Ryanair Chase - 2024

The highlight on Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival is the Ryanair Chase, and with 36 of the top chasers already named in the line up, this is set to be one of the Festivals most exciting races.

Willie Mullins ‘Min’, last years reigning champion, is again one of the main favourites for this years Ryanair Chase at most British Bookmakers offering odds on the race.

Having won the Ryanair Chase last year, and the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase at Leopardstown in December, ‘Min’ had to withdraw from the Arkle Novice Chase, but has recovered and seems to be a firm favourite with most bookmakers.

Willie Mullins has won 3 of the last 5 Ryanair Chase races, and has a few strong contenders this year alongside ‘Min’. One of his other favourites is 7 year old ‘Allaho’.

Having finished in 3rd place in last years RSA Insurance Novices' Chase at Cheltenham, ‘Allaho’ had a couple of less successful runs before returning to winning form at Thurles in January.

Kim Bailey has high hopes with the 8-year-old Irish Bay Gelding ‘Imperial Aura’. Although he had to make an early departure at Kempton, ‘Imperial Aura’ was extremely impressive in taking a victory at the Chanelle Pharma 1965 Chase at Ascot in November.

Having recovered from a bout of blood poisoning that saw him withdraw from Sandown Park in February, ‘Saint Calvados’, the French 8 year old trained by Harry Whittington, is looking good.

The Andrew and Kate Brooks-owned Bay Gelding looks to be back on form and could have the potential to win the Ryanair Chase if he is on form on race day.

The last of British Bookmakers favourites is another Willie Mullins trained runner.

‘Melon’, a 9 year old Chestnut gelding had a strong start to his career, and although he hasn’t had a win since Leopardstown in December, he has had a few good runs towards the end of last year and looks to be in good form.

The Ryanair Chase is a favourite amongst most punters betting on Day 3, and, aside from the Gold Cup on Friday, is always one of the most exciting races of the Cheltenham Festival.

French horses have a good track record in this race, with quite a few French entrants this year, it will be interesting to see if one will win, or if current champion ‘Min’ can hold on to the title.

The PaddyPower Stayers’ Hurdle is one of the big races of the day, but without a doubt, the highlight race is the Ryanair Chase, offering a prize pot of £350,000.

Run on the new course at Cheltenham, the runners have to deal with 17 fences on their way to victory, and a knowledge of the course will go a long way for the top entrants.

The Ryanair Chase is a favourite amongst punters, as the majority of winners from previous years have tended to be in the bookmakers top 3 runners.

So, let’s take a look at the top contenders and what odds bookmakers offer on the favourites.

Last year’s winner, and leading trainer in the race, Paul Nicholls returns with ‘Frodon’ in the hope of retaining his title, however the 8 year old has some fierce competition this year.

French Gelding, ‘A Plus Tard’ who is trained by Henry De Bromhead, is the current bookmakers favourite, while Willie Mullins ‘Min’ is a very close second favourite.

The last 6 races have all been won by French runners, and it’s no surprise that British Bookmakers' favourites for this years Ryanair Chase race are mostly French.

After the top 3, ‘Riders onthe Storm’ a 7 year old Irish Gelding with a 75% season win rate and trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, looks like one of the strongest contenders.

‘Riders onthe Storm’ comes into the race on the back of a first place finish in the Betfair Ascot Chase last month, and will no doubt put up a strong run in this years Ryanair Chase.

Willie Mullins ‘Chacun Pour Soi’ who has a 75% win rate, and Paul Nicholls French entrant ‘Politologue’, who came 2nd in last years Queen Mother Champion Chase, also hold spots in the top 6 that bookmakers see as being the leading contenders.

Odds on these three runners are pretty close, but this could change as we get closer to race day.

The other 4 horses in most bookmakers top 10 are all French, with Harry Whittington’s ‘Saint Calvados’ and ‘Delta Work’ who's won his last 2 races and is trained by Gordon Elliott.

Willie Mullins other entry ‘Cilaos Emery’, who has won 4 of his last 5 races, and ‘Aso’ a 10 year old trained by Venetia Williams may have longer odds but could put up a challenge on the day.

Irish runners have won for the last 3 years, with Willie Mullins winning in 2016 with ‘Vautour’ and in 2017 with ‘Un De Sceaux’, while Henry De Bromhead won in 2018 with ‘Balko Des Flos’.

This years Ryanair Chase yet again sees a number of strong Irish trained contenders, with Willie Mullins ‘Footpad’ touted as the favourite at most British Bookmakers.

After his appearance in the Champion Chase on Day 2 of Cheltenham, Willie Mullins ‘Footpad’ runs again in the Ryanair Chase, and bookmakers see him as a favourite to win.

Of course, it will all depend on his form closer to this years Ryanair Chase, as his season hasn’t gone as well as expected for ‘Footpad’ with 2 disappointing results from his last 2 outings.

Last year’s winning trainer, Henry De Bromhead has a couple of top runners.

‘Monalee’, the 8 year old Bay Gelding performed well last year, securing 2nd place in the RSA Chase, but has only won 1 race so far this season and isn't performing as well as expected.

Willie Mullins has also entered ‘Min’ in the race, with bookmakers believing a victory over a shorter distance could easily be achieved when looking at their Ryanair Chase odds.

‘Min’, the 8 year old Bay Gelding, may just give the Champion Chase a miss in order to avoid another challenge against ‘Altior’ and if that’s the case, ‘Min’ would be one of the strongest contenders to win this years Ryanair Chase.

‘Un De Sceaux’, Willie Mullins 11 year old who won this race in 2017 also secured 2nd place last year, and comes back to challenge for this years race.

Bookmakers offer ‘Un De Sceaux’ as a top contender, and although conditions on the day may not suit him, he's not one to be written off when looking at bookmakers Ryanair Chase odds.

Paul Nicholls trained ‘Frodon’ is also among the top entries, having won 3 of his last 4 races.

The 7 year old Bay Gelding had strong victories at both the Cotswold Chase and Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Cheltenham recently, and with such solid performances on this track, we can see why bookmakers offer ‘Frodon’ as one of the top contenders.

Noel Meade’s ‘Road To Respect’ is also a preferred runner for the Ryanair Chase.

The 8 year old has won or placed in the top 3 in his last 4 races, and looks strong coming into the Ryanair Chase. Of course, last year’s winner ‘Balko Des Flos’ is also in the mix, even though he hasn’t won since his victory in last year’s race.

The Ryanair Chase was previously seen as a race that the elite horses didn’t take part in, but things have changed and it's now seen as one of the top races of the Cheltenham Festival.

With a prize of £350,000 up for the taking, it’s no wonder it now attracts some of the top runners.