Ryanair Chase Trends for 2026 Cheltenham Festival

By Jessica Lamb

Feb 19th, 2026 10:42 AM EST

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2026 Ryanair Chase Trends

Finding the winner of the Ryanair Chase isn't always easy, so we've taken a look at the most important Ryanair Chase trends from the last 10 years for you to make placing bets at your chosen horse racing betting sites a doddle. We've used them to find you the best horses to back right now in the Ryanair Chase 2026 on Cheltenham Festival betting sites.

The last 10 winners:

• Were aged no older than nine - a 10-year-old last won in 2011.
• Had run in at least six chases in their career and won at least two.
• Had run in at least three Grade 1s - eight were Grade 1 winners.
• Had won over at least 2m3f before.
• Had run at Cheltenham at least twice before, seven had won.
• Had an official handicap rating over fences of at least 162.
• Last ran no more than 82 days ago - in a chase.
• Had been first or second in one of their last three races - seven of the last 10 winners finished first two last time out.
• Were shorter than 17/2 in the betting.

Nine of the last 10 winners:

• Had won on a left-handed course (exception Allaho in 2021)
• Were in the top three in the betting (Protektorat was fourth-favourite)

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Key Trials from the last 10 years

• The King George VI Chase at Kempton has thrown up two of the last 10 winners (Vautour and Envoi Allen). The Jukebox Man won it in December 2025, edging 2024 winner Banbridge and Gaelic Warrior in a tight finish but is aiming for the Gold Cup.
• The Ascot Chase has produced winners in the past, but not in the last 10 years. This year's winner Jonbon is set to run in the Ryanair Chase as he looks to finally add a Cheltenham win to his glittering CV.
• The Clarence House Chase at Ascot has also been useful, producing one winner (Un De Sceaux) and several placed finishers. Jonbon also won that this year.
• Allaho won a chase at Thurles before his two victories.

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Trainer Trends

The Ryanair Chase, like much of the Cheltenham Festival overall, is all about Willie Mullins. He has six of the last 10 winners, including three in a row between 2020 and 2022 plus last year's winner Fact To File.

Henry De Bromhead has a pair of wins in the last decade, whilst Paul Nicholls has three victories, but only one of those has come since 2007.

Jockey Trends

Not including retired jockeys, only Paul Townend - leading rider for Willie Mullins - has won the race more than once in the last 10 years with victories in 2020 and 2022.

How Did the Trends do Last Year?

Last year's favourite Fact To File fit every notable trend and duly delivered victory for Willie Mullins, romping home in style by nine lengths. The eight-year-old was an experienced chaser with four wins from seven goes, including three Grade 1s, and was previously victorious at Cheltenham after winning the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase in 2024.

Whilst he had only come third in his last run before the festival, Fact To File had won a Grade 1 Punchestown in November and then finished second at Leopardstown a month later.

2025 Ryanair Chase Result

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Who Fits The Trends Best In 2026?

It's set to be a barnstormer of a Ryanair Chase in 2026 with multiple horses all fitting the bill. As we know, Fact To File fits all the trends and will surely be popular if he comes back to defend his title instead of entering the Gold Cup. Should Mullins opt to send last year's winner into Friday's showpiece, then Gaelic Warrior could be the one to watch.

The eight-year-old is an extremely experienced runner at the top level, winning four Grade 1 chases including the Arkle at Cheltenham in 2024. Jonbon will also be looking to shake off his Cheltenham hoodoo in style here, whilst last year's runner up Heart Wood may return to try for one better.

Ryanair Chase 2026 Odds

Cheltenham Festival 2026 Trends

Cheltenham Festival Day One Trends

• Supreme Novices' Hurdle Trends
• Arkle Novices' Hurdle Trends
• Ultima Handicap Chase Trends
• Cheltenham Mares' Hurdle Trends
• Cheltenham Champion Hurdle Trends
• Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Trends
• National Hunt Novices' Chase Trends

Cheltenham Festival Day Two Trends

• Turners Novices' Hurdle Trends
• Brown Advisory Novices' Chase Trends
• Coral Cup Trends
• Cheltenham Cross Country Chase Trends
• Cheltenham Champion Chase Trends
• Grand Annual Chase Trends
• Cheltenham Champion Bumper Trends

Cheltenham Festival Day Three Trends

• Cheltenham Mares' Novices' Hurdle Trends
• Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase
• Pertemps Final Trends
• Ryanair Chase Trends
• Stayers' Hurdle Trends
• Cheltenham Festival Plate Handicap Trends
• Kim Muir Handicap Chase Trends

Cheltenham Festival Day Four Trends

• Triumph Hurdle Trends
• County Hurdle Trends
• Mares' Chase Trends
• Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Trends
• Cheltenham Gold Cup Trends
• Cheltenham Foxhunter Chase Trends
• Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle Trends

About the Author

Jessica Lamb

More About Jessica

Jessica Lamb is a multi-media journalist who specializes in horse racing, cycling and sports betting and has worked on desks at the Racing Post and Irish Sun newspapers.

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