Ryanair Chase

Ryanair Chase
Grade 1 race
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
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
Previous years
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

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 (5 wins):

Winners

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

See also

References