Can Fact To File defend the crown?

The Ryanair Chase is the feature race over the larger obstacles on St Patrick’s Thursday at the Cheltenham Festival.

A middle-distance race over 2m4½f on the New Course, it’s typically contested by horses that lack the staying power for the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the raw speed for the Queen Mother Champion Chase. It boasts a classy roll of honour, however, as the likes of Allaho, Envoi Allen and Vautour have claimed the spoils since its introduction to the March meet in 2005.

Fact To File delivered, arguably, the most-impressive Grade 1 performance at last year’s Cheltenham Festival when cruising to the winning post to become the latest Ryanair Chase winner. Can Willie Mullins’ star bounce back from a sub-par outing in the King George and defend his crown?

Find Ryanair Chase odds on the Paddy Power website and app. Otherwise, key details for this year’s renewal are below.

Ryanair Chase 2026 date

The Ryanair Chase takes place at Cheltenham on Thursday, 12th March.

Ryanair Chase 2026 start time

The Ryanair Chase starts at 16:00.

How to watch the Ryanair Chase 2026

You can watch the Ryanair Chase live on paddypower.com and the Paddy Power app or on ITV1.

Ryanair Chase 2026 runners and riders

The following 33 horses hold entries for the Ryanair Chase ahead of confirmations and final declarations.

Banbridge (TBC)
Better Days Ahead (TBC)
Champ Kiely (TBC)
Croke Park (TBC)
Edwardstone (TBC)
Energumene (TBC)
Envoi Allen (TBC)
Fact To File (TBC)
Firefox (TBC)
Found A Fifty (TBC)
Gaelic Warrior (TBC)
Gidleigh Park (TBC)
Grey Dawning (TBC)
Handstands (TBC)
Heart Wood (TBC)
Il Etait Temps (TBC)
Impaire Et Passe (TBC)
Jagwar (TBC)
Jango Baie (TBC)
Jonbon (TBC)
JPR One (TBC)
Kalif Du Berlais (TBC)
Majborough (TBC)
Master Chewy (TBC)
Matata (TBC)
Panic Attack (TBC)
Protektorat (TBC)
Romeo Coolio (TBC)
Solness (TBC)
Spillane’s Tower (TBC
The Jukebox Man (TBC)
Thistle Ask (TBC)
Twinjets (TBC)

Ryanair Chase 2026 betting

Ryanair Chase odds are on paddypower.com and prices for the leading contenders can be seen on our snazzy widgets below.

Fact To File is the favourite with Paddy Power to win the Ryanair Chase after romping to glory in last year’s renewal.

Stablemate Gaelic Warrior is next in our early betting after being given the option of the intermediate trip by Willie Mullins.

Jango Baie, last year’s Arkle winner, is also prominent in our antepost market despite also holding an entry for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

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