Given that the third day of the Cheltenham Festival is known as St Patrick’s Thursday, it is fitting that it is also the day of the Ryanair Chase. CEO of the Irish airline is none other than Michael O’Leary, owner of Gigginstown House Stud.
This year, O’Leary has two Gigginstown entries in the form of Conflated and Master Chewy, but with 34 potential runners getting the green light, whether either of them will make it to the starting tape remains to be seen.
The Ryanair Chase is one of the premier races at the Cheltenham Festival, offering a fascinating middle-distance challenge over 2 miles and 4½ furlongs for horse racing’s elite chasers.
The 2025 renewal, scheduled for Thursday, March 13th, promises to be another compelling contest with a purse of £375,000 up for grabs.
So, which runners are genuinely in with a chance on the day, can we learn anything from last year’s race and is there any value in the odds?
Quick Recap of the 2024 Race
You could be forgiven for not remembering the exact winning order in the 2024 race; after all, it has been nearly a year, and a lot of racing has taken place since then.
By some small miracle, Willie Mullins did not win this race. Instead, the honours went to Protektorat, who delivered a masterful performance under jockey Harry Skelton for trainer Dan Skelton.
The nine-year-old, who had previously placed in Gold Cups – 5th in 2023 and 3rd in 2022 – proved the drop in trip was no hindrance as he claimed victory at odds of 17/2, seeing off the defending champion and favourite, Envoi Allen, on the run-in.
It was a significant triumph for the Skelton team, marking their continued ascendancy in National Hunt racing’s biggest meetings.
2025 Title Defence
Despite the fact that he has always done quite well at Cheltenham and goes into this race as the defending champion, Protektorat is by no means the favourite in 2025.
At least seven rivals are ahead of him in the betting markets, and savvy betters would do well to take a closer look at him, especially on odds of 12/1. It’s the perfect opportunity to take advantage of Cheltenham betting offers that could be used if you fancy his chances.
He has shown plenty of encouraging signs for a potential title defence, most recently impressing with a commanding 23-length victory in the Fleur De Lys Chase. He beat Djelo and Journey with Me, both of whom also have entries in the 2025 Ryanair Chase.
This performance suggests the defending champion is still very much on form and could be a serious contender to become the third horse to win multiple Ryanair Chases, following in the hoofprints of Albertas Run and Allaho.
Incidentally, no horse has won this race three times!
Main Contenders
The 2025 renewal is shaping up to be particularly competitive. Banbridge, from trainer Joseph O’Brien, has emerged as a leading contender following his impressive victory in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Then again, he only finished in 9th place in this race in 2024, with the going apparently too soft for the eight-year-old, so if heavy rain is forecast, you may want to consider backing a different runner!
That could quite easily be Fact to File from Willie Mullins, who has dominated this race with five victories in the last nine years. With a near-impeccable record, it’s easy to see why his odds are so short at just 7/2, but he’s not infallible.
He bagged the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown in November only to find himself in Galopin Des Champs’ dust next time out in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown in December. But with Galopin Des Champs off to the Gold Cup, it does leave the stable door wide open for Fact to File in the Ryanair Chase.
Grey Dawning, also from Dan Skelton, has entered calculations following some eye-catching performances. Despite a setback in the King George, his earlier form, including strong travelling in the Betfair Chase, suggests he could be well-suited to the Ryanair trip.
The Irish Challenge
Irish trainers have transformed their fortunes in this race, going from a barren spell to near-dominance. Since breaking their duck with Vautour in 2016, Irish-trained horses have claimed most renewals, with only Frodon and Protektorat interrupting their sequence.
This trend looks set to continue in 2025, with several leading contenders emerging from Irish yards, aside from Fact to File.
Spillane’s Tower, owned by JP McManus and trained by Jimmy Mangan, is third in the betting markets. He was runner-up to Fact to File at Punchestown and fifth in the King George at Kempton, so he has plenty of credentials ahead of the Ryanair in March.
Willie Mullins could also field both Gaelic Warrior and El Fabiolo, though their participation depends on their preferred festival targets.
Henry De Bromhead and Gordon Elliott could saddle multiple entries, and depending on how the final field shapes up, it could be another notch on the Irish belt in 2025.
Looking Ahead
The Ryanair Chase 2025 promises to maintain its status as one of the festival’s most anticipated races.
With a mix of established stars and emerging talent, the win could go either way. Will Protektorat maintain his crown, or will a newbie make it into the winner’s enclosure?
Can the British halt the growing Irish influence, or will the winner come from outside the top three in the betting? One thing is for sure, this middle-distance championship will remain a pivotal contest in determining the season’s leading chasers.
