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 (6 wins): Willie Mullins - Vautour (2016), Un de Sceaux (2017), Min (2020), Allaho (2021, 2022), Fact To File (2025)
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 2025 Fact To File 8 Mark Walsh Willie Mullins 2026 Heart Wood 8 Darragh O'Keeffe Henry De Bromhead
See also 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 Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham – Media information pack (2010). pedigreequery.com – Festival Trophy Chase – Cheltenham.