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Date published: March 16, 2026
Thursday 12th March 16:00
Below are our tips for the Ryanair Chase taking place at 16:00 on Thursday 12th March at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. Our tips are provided by our expert horse racing analysts Will Smith & David Young. Be sure to take a look at our other Cheltenham betting tips for more races.
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| Bookie | Selection | Best Odds | Market | Bet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Heart Wood | 14/1 | EW 3 Places Ryanair Chase |
Place Bet |
 |
Banbridge | 6/1 | EW 3 Places Ryanair Chase |
Place Bet |
Date of Tips: 12/03/2026
Disclaimer The odds for these selections were correct at the time of publishing (07:00 12/03/2026) but may have changed since. Please check the latest price before placing your bet.
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The Ryanair Chase has a much more compelling and competitive look to it than could have potentially been the case when assessing the race a few weeks ago.
Fact To File is clearly the standard setter, as he was imperious in the race last year and in the Irish Gold Cup at the DRF. However, he can throw in a below par run at times and wouldn’t be the first horse to recoil off a massive run, nor be the first horse this week who ran at the DRF to bomb out. Plenty look to still be feeling the effects of their heavy ground efforts at that meeting.
So, if Fact To File is vulnerable, then the question is who might be the main beneficiary? Well, the ground is right for Banbridge but has he ever been at his absolute best around Cheltenham? Despite winning here I feel his best performances are elsewhere.
Impaire Et Passe is very talented and has big performances in him, but again, are his best runs at different types of tracks and would he prefer softer ground? While it could be enlightening that owner JP McManus runs Jonbon here, when you fancy he’d have been happy to bank on Fact To File and save Jonbon for Aintree after some tough races already this season. But not for me.
So, the 14/1 each-way about Heart Wood with BetVictor, Sky Bet or Paddy Power makes significant appeal to me, as perhaps the best piece of relevant form (should Fact To File be vulnerable) is Heart Wood’s runner-up finish to him last year.
On the clock, that run and his Tramore win are just about the two standout and most relevant pieces of evidence out of any of the runners, and from being the ‘wise guy’ pick a few weeks ago, Heart Wood has seemingly been completely forgotten about on account of the race appearing to be deeper than was expected. I think that might be a red herring, and at 14/1 he is the overpriced horse in the race.
This looks a penalty kick for Fact To File after opting to come here rather than the Gold Cup, which looked certain after his Irish Gold Cup win last time out. He was a ready winner of this race 12 months ago, he boasts an impressive Festival record of 211 and he’s the right favourite.
However, he’s twice run on ground slower than good to soft and was beaten both times whereas BANBRIDGE has form figures on the same ground of 114112. He’s not a long way behind Fact To File on recent best RPR’s and he too is a previous Festival winner. He was well beaten in this 12 months ago but the ground will be different now and I’ll take the chance on him in a race where it might seem unlikely that the favourites beaten, but if he is I think BANBRIDGE is the horse to do it
BANBRIDGE – 0.5 STAR EW @ 6/1 (3 places 1/5)
The Ryanair Chase is a key race at the Cheltenham Festival, sitting between the Champion Chase and the Gold Cup in distance. It takes place on the Thursday of the festival and is a race that many racing punters will be looking to have a flutter on. Whether you’re backing your own selections, or following the tips from our racing expert Will Smith, be sure to take this opportunity to claim some Ryanair Chase free bets from the recommended UK bookies below.
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| Selection | Odds |
|---|---|
| Fact To File | 4/7 |
| Banbridge | 6/1 |
| Heart Wood | 7/1 |
| Impaire Et Passe | 12/1 |
| Jonbon | 16/1 |
| Firefox | 16/1 |
| Gaelic Warrior | 25/1 |
| Matata | 33/1 |
| JPR One | 33/1 |
| Energumene | 40/1 |
| Master Chewy | 100/1 |
| Croke Park | 150/1 |
| Ryanair Chase | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Time | Distance | Type |
| Thurs 12/03/2026 | 16:00 | 2m 5f | Chase |
The Ryanair Chase is a Grade 1 steeplechase race that has become one of the most popular and prestigious events at the Cheltenham Festival. The race, which is run over a distance of 2 miles and 5 furlongs on the New Course, is open to horses aged five and older. It was introduced in 2005 and has since then attracted some of the best chasers in the business.
The Ryanair Chase is known for its fast pace and thrilling jumps, making it a crowd favourite. Over the years, it has produced some of the most exciting moments in the history of the festival. The race features 17 fences to be jumped and requires a horse with both speed and jumping ability.
Past winners of the Ryanair Chase include some of the most famous horses in the sport, including Un De Sceaux, Frodon, and Cue Card.
The Ryanair Chase usually brings together a really strong group of middle-distance chasers, and is a race Will Smith and Dave Young examine in detail every year. The blend of proven quality and up-and-coming runners often leaves room for value in the market.
You might see an ante-post tip for the 2026 Ryanair earlier in the season if Will or Dave feel a horse is being underestimated in the mid-range trip. This race can often take shape sooner than others, so early views are not uncommon when a standout piece of form emerges. Take a look at our future racing tips page where you’ll find all of Will & Dave’s early selections.
Once we get close to the Festival and the final declarations are confirmed, their race-day Ryanair Chase tips will break down which horses are best suited to the trip, the pace, and the expected ground. Will and Dave pay close attention to how adaptable a horse is tactically, as this race can be run at a surprisingly sharp pace.
It’s also a race that sometimes features in Will Smith’s EW Lucky 15 during Cheltenham week. His Lucky 15s have built an impressive following thanks to long-term profit, and the Ryanair has previously supplied some of his stronger selections.
And if you’re hunting for extra places on the Ryanair Chase, head on over to our daily extra places page where you’ll be able to see which bookies are paying out on places above the industry standard.
We also have the best Placepot tips available on a daily basis, including throughout the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, which have proven to be extremely popular due to their success and the enhanced pots from the Tote.
The Ryanair has consistently favoured horses in their prime, with the last thirteen winners aged between seven and nine. Class is essential, as fourteen of the last eighteen winners had already won a Grade 1, and the last sixteen were rated 161 or higher. Those rated 170 or above are four from six.
Course form has been a major positive, with fourteen of the last eighteen winners already successful at Cheltenham, and the last ten winners had all run in at least two previous Festivals. Irish-trained runners have won eight of the last ten renewals, and the betting has been a good guide, with thirteen of the last fourteen returning at 17/2 or shorter.
The Ryanair Chase is run over 2 miles, 4 furlongs and 127 yards on the New Course.
It is a Grade 1 chase designed for high-class chasers who are best suited to an intermediate distance.
Yes, it often attracts horses who may not quite stay the Gold Cup trip or lack the speed for the Champion Chase.
The race was added to the Festival programme in 2005.
Experience at Cheltenham can be beneficial due to the unique track layout and stiff finish.
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