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The Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham Festival is a key event in the annual horse racing calendar. Here’s everything you need to know about the Ryanair Chase 2025.
With the Cheltenham Festival on the horizon, we’re here to make sure you have all of the information you need to make it an unforgettable event. Bringing you four days of world-class racing at Cheltenham Racecourse from Tuesday 11th to Friday 14th March, you can expect high-stakes competition, legendary rivalries and an electric atmosphere from start to finish.
One of the standout contests during Cheltenham Festival is the Ryanair Chase. In this article, you’ll discover when this exhilarating race takes place, how to experience it, and how to place a bet on the Ryanair Chase. Alternatively, explore the full festival schedule, or discover our complete guide to Cheltenham.
What is the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham?
A must-see event, the Ryanair Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase that has become a key highlight of the Festival week.
The Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham Festival strikes a perfect balance between speed and stamina, attracting elite chasers aged 5 and over that thrive at an intermediate distance. Since its inception in 2005, the Ryanair Chase has grown in prestige, serving as a crucial target for top-class horses and offering a lucrative prize pot (£375,000 overall, with £211,013 to first place).
What date is the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham Festival?
You don’t want to miss this iconic turf race, so make sure to put the Ryanair Chase in your diary right away! The 2025 Ryanair Chase takes place on Thursday 13th March, which is Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival, and also St. Patrick’s Thursday.
What time is the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham?
The Ryanair Chase time is booked for 3:20pm on Thursday 13th March. This puts it between the Pertemps Network Final (2:40pm) and the Stayers’ Hurdle (4pm).
The Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham Festival is run over two miles and 4 furlongs (4,139 metres). The duration of the race depends on ground conditions (soft ground tends to extend the race a little), but you can generally expect it to last between 5 minutes and 5 minutes 30 seconds.
Where does the Ryanair Chase 2025 take place?
The Ryanair Chase is run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse, with 17 fences that the horses need to jump over.
How can you watch the Cheltenham Ryanair Chase?
The best way to experience this epic event is of course to be there in person during the Festival. However, we obviously can’t all be in attendance during the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, so it’s a good job that all of the action can be watched live on ITV1 on Thursday 13th March at 3:20pm.
You could also treat yourself to a Racing TV subscription and watch the entirety of the Cheltenham Festival over the course of four days – just make sure to stock up with snacks!
The Ryanair Chase 2025 horses
At the moment, 28 horses remain at the latest entry stage for the 2025 edition of the Ryanair Chase. The final number will be determined closer to the race date, as each horse’s form and suitability needs to be assessed. Typically, around 10 to 12 runners compete in the Ryanair Chase.
Notable entries include Banbridge, El Fabiolo, Energumene, Fact To File, Gaelic Warrior, Grey Dawning, and Il Est Francais; and, below, you can find the full list of potential horses.
|
Fact to File |
Ga Law |
|
Gaelic Warrior |
Springwell Bay |
|
Il Est Francais |
Blue Lord |
|
Banbridge |
Jpr One |
|
Spillanes Tower |
Master Chewy |
|
Protektorat |
Ginnys Destiny |
|
Energumene |
Hang in There |
|
El Fabiolo |
Journey With Me |
|
Djelo |
Blood Destiny |
|
Found a Fifty |
Conflated |
|
Jungle Boogie |
Gentleman de Mee |
|
Envoi Allen |
Hitman |
|
Grangeclare West |
Le Patron |
|
Heart Wood |
Fil Dor |
How to bet on the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham
At Betway, we make it easy to bet on the Ryanair Chase 2025. Whether you’re a first timer who fancies a flutter or a seasoned follower of the Cheltenham Festival, we have everything you need to back your favourite.
You can either place a race win bet on your chosen horse, or take advantage of our 1/5 each way odds, which includes a win bet and a place bet (in this case, if your horse finishes in the top 3).
With that in mind, for the latest advice from our experts, explore our complete collection of Cheltenham betting tips, or check out our full range of horse racing antepost odds.