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13:30Supreme Novices' Hurdle
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16:50Grand Annual Chase
17:30Champion Bumper
Ryanair Chase
14:50 Cheltenham Festival
2024-03-14
Winner: £218,397.93
Runners: 11
Going: Soft
No. of hurdles: 17
Distance: 2m4f127y
The Ryanair Chase is the feature race on day three of the Cheltenham Festival. It is a Grade 1 contest over 2m5f and is the championship contest for chasers whose optimum trip falls between that of the Champion Chase and Gold Cup. It has been won by stars such as Un De Sceaux, Vautour, Cue Card and Min in recent seasons. Check the Ryanair Chase runners and riders ahead of the race and place your bets by clicking the odds buttons.
NO.DRAW
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5(0)
714-32
Envoi Allen
-
J: Rachael Blackmore
T: Henry De Bromhead
10
11-10
164
171
Acts on any going; absent since his close second in Grade 1 thriller at Down Royal (3m) four months ago; similarly fresh when he won this race last year, taking Cheltenham Festival record to 3-5, and he holds very solid claims back here despite his age now reaching double figures; veterans have endured a barren spell in the Ryanair for over a decade but 10yos landed this prize in 2006, 2008 and 2011.
4(0)
P-53UU
Conflated
-
J: Jack Kennedy
T: Gordon Elliott
10
11-10
166
175
Versatile ground-wise; looked beaten when unseating rider at final fence in 3m Grade 1 races won by Galopin Des Champs the last twice; disputing second place when falling two out in this contest in 2022; dual winner at the top level and third in last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup; ties in closely with Envoi Allen on Down Royal form in November; very good chaser on his day, therefore, and has place possibilities granted a clear round.
10(0)
5-4323
Protektorat
-
J: Harry Skelton
T: Dan Skelton
9
11-10
165
173
Can front-run; flopped when bidding for a second success in the Betfair Chase (3m1f); back in better form (over 2m6f-3m2f) since, most recently third in Newbury Grade 2 (half a length behind Hitman on worse terms); ran respectably in the Cheltenham Gold Cup for the last two years; has the class to play a major role, provided he copes with this drop back in trip; has not raced over 2m4f since 2021.
3(0)
3P-631
Capodanno
-
J: Mark Walsh
T: W P Mullins
8
11-10
161
168
Versatile ground-wise; not always a fluent jumper but was generally good in that department here last time, winning the Cotswold Chase (Grade 2) over 3m1f; sole Grade 1 success came over 3m (as a novice); has got better with each run this season but may not be crying out for this drop back in distance.
7(0)
25-413
Fugitif
-
J: Sean Bowen
T: Richard Hobson
9
11-10
157
166
Seems to handle any ground; ran respectably in 2m Grade 1 contest here last time, taking Cheltenham record to 222413; has very useful handicap form over C&D, including a second-place finish in the Plate on this card last year and success (came off good pace to nose ahead final strides) in the December Gold Cup; likely to perform well, granted a strongly run scenario.
8(0)
5P-671
Ga Law
-
J: Gavin Sheehan
T: Jamie Snowden
8
11-10
156
162
Yet to score on ground slower than good to soft in Britain; has form figures of 151 at Cheltenham, comprising wins in major 2m4f handicaps (including latest start) and a creditable fifth in this race last year; should give his running but needs a career-best performance to succeed in this second Ryanair attempt.
2(0)
1321-1
Banbridge
-
J: J J Slevin
T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien
8
11-10
162
173
Has form on soft but is ideally suited by faster; withdrawn from the Turners on this day last year due to unfavourable ground (soft); Irish 8yo who has impressive statistics, being 4-4 in British races over 2m/2m4f and 2-2 at Cheltenham, including a success in the Martin Pipe over hurdles at the 2022 Festival; solid performance in Kempton Grade 2 on sole outing this season, following up his Aintree Grade 1 win last spring and taking chase record to 4-6; largely progressive throughout his career and commands major respect.
9(0)
36-092
Hitman
-
J: Bryony Frost
T: Paul Nicholls
8
11-10
157
167
Has a disappointing strike-rate for a horse of his ability but is capable of smart form, such as third-place finish in this contest last year; clear best effort since when second in Newbury Grade 2 last month, having travelled smoothly into contention then eventually got outstayed by Shishkin over 2m7f on heavy ground; that tees him up nicely for another crack at the Ryanair.
1(0)
2-PP43
Ahoy Senor
-
J: Derek Fox
T: Lucinda Russell
9
11-10
160
174
Runner-up in the Brown Advisory at this meeting two years ago; below-par third, albeit having not adopted his usual front-running role, in the Ascot Chase (2m5f, good to soft) last month when racing over shorter than 3m for the first time since 2021; however, he's a spring horse (dual Grade 1 winner in April) and this looks the time to catch him; not bombproof on the jumping front but has major claims on peak form.
11(0)
115-1P
Stage Star
-
J: Harry Cobden
T: Paul Nicholls
8
11-10
166
175
Acts on soft; had an excuse for his flop here on New Year's Day when last seen, having returned stiff/sore; 3-3 over fences at Cheltenham (2m4f) otherwise, including wins in the Turners on this card last year and major handicap in November; a smart and mostly progressive front-runner who holds leading claims, provided he's back on song.
6(0)
106-22
Fil Dor
-
J: Keith Donoghue
T: Gordon Elliott
6
11-10
151
160
Versatile ground-wise; creditable second behind highly notable rivals at Naas (Grade 3) and Cork (Grade 2) since returned to chasing; filled same position in the Triumph Hurdle here two years ago; campaigned mostly at about 2m but pedigree suggests this return to 2m4f is well worth exploring and, being the youngest horse in the field, he has the potential to rate higher still; interesting contender.
RACING POST TIP
Envoi Allen
Despite reaching the veteran stage, ENVOI ALLEN could well follow up last year's success and enhance his excellent record at this meeting. He retains all of his ability judged on last-time-out form. Banbridge, an ideal Ryanair type, is feared most assuming he gets suitable ground and takes part. Fil Dor, an interesting contender back up in distance, is third choice. Stage Star isn't certain to get an easy lead but he's strongly respected on other counts. Some of the other runners are smart but need to prove they are still effective at this sort of trip.
RYANAIR CHASE PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2023 | Envoi Allen | -317 | 9 | 13-2 | Henry de Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore |
| 2022 | Allaho | 112-11 | 8 | 4-7F | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2021 | Allaho | 13-641 | 7 | 3-1F | Willie Mullins | Rachael Blackmore |
| 2020 | Min | 512-12 | 9 | 2-1 | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2019 | Frodon | 0-1211 | 7 | 9-2 | Paul NIcholls | Bryony Frost |
| 2018 | Balko Des Flos | 3-1232 | 7 | 8-1 | Henry de Bromhead | Davy Russell |
| 2017 | Un De Sceaux | 216-11 | 9 | 7-4F | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2016 | Vautour | 211-12 | 7 | EvensF | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2015 | Uxizandre | 1-418U | 7 | 16-1 | Alan King | Tony McCoy |
| 2014 | Dynastey | 121-25 | 8 | 3-1F | David Pipe | Tom Scudamore |
RYANAIR CHASE KEY TRENDS AND STATS
Key trends
- No more than four runs since October, 10/10
- Rated within 6lb of RPR top-rated, 9/10
- Top-two finish in at least one of last two starts, 9/10
- Adjusted RPR of at least 171, 9/10
- No more than 12 runs over fences, 8/10
- Course winner, 7/10
Other factors
- Six winners had recorded a top-four finish in a Grade 1 or 2 chase over 3m-plus.
- The first five winners (2005-2009) had either won or been placed in the Paddy Power Gold Cup or December Gold Cup. However, 2019 winner Frodon is the only one in the last ten years to have run in those races.
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WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - RYANAIR CHASE 2023
ENVOI ALLEN was kept fresh for this, and the ground was a concern, but he tanked through the race and surged up the hill having briefly looked vulnerable coming to the last. He’s now a three-time winner at the meeting. Shishkin put in a sub-par round of jumping, hung left but his class hauled him into second late on, albeit he never looked like winning. Hitman had the ground in is favour and, as well as a new headgear combination, he ran well, still looking in with a chance at the last but just running out of puff.