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Pulse Racing
Ryanair Chase
Detailed race analysis for The Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival
* note all data is from 2016 unless otherwise stated.
RACE SUMMARY
First run in 2005, the Ryanair Chase was introduced when the Cheltenham Festival expanded from three to four days, replacing the Cathcart Challenge Cup, which had been restricted to first- and second-season chasers.
Initially a Grade 2, it was upgraded to Grade 1 status in 2008 and has been sponsored by Ryanair since 2006.
Run on St Patrick’s Thursday over 2m 4f on the New Course, it is a Grade 1 steeplechase for horses aged 5 and older, with 17 fences to jump.
Five-year-olds carry 11st 8lb, six-year-olds and older 11st 10lb, with mares receiving a 7lb allowance. Horses must be rated over 130
WINNING PROFILE
AVERAGE AGE
8.0
167
AVERAGE OFFICIAL RATING
AVERAGE CHASE RUNS PRIOR
11.6
PATH TO CHELTENHAM
The following races have produced the most Ryanair Chase winners since 2016:
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(5) John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase (Punchestown, December)
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(2) Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase (Thurles, January)
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(2) Savills Chase (Leopardstown, December)
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(2) King George VI Chase (Kempton, December)
Number of horses that ran in these races and went on to win at Cheltenham that season in brackets.
TRAINER WINS
TRAINER S/R
WINS BY AGE
PULSE STOPPER
Of the 61 runners at SP 9/1 or more they are 0/61 | 0% (over 59% of the field)
British-trained 2/58 | 3.4%
Horses not French-bred 0/44 | 0%
PULSE INSIGHT
The average OR for the winner is 167 versus the field average of 161. Indeed runners rated 161 or lower are 1/48 | 2.1%
Favourites have a strong record at 5/11 | 45.5%
Although headgear is a negative at 0/25 | 0%, a tongue tie has been worn by the winner on 5/11 | 45.5% (Allaho twice)
Runners in the John Durkan are 5/17 | 29.4%
All winners were French-bred 11/11 | 100% from a total of 59 runners 11/59 | 18.6%
Irish-trained and French-bred 9/45 | 20.0%
Horses that won a G1 chase that season are 5/15 | 33.3%
Top trainers are Mullins 6/21 | 28.6% and Henry de Bromhead 3/15 | 20.0%
OR 169+: 5/7 | 71.4%
PULSE EDGE
PULSE SUMMARY
French-bred Dominance
All winners since 2016 were French-bred though from 59 runners (57% of the field). Grade 1 winners in the season is a positive as is the combination of French-bred Irish chasers.
Mullins has the not often seen strong combination of winners and strike rate with six winners from twenty-one runners - eighteen of which were French-bred.
PULSE VERDICT
Pulse Rate
Only French-bred horses have won since 2016
Pulse Stopper
Runners at 9/1+ are 0/61 | 0%
Pulse Insight
Runners rated 161 or lower are 1/48 | 2.1%
Pulse Edge
OR 169+ 5/7 | 71.4% (the two that did not win were not French-bred)
ALL DATA FROM 2016 UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED
LAST UPDATED SEPT 2026