Ryanair Chase
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.
| Class | Grade 1 |
|---|---|
| Location | Cheltenham Racecourse Cheltenham, England |
| Inaugurated | 2005 |
| Race type | Chase |
| Sponsor | Ryanair |
| Website | Cheltenham |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2m 4f 127y (4,139 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Five-years-old and up |
| Weight | 11 st 8 lb (5yo); 11 st 10 lb (6yo+) Allowances 7 lb for mares |
| Purse | £375,000(2023) 1st: £211,013 |
| 2026 | ||
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| Heart Wood | Jonbon | Banbridge |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ||
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| Fact To File | Heart Wood | Envoi Allen |
| 2024 | ||
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| Protektorat | Envoi Allen | Conflated |
| 2023 | ||
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| Envoi Allen | Shishkin | Hitman |
| 2022 | ||
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| Allaho | Janidil | Eldorado Allen |
| 2021 | ||
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| Allaho | Fakir D'Oudairies | Tornado Flyer |
| 2020-2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ||
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| Min | Saint Calvados | A Plus Tard |
| 2019 | ||
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| Frodon | Aso | Road To Respect |
| 2018 | ||
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| Balko Des Flos | Un De Sceaux | Cloudy Dream |
| 2017 | ||
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| Un De Sceaux | Sub Lieutenant | Aso |
| 2016 | ||
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| Vautour | Valseur Lido | Road To Riches |
| 2015 | ||
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| Uxizandre | Ma Filleule | Don Cossack |
| 2014 | ||
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| Dynaste | Hidden Cyclone | Rajdhani Express |
| 2013 | ||
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| Cue Card | First Lieutenant | For Non Stop |
| 2012 | ||
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| Riverside Theatre | Albertas Run | Medermit |
| 2011 | ||
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| Albertas Run | Kalahari King | Rubi Light |
| 2010-2005 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ||
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| Albertas Run | Poquelin | J'y Vole |
| 2009 | ||
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| Imperial Commander | Voy Por Ustedes | Schindlers Hunt |
| 2008 | ||
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| Our Vic | Mossbank | Turko |
| 2007 | ||
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| Taranis | Our Vic | Billyvoddan |
| 2006 | ||
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| Fondmort | Lacdoudal | Impek |
| 2005 | ||
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| 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 Walsh – Thisthatandtother (2005), Taranis (2007), Vautour (2016), Un De Sceaux (2017)
Leading trainer (6 wins):
- Willie Mullins - Vautour (2016), Un de Sceaux (2017), Min (2020), Allaho (2021, 2022), Fact To File (2025)
Winners
[edit]See also
[edit]- Horse racing in Great Britain
- List of British National Hunt races
- Recurring sporting events established in 2005 – the Ryanair Chase is included under its registered title, Festival Trophy.
References
[edit]- thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham – Media information pack (2010).
- pedigreequery.com – Festival Trophy Chase – Cheltenham.