Ryanair Chase betting 2020
The Ryanair Chase is the championship race for experienced horses at the intermediate distance. It is the third race on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival which is usually a Thursday and in 2020 is on March 12. The race takes place on the New Course at Cheltenham and the start time is 2.50pm. The race distance is two miles and four and a half furlongs.
The Ryanair Chase is suited to horses who don’t have the speed for the Champion Chase or the stamina for the Gold Cup. The winner of the novices’ chase over almost two and a half miles in the previous year is often a leading contender for the Ryanair Chase. The sponsors also own Gigginstown House Stud who often have at least one runner in their own race which they won in 2018 with Balko des Flos.
Ryanair Chase race conditions
The Ryanair Chase is more a test of stamina than speed but not as demanding as the Gold Cup. It is run over one circuit and a half of the galloping New Course and there are 17 fences. The Ryanair Chase is open to horses aged five. Runners of that age carry 11-07 while older horses carry one pound more. Mares receive an allowance of seven pounds. The total prize fund is £350,000 and the winner receives £196,945. At the time of writing 44 horses have been entered at the first declaration stage but the final field is usually about 10 runners.
History of Ryanair Chase
The race was added to the Festival programme in 2005 when a fourth day was introduced to the meeting. The equivalent event was the Cathcart Challenge Cup but only first and second season chasers were eligible. The race is registered as the Festival Trophy and it was first run as a Grade 2 event. The first running was sponsored by the Daily Telegraph but since then Ryanair have been the backers for a race that was given Grade 1 status in 2008. The only multiple winner of the Ryanair Chase is Albertas Run (2010 and 2011).
Last Year
Ryanair Chase 2019 result
The 2019 Ryanair Chase produced one of the sports stories of the year. Frodon won the race and the jockey was Bryony Frost who was winning her first Grade 1 race. The jockey became the first female to ride a jumps winner at the highest level. The horse led from the start and jumped superbly. Frodon was briefly headed after the final fence but regained the lead on the flat to win by one and a quarter lengths. Footpad was the 7/2 favourite but the horse was unable to quicken at the business end of the race. The 2018 winner, Balko des Flos, was outpaced and never on terms with Frodon.
Result
| Place | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Distance | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Frodon | Bryony Frost | Paul Nicholls | NA | 7/2 |
| 2nd | Aso | Charlie Deutsch | Venetia Williams | 1 1/4 | 33/1 |
| 3rd | Road To Respect | Sean Flanagan | Noel Meade | 1 3/4 | 9/2 |
Prize Money
- Winner £196.945.00
- 2nd £74,200.00
- 3rd £37.135.00
- 4th £18,550.00
- 5th £10,006.00
- 6th £4,655.00
- 7th £2,310.00
- 8th £1,190.00
Betting dividends:
- Tote Win: £4.80
- Place: £1.70, £7.00, £1.70
- EX: £105.30
- Trifecta : £497.70
- SF: £143.44
- Tricast: £7.12
- Swingers: £23.00, £5.00, £21.90
There were 12 runners so each way bets were settled at one fifth the odds for 3 places.
The Chase winners list
| YEAR | WINNER | SECOND | THIRD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | FRODON (FR) | ASO (FR) | ROAD TO RESPECT (IRE) |
| J: Bryony FrostT: Paul Nicholls | J: Charlie DeutschT: Venetia Williams | J: Sean FlanaganT: Noel Meade, Ireland | |
| 2018 | BALKO DES FLOS (FR) | UN DE SCEAUX (FR) | CLOUDY DREAM (IRE) |
| J: Davy RussellT: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland | J: P. TownendT: W. P. Mullins, Ireland | J: Brian HughesT: Ruth Jefferson | |
| 2017 | UN DE SCEAUX (FR) | SUB LIEUTENANT (IRE) | ASO (FR) |
| J: R. WalshT: W. P. Mullins, Ireland | J: D. J. MullinsT: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland | J: Charlie DeutschT: Venetia Williams | |
| 2016 | VAUTOUR (FR) | VALSEUR LIDO (FR) | ROAD TO RICHES (IRE) |
| J: R. WalshT: W. P. Mullins, Ireland | J: D. J. MullinsT: W. P. Mullins, Ireland | J: B. J. CooperT: Noel Meade, Ireland | |
| 2015 | UXIZANDRE (FR) | MA FILLEULE (FR) | DON COSSACK (GER) |
| J: A. P. McCoyT: Alan King | J: Barry GeraghtyT: Nicky Henderson | J: B. J. CooperT: Gordon Elliott, Ireland | |
| 2014 | DYNASTE (FR) | HIDDEN CYCLONE (IRE) | RAJDHANI EXPRESS |
| J: Tom ScudamoreT: David Pipe | J: Andrew J. McNamaraT: John Joseph Hanlon, Ireland | J: Mr Sam Waley-CohenT: Nicky Henderson | |
| 2013 | CUE CARD | FIRST LIEUTENANT (IRE) | FOR NON STOP (IRE) |
| J: Joe TizzardT: Colin Tizzard | J: B. J. CooperT: M. F. Morris, Ireland | J: Noel FehilyT: Nick Williams | |
| 2012 | RIVERSIDE THEATRE | ALBERTAS RUN (IRE) | MEDERMIT (FR) |
| J: Barry GeraghtyT: Nicky Henderson | J: A. P. McCoyT: Jonjo O’Neill | J: Robert ThorntonT: Alan King | |
| 2011 | ALBERTAS RUN (IRE) | KALAHARI KING (FR) | RUBI LIGHT (FR) |
| J: A. P. McCoyT: Jonjo O’Neill | J: Graham LeeT: Ferdy Murphy, France | J: A. E. LynchT: Robert Hennessy, Ireland | |
| 2010 | ALBERTAS RUN (IRE) | POQUELIN (FR) | J’Y VOLE (FR) |
| J: A. P. McCoyT: Jonjo O’Neill | J: R. WalshT: Paul Nicholls | J: Davy CondonT: W. P. Mullins, Ireland |
Ryanair Chase betting Trends Since 2005
- The average price of the winners: over 11/2.
- Range of Starting Prices: Evens to 16/1.
- Number of outright and joint favourites: 5.
- Odds-on favourites: 0.
- Double-figure priced winners: 2.
- Most common range of odds: 6 winners from 7/2 to 9/2.
Chase Race Trends Since 2005
- British trained winners: 12.
- Irish trained winners: 3.
- Most common age: 7 with 5 wins.
- Weight range: All winners carried 11-10.
- Leading jockey (wins): Ruby Walsh and AP McCoy – both retired (3).
- Leading trainer: (wins): Paul Nicholls (3).
Ryanair Chase 12 Year Winner Other Trends
- 10 aged from 7 to 9.
- 4 favourites or joint favourites.
- 10 in top 3 in the betting.
- 4 won previous race.
- 8 ran in the last 61 days.
- 4 ran in the King George V1 Chase on previous start.
- 0 won the race and 1 was placed.
- 11 had run at least 2 times at Cheltenham before.
- 10 had won at Cheltenham.
- 9 had run at least 5 times over 20 to 21 furlongs.
- 10 had won 2 times or more over that distance.
- 10 had run in 7 chases or more.
- 10 won 4 chases or more in the past.
- 11 rated 161 or higher.
- 11 had won at Grade 1-3 level.
- 9 had won at Grade 1 level.
- 8 ran 3 times or more earlier in the season.
- 9 won a race that season.
These statistics have been produced by www.thestatsdontlie.com
Ryan Air Chase Records Since 2005
Here are some key Ryan Air Chase Records broken into several key categories, including jockey, trainer and owner.
- Horse
There is only one multiple winner, Albertas Run in 2010 and 2011. - Jockey
Ruby Walsh: Thisthatandtother (2005), Taranis (2007), Vautour (2016 and Un De Sceaux (2017.) - Trainer
Paul Nicholls: Thisthatandtother (2005), Taranis (2007), Frodon (2019). - Owner
Trevor Hemmings: Abertas Run (2010 and 2011).
2020 Ryanair Chase Leading Contenders & tips
Ryanair Chase betting is open with five horse priced at less than 10/1 towards the end of January. Here are the most fancied runners in the market and the leading contenders. Please note that all statistics and ratings are correct as at January 22nd and are subject to change.
A Plus Tard
| Trainer | Henry de Bromhead |
|---|---|
| Regular jockey | Rachael Blackmore |
| Best Racing Post Rating | 170 |
| Best Official Rating | 165 |
| Best RPR this season | 170 |
| Best OR this season | 160 |
| Chase runs | 7 |
| Chase wins | 3 |
| Career runs | 12 |
| Career wins | 5 |
| Total prize money | £209,045 |
Min
| Trainer | Willie Mullins |
|---|---|
| Regular jockey | Paul Townend |
| Best Racing Post Rating | 180 |
| Best Official Rating | 171 |
| Best RPR this season | 164 |
| Best OR this season | 171 |
| Chase runs | 14 |
| Chase wins | 8 |
| Career runs | 19 |
| Career wins | 10 |
| Total prize money | £695,046 |
Defi Du Seuil
| Trainer | Philip Hobbs |
|---|---|
| Regular jockey | Barry Geraghty |
| Best Racing Post Rating | 171 |
| Best Official Rating | 170 |
| Best RPR this season | 167 |
| Best OR this season | 166 |
| Chase runs | 9 |
| Chase wins | 6 |
| Career runs | 20 |
| Career wins | 14 |
| Total prize money | £594,912 |
Frodon
| Trainer | Paul Nicholls |
|---|---|
| Regular jockey | Bryony Frost |
| Best Racing Post Rating | 177 |
| Best Official Rating | 168 |
| Best RPR this season | 167 |
| Best OR this season | 168 |
| Chase runs | 26 |
| Chase wins | 12 |
| Career runs | 34 |
| Career wins | 14 |
| Total prize money | £766,713 |
Riders Onthe Storm
| Trainer | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
|---|---|
| Regular jockey | Sam Twiston-Davies |
| Best Racing Post Rating | 169 |
| Best Official Rating | 162 |
| Best RPR this season | 169 |
| Best OR this season | 162 |
| Chase runs | 7 |
| Chase wins | 3 |
| Career runs | 15 |
| Career wins | 4 |
| Total prize money | £117,016 |
Cyrname
| Trainer | Paul Nicholls |
|---|---|
| Regular jockey | Harry Cobden |
| Best Racing Post Rating | 181 |
| Best Official Rating | 177 |
| Best RPR this season | 179 |
| Best OR this season | 177 |
| Chase runs | 12 |
| Chase wins | 6 |
| Career runs | 18 |
| Career wins | 7 |
| Total prize money | £320,739 |
Reel Steel
| Trainer | Willie Mullins |
|---|---|
| Regular jockey | Paul Townend |
| Best Racing Post Rating | 166 |
| Best Official Rating | 164 |
| Best RPR this season | 166 |
| Best OR this season | 160 |
| Chase runs | 9 |
| Chase wins | 5 |
| Career runs | 19 |
| Career wins | 6 |
| Total prize money | £164,726 |
Road To Respect
| Trainer | Noel Meade |
|---|---|
| Regular jockey | Sean Flanagan |
| Best Racing Post Rating | 170 |
| Best Official Rating | 167 |
| Best RPR this season | 166 |
| Best OR this season | 169 |
| Chase runs | 19 |
| Chase wins | 7 |
| Career runs | 26 |
| Career wins | 8 |
| Total prize money | £584,115 |
Footpad
| Trainer | Willie Mullins |
|---|---|
| Regular jockey | Daryl Jacob |
| Best Racing Post Rating | 170 |
| Best Official Rating | 165 |
| Best RPR this season | 165 |
| Best OR this season | 165 |
| Chase runs | 11 |
| Chase wins | 6 |
| Career runs | 26 |
| Career wins | 11 |
| Total prize money | £656,386 |
Cilaos Emery
| Trainer | Willie Mullins |
|---|---|
| Regular jockey | Danny Mullins |
| Best Racing Post Rating | 166 |
| Best Official Rating | 165 |
| Best RPR this season | 166 |
| Best OR this season | NA |
| Chase runs | 3 |
| Chase wins | 3 |
| Career runs | 10 |
| Career wins | 6 |
| Total prize money | £160,792 |
Ryan Air Chase form & race analysis
A good starting point is last year’s winner, Frodon. After a disappointing first two runs this season the horse came back to near his best with a win at Kempton in January. However, only one horse has won back-to-back Ryanair Chase’s and everything went right in the race last year, during the Cheltenham Festival. Defi Du Seuil will probably run in the Champion Chase. A Plus Tard is an improving horse who won a handicap chase at the Festival last year and is proven at the highest level over fences. The horse’s win at Leopardstown over Christmas represents outstanding form.
However, MIN is the selection on historical ratings which put the horse a few pounds ahead of the other leading contenders. Cyrname has the higher RPR but the distance and the New Course at Cheltenham are not suited to the horse’s strengths. Riders Onthe Storm is progressive but may come up short at this level. Footpad would be a contender on his best form and has won a Grade 1 Chase at Cheltenham, Road To Respect finished third in the race last season and can make the frame again but MIN is the horse to back.
Our Ryanair Chase tip::