Ryanair Chase Preview

The 2025 Cheltenham Festival is almost upon us, with ante post markets shaping up nicely as we get closer to final declarations.

With top trainers like Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins opening their doors to the media in the traditional pre-festival stable tours, we have decided that now is the time to preview the big races at the Festival.

The third of our preview series looks at the Ryanair Chase contest on day three, with all pricing coming from our friends at Betway who offer punters a £30 free bet and 100 free spins offer.

With Jonbon tying up the Queen Mother Champion Chase market, trainers have some thinking to do before the Ryanair Chase, with half-a-dozen or more entries entered into both contests. Assuming a few of those will swerve Jonbon, we could end up with a competitive race on Thursday.

Fact To File (6/4) is strong favourite for this contest, with last year's Brown Advisory winner following up with victory in the Punchestown Chase last November, beating Spillanes Tower by half a length. In two races since, he has found Galopins Des Champs too strong, in the Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup, but Willie Mullins' charge has a big opportunity in this contest.

Gaelic Warrior (3/1) is the second Willie Mullins entry in this contest, although he could still enter the Queen Mother Chase. Since last year's Arkle victory, he has found it tougher going and finished a disappointing 14 lengths adrift of Solness in the Dublin Chase at the beginning of February, with the connections unsure why the run was so poor. That performance is likely to see him avoid Jonbon here, but improvement is required.

Il Est Francais (7/2) is another who has entered both the Queen Mother and Ryanair contests, with the French based runner, impressing in two visits to UK shores, winning the Kauto Star Chase in 2023 and then placing 2nd, 1.75 lengths behind Banbridge in the King George VI Chase last December. Having won over 2m 1f and 2m 3f previously, the shorter trip won't be of concern and with him being in good form, this George / Zetterholm-trained contender could push the favourite.

Protektorat (9/2) beat Envoi Allen in last year's edition of this race, winning by 4 lengths. Three subsequent races drew little success, but last time out, the Dan Skelton-trained 10-yo blitzed Djelo by 23 lengths in the Fleur De Lys Chase at Windsor in January. If he can build upon that impressive performance, he could go close for a double.

King George winner, Banbridge (5/1) beat Il Est Francais on Boxing Day, eventually winning by 1.75 lengths. The drop back to 2m 4f will suit while he is capable under most conditions, so ground should not be a problem. Joseph O'Brien is likely to go for this contest, ahead of the Queen Mother and it would not be a surprise to see him right up there.

Spillanes Tower (5/1) won the Champions Novice Chase at Punchestown last April, before returning for the John Durkan in November, where he finished second to Fact To File by half a length. JJ Mangan's entry loves the mud and will certainly see shorter odds if the weather worsens during Festival week.

The Mullins-trained,  Energumene (7/1) won the Queen Mother Champion Chase, when beating Captain Guinness by 10 lengths last year and despite a couple of victories back in Ireland, he found Jonbon too good in the Clarence House Chase, missing out by 6.5 lengths. Plenty in the tank still, but at aged 11, is he capable of performing at the highest level still?

The rest are 11/1 bar