Russell Henry de Bromhead
2019 Frodon 7 Bryony Frost Paul Nicholls
2020 Min 9 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2021 Allaho 7 Rachael Blackmore Willie Mullins
2022 Allaho 8 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2023 Envoi Allen 9 Rachael Blackmore Henry De Bromhead
2024 Protektorat 9 Harry Skelton Dan Skelton
2025 Fact To File 8 Mark Walsh Willie Mullins
2026 Heart Wood 8 Darragh O'Keeffe Henry De Bromhead

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
The Ryanair Chase, officially registered as the Festival Trophy, is a prestigious Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase horse race held annually during the Cheltenham Festival in Gloucestershire, England.[1][2] It is open to thoroughbred horses aged five years and older that are rated at least 130 in the handicap system, and it is contested over a distance of 2 miles 4½ furlongs (2 miles 4 furlongs and 127 yards, or 4,139 meters) on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse.[1][2] The race forms a highlight of the festival's third day, typically scheduled for Thursday afternoon, and attracts elite jumpers seeking a competitive alternative to the longer-distance Cheltenham Gold Cup earlier in the week.[2][3] Sponsored by the Irish low-cost airline Ryanair since 2008, the event offers a total prize fund of £375,000 (with £211,013 to the winner as of 2025), underscoring its status among Britain's top steeplechases.[1][2] Notable past winners include high-class performers such as Cue Card (2013), Un De Sceaux (2017), and Fact To File (2025), who have often gone on to success in other major races, highlighting the Ryanair Chase's role in identifying top staying chasers.[2][4] The race's demanding fences and undulating track test both speed and stamina, making it a key trial for the sport's blue-riband events.[1][3]

Race Details

Course and Conditions

The Ryanair Chase is run over the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse, a left-handed track renowned for its undulating terrain and demanding layout in National Hunt racing. This venue hosts the race as part of the prestigious Cheltenham Festival, where the New Course's configuration tests both speed and stamina, featuring a series of sharp turns and elevation changes.[5] The race covers a distance of 2 miles 4 furlongs and 127 yards (4,139 metres), requiring horses to tackle 17 steeplechase fences along the way.[6] These obstacles include a mix of plain and upright fences, with the course's notable uphill finish providing a severe stamina test in the closing stages, often deciding the outcome for middle-distance chasers.[7] The fences are positioned to challenge jumping accuracy and rhythm, particularly after the downhill section midway through the race.[2] Scheduled on Day 3 (Thursday) of the Cheltenham Festival in March, the Ryanair Chase typically starts at 3:20 PM, serving as the day's highlight event.[8] The race is contested on turf, the standard surface for British steeplechasing, with track conditions usually ranging from good to soft due to the variable winter weather prevalent in the region during that month. These conditions can shift based on rainfall, influencing pace and jumping demands, though the course is meticulously prepared to ensure fairness.[9]

Eligibility and Prize Structure

The Ryanair Chase is open to horses aged five years or older, ensuring participation by experienced chasers capable of handling the demands of a Grade 1 contest.[3][10][9] Weight assignments are set at 11 stone 8 pounds for five-year-olds and 11 stone 10 pounds for six-year-olds and older, with a seven-pound allowance for mares to account for sex-based differences in performance.[11] Additionally, horses must hold an official handicap rating of at least 130, maintaining the race's elite status within the National Hunt calendar.[12] The event imposes no specific restrictions on prior race participation beyond standard British Horseracing Authority rules for steeplechases, allowing a broad field of qualifying chasers to compete.[9] For 2025, the total prize purse stands at £375,000, reflecting the race's prestige as a highlight of the Cheltenham Festival.[13][3][9] The winner receives approximately £211,013, with the remainder distributed to placed finishers as follows:
PositionPrize Amount
1st£211,013
2nd£79,500
3rd£39,788
4th£19,875
5th£9,975
[6][13]

History

Establishment and Origins

The Ryanair Chase, officially registered as the Festival Trophy Steeple Chase, was inaugurated in 2005 as part of the Cheltenham Festival's expansion from three to four days, introducing a new Thursday card to accommodate additional high-profile races.[1][14] This addition aimed to enhance the festival's prestige and variety by providing more championship-level contests over the extended program. The race effectively replaced the Cathcart Challenge Cup, which had previously served as a key steeplechase event but was discontinued to make way for this new fixture on the updated schedule.[15][14] Designed specifically as a premier contest for chasers suited to distances around two and a half miles—longer than the Champion Chase but shorter than the Gold Cup—the Ryanair Chase filled a gap in the festival's lineup for horses not ideally matched to the extremes of speed or stamina required in those marquee events.[1] For its inaugural running, the race was sponsored by the Daily Telegraph and contested as a Grade 2 event over the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse, attracting a competitive field of established steeplechasers.[1][14] The first edition, held on March 17, 2005, was won by Thisthatandtother, a six-year-old gelding trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Ruby Walsh, who edged out the runner-up Fondmort in a thrilling finish.[1] This victory marked an early highlight for the race, underscoring its potential as a showcase for top intermediate-distance talent within the National Hunt calendar.[1]

Sponsorship and Grade Status

The Ryanair Chase received its sponsorship from the low-cost airline Ryanair beginning with the second running of the race in 2006, which led to the adoption of its current name.[9][1] The race held Grade 2 status from its inception in 2005 through 2007 before being elevated to Grade 1 in 2008, reflecting its growing prestige within National Hunt racing.[9][16] This upgrade aligned with the race's position as a key feature on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival, attracting top-level competitors over the 2 miles 4½ furlongs distance without altering the core format or conditions.[17] Ryanair's sponsorship has significantly enhanced the race's visibility, establishing it as a cornerstone event at the Festival and integrating the airline's branding through promotional campaigns tied to the event's global audience.[18] As a long-term partner since 2006, Ryanair has renewed its commitment multiple times, including extensions through 2012 and from 2018 to 2022, with the sponsorship continuing thereafter; Ryanair remains the sponsor as of 2025 and has announced additional support for the 2026 festival, including over 10,000 extra seats from Irish airports.[19][20][21] while serving as the official airline partner and offering dedicated flights and incentives like free Festival tickets to boost attendance and media exposure.[21] This enduring partnership has driven substantial growth in prize money, rising from approximately £150,000 in 2006 to £350,000 by 2018 and reaching £375,000 in recent editions, underscoring the sponsor's investment in elevating the race's competitive and commercial stature.[22][23][24]

Records

Equine Records

The Ryanair Chase has seen only two horses achieve multiple victories: Albertas Run, who triumphed in 2010 and 2011 under trainer Jonjo O'Neill, and Allaho, who secured back-to-back wins in 2021 and 2022 for Willie Mullins.[2] The youngest winner in the race's history is Taranis, who prevailed at age 6 in 2007, trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Ruby Walsh.[1] Vautour set the fastest winning time in 2016, clocking 5 minutes 5.30 seconds over the 2 miles 4½ furlongs distance on good-to-soft ground.[25] The longest-priced winner was Uxizandre at 16/1 odds in 2015, trained by Alan King and ridden by A.P. McCoy to a three-and-a-half-length victory.[4][26] Cue Card and Fact To File share the record for the largest margin of victory with a nine-length win each, Cue Card in 2013 under trainer Colin Tizzard and jockey Joe Tizzard, and Fact To File in 2025 under trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Mark Walsh.[1][27] Several Ryanair Chase winners have progressed to further success in major races, most notably Imperial Commander, who won the 2009 edition before claiming the Cheltenham Gold Cup the following year.[15]

Jockey and Trainer Records

The Ryanair Chase has seen notable success from several jockeys, with Ruby Walsh holding the record for the most victories at four, achieved aboard Thisthatandtother in 2005, Taranis in 2007, Vautour in 2016, and Un De Sceaux in 2017.[9][26] Sir Anthony McCoy follows with three wins, riding Albertas Run to back-to-back triumphs in 2010 and 2011, and Uxizandre in 2015.[9] Other multiple winners include Rachael Blackmore with two successes on Allaho in 2021 and Envoi Allen in 2023, as well as Paul Townend with victories on Min in 2020 and Allaho in 2022.[15]
JockeyWinsYears (Horses)
Ruby Walsh42005 (Thisthatandtother), 2007 (Taranis), 2016 (Vautour), 2017 (Un De Sceaux)
A. P. McCoy32010 (Albertas Run), 2011 (Albertas Run), 2015 (Uxizandre)
Rachael Blackmore22021 (Allaho), 2023 (Envoi Allen)
Paul Townend22020 (Min), 2022 (Allaho)
Among trainers, Willie Mullins dominates with six victories, saddling Vautour in 2016, Un De Sceaux in 2017, Min in 2020, Allaho in 2021 and 2022, and Fact To File in 2025.[4] Paul Nicholls is the leading British trainer with three wins, courtesy of Thisthatandtother in 2005, Taranis in 2007, and Frodon in 2019.[9] Henry de Bromhead has secured two successes with Balko Des Flos in 2018 and Envoi Allen in 2023, while Nicky Henderson, David Pipe, and Jonjo O'Neill each have two wins from earlier editions of the race.[15]
TrainerWinsYears (Horses)
Willie Mullins62016 (Vautour), 2017 (Un De Sceaux), 2020 (Min), 2021 (Allaho), 2022 (Allaho), 2025 (Fact To File)
Paul Nicholls32005 (Thisthatandtother), 2007 (Taranis), 2019 (Frodon)
Henry de Bromhead22018 (Balko Des Flos), 2023 (Envoi Allen)
Nicky Henderson22006 (Fondmort), 2012 (Riverside Theatre)
David Pipe22008 (Our Vic), 2014 (Dynaste)
Jonjo O'Neill22010 (Albertas Run), 2011 (Albertas Run)
Notable jockey achievements include Bryony Frost becoming the first woman to win a Grade 1 race at the Cheltenham Festival when partnering Frodon to victory in 2019, a milestone that highlighted growing female participation in top-level jumps racing.[28][29] Rachael Blackmore built on this progress with her 2021 Ryanair Chase success aboard Allaho, part of a record-breaking Festival where she became the first woman to finish as leading jockey with six wins overall.[30] The race's history reflects a shift in dominance from British to Irish participants, particularly in training and riding. Early renewals from 2005 to 2015 featured a balance with British trainers like Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson securing multiple victories, but since 2016, Irish yards—led by Willie Mullins and Henry de Bromhead—have claimed eight of the ten editions, underscoring Ireland's growing preeminence in elite chase events at Cheltenham.[2][4]

Winners

Roll of Honour

The Ryanair Chase, inaugurated in 2005, has been contested 21 times as of 2025, with fields typically averaging around 9 runners based on historical data from recent renewals.[2][9] No major disqualifications or controversies have marred the race's history.[31]
YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainer
2005Thisthatandtother9Ruby WalshPaul Nicholls
2006Fondmort10Mick FitzgeraldNicky Henderson
2007Taranis6Ruby WalshPaul Nicholls
2008Our Vic10Timmy MurphyDavid Pipe
2009Imperial Commander8Paddy BrennanNigel Twiston-Davies
2010Albertas Run9Tony McCoyJonjo O'Neill
2011Albertas Run10Tony McCoyJonjo O'Neill
2012Riverside Theatre8Barry GeraghtyNicky Henderson
2013Cue Card7Joe TizzardColin Tizzard
2014Dynaste8Tom ScudamoreDavid Pipe
2015Uxizandre7Tony McCoyAlan King
2016Vautour7Ruby WalshWillie Mullins
2017Un De Sceaux9Ruby WalshWillie Mullins
2018Balko Des Flos7Davy RussellHenry de Bromhead
2019Frodon7Bryony FrostPaul Nicholls
2020Min9Paul TownendWillie Mullins
2021Allaho7Rachael BlackmoreWillie Mullins
2022Allaho8Paul TownendWillie Mullins
2023Envoi Allen9Rachael BlackmoreHenry de Bromhead
2024Protektorat9Harry SkeltonDan Skelton
2025Fact To File8Mark WalshWillie Mullins
Albertas Run (2010–2011) and Allaho (2021–2022) are the only horses to have won the race in consecutive years.[31][15]

Notable Performances

Vautour's 2016 victory in the Ryanair Chase stands out as one of the race's most dominant performances, where the Willie Mullins-trained chaser, switched at the last moment from the Gold Cup, powered to a six-length win over stablemate Valseur Lido despite a late challenge.[32] This emphatic display, marked by fluent jumping and relentless acceleration up the Cheltenham hill, propelled Vautour toward his subsequent Gold Cup triumph later that year, highlighting his versatility over the intermediate distance.[33] Allaho delivered back-to-back triumphs in 2021 (ridden by Rachael Blackmore) and 2022 (ridden by Paul Townend), becoming only the second horse to achieve successive Ryanair Chase wins and showcasing exceptional jumping and stamina. In 2021, the seven-year-old demolished the field with a sensational display of accurate leaping, pulling clear to win by a decisive margin and affirming his status as a top intermediate chaser. The following year, on soft ground, Allaho again dictated from the front, running his rivals ragged in a tactical masterclass that saw him saunter home unchallenged, easing up in the final strides to secure a comfortable victory.[34] Fact To File's 2025 romp provided a recent highlight, as the 6-4 favorite under Mark Walsh stalked the leaders before surging clear to win by nine lengths over Heart Wood, demonstrating superior class and jumping efficiency in a race run at a strong gallop.[35] Trainer Willie Mullins praised the eight-year-old's ability to stay on the pace and quicken decisively, marking his second Grade One success at the Festival and signaling potential for future targets like the Gold Cup.[36] Among the race's notable upsets, Frodon's 2019 success with amateur jockey Bryony Frost captured widespread attention, as the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding rallied gamely up the hill after appearing headed, prevailing by a neck over Aso in what became Frost's first Grade One victory and the first by a female rider over fences at Cheltenham.[29] This gritty performance, on good-to-soft ground that suited his battling style, defied pre-race expectations where he started at 9-1.[37] Similarly, Envoi Allen's 2023 win marked a remarkable comeback for the Henry de Bromhead inmate, who overcame prior Cheltenham setbacks—including a fall in the 2021 Marsh Chase and a pull-up in the Champion Chase—to power home at 13-2 under Rachael Blackmore, capitalizing on favorite Shishkin's errors for a third Festival success.[38] Track conditions have notably influenced key editions, with soft or good-to-soft ground often favoring horses possessing stamina and sure-footedness, as seen in Frodon's 2019 rally where the yielding surface allowed him to grind out victory despite tiring rivals.[37] In 2023, persistent rain led to soft conditions that played to Envoi Allen's strengths, enabling his strong finish while testing the speed of less adaptable contenders.[39] Winners of the Ryanair Chase have frequently excelled in other premier events, exemplified by Riverside Theatre's 2012 triumph under Barry Geraghty, where the Nicky Henderson-trained star dug deep to win by four lengths on heavy ground, building on his prior second-place finish in the 2011 King George VI Chase and paving the way for a King George victory that December.[40] Over the years, the Ryanair Chase has evolved tactically, shifting from stamina-dominated affairs in its early Grade One era—where front-runners like Riverside Theatre could dictate on testing ground—to more balanced tests of speed and positioning in recent renewals, as evidenced by the savage early pace in 2025 that Fact To File handled expertly by tracking rather than leading.[35] This adaptation reflects broader trends in intermediate chase racing, emphasizing versatile pacemakers amid improving track maintenance and competitive fields.[9]

References

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