16:00 Cheltenham

Thursday 12 March 2026

All13:2014:0014:4015:2016:0016:4017:20

Ryanair Chase (Registered As The Festival Trophy) (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 5m 7.34s

Banbridge^v⁷⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 167| C| D

3/1

Classy chaser who returned to form in a first-time visor when failing by a whisker to retain his King George crown at Kempton on Boxing Day. Solid each-way chance on form, but he was well held in this race in 2024 and in the Gold Cup at this meeting last year.

Form: U174-42

Heart Wood⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 160| D

9/2

Bettered anything he previously achieved when a clear second to Fact To File in this race 12 months ago, albeit he was comprehensively outpointed by the winner. Successful twice in Grade 3s this season but sizeable step forward will be needed if he's to record his first top-flight success.

Form: 42P-141

Impaire Et Passe^p²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 160| CD

10/3

High-class performer over hurdles who posted his best effort over the larger obstacles when running out a good winner of the Grade 1 Manifesto Chase at Aintree last spring. Warmed up for this by taking the Red Mills Chase on return at Gowran last month and he should make his presence felt.

Form: 1131B-1

Jonbon^p²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 166| C| D

2/1

Has remarkably yet to finish out of the top 2 in twenty-seven career starts under Rules, rallying for a second successive win in the Clarence House at Ascot in January before adding a twelfth Grade 1 to his tally back there last month. Consistent but has been beaten on 4 of 6 visits here.

Form: 12-2211

JPR One^t,p⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 160

18/1

Winner of Haldon Gold Cup in 2024 and has worked his way back to that level this season, back on the scoresheet with a ready success in the Scottish Champion Chase at Musselburgh last time. However, he struggled over fences at this meeting both in 2024 and last year.

Form: 05-3321

Master Chewy³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 154

50/1

Back to form with a Kempton Grade 2 second in January but has struggled either side of that and was well held in this last year despite running close to his best.

Form: 6-24725

Matata⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Slevin| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 160| CD

18/1

Headstrong sort but developed into a very smart chaser last term, winning a brace of 2m handicaps, and registered first success beyond that trip under Rules when landing a valuable C&D contest on New Year's Day. However, he was well held at Windsor next time and looks up against it at this level.

Form: 3-73315

Non-Runners

Croke Park³⁹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: G Elliott J: Jack Kennedy

Fact To File³⁸

Weight: 11-10| Age: 9

T: W P Mullins J: Mark Walsh

Forecasts

Fact To File (4/6), Jonbon (2/1), Banbridge (3/1), Impaire Et Passe (10/3), Heart Wood (9/2), JPR One (18/1), Matata (18/1), Master Chewy (50/1), Croke Park (100/1)

FACT TO FILE was imperious when landing the Irish Gold Cup last month and with connections again opting to swerve Friday's blue riband event, Willie Mullins' top-drawer chaser is strongly fancied to go back-to-back in this and add a sixth top-level success to his CV. Banbridge couldn't have gone any closer to defending his King George crown at Kempton on Boxing Day, so he heads up the opposition ahead of Jonbon and Impaire et Passe.