In what is one of the five feature races at the famed annual Cheltenham Festival, the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase has established itself as one of the most sought-after fixtures on the UK & Ireland’s National Hunt racing calendar.
Contested over two miles and four-and-a-half furlongs, the third race on day three has seen some of the sport’s preeminent racehorses triumph – and with that in mind – read on as we take a look at the last three horses to join the elite honour roll that is Ryanair Chase winners.
Allaho – 2021 & 2022
Arguably the greatest thoroughbred to take part in the race since its inception in 2005, the Willie Mullins-trained Allaho is only one of two horses to have won the Ryanair Chase on multiple occasions. The French-bred horse first achieved the feat two years ago, when he entered as the 3/1 favourite in the betting lines to secure his maiden victory at Prestbury Park.
The then seven-year-old would go on to dominate the field by a convincing 12 lengths, jumping fluently and running on well after the last to hand Mullins his fourth Ryanair Chase success. With course and distance now under his belt, Allaho made a second tilt at Cheltenham glory in 2022 – where he was the 4/7 favourite.
His victory was just as emphatic the second time around, once again jumping well to take the lead two out. The eight-year-old would experience a slight blip at the last, but managed to stay on his feet and romped home to reign supreme by 14 lengths. And as mentioned earlier, in doing so – Allaho joined Albertas Run as the only horse to win the Ryanair Chase twice.
Allaho, now nine, looked primed for a third tilt at Cheltenham in 2023 after a dominant victory in the Gold Cup at Punchestown last April, before an abdominal bleed just weeks out from the Festival ruled him out. While it’s disappointing we won’t see the Cheveley Park Stud-owned horse saddling up for a shot at history this year, don’t be surprised if he is there or thereabouts in 2024.
Min – 2020
Another Mullins-trained thoroughbred, 2020 winner Min broke his trainer’s two-year Ryanair Chase drought with a narrow triumph by a neck from Saint Calvados. After starting well and establishing a nice path in second, Min and jockey Paul Townend found themselves in the lead at the fifth. The pair were then battling it out for pole position over the next two fences, with the lead beginning to interchange between them and pre-race favourite A Plus Tard.
Min would manage to regain the ascendency and push out to a 11-and-a-half length cushion before making his charge up the straight with a fast-finishing pack chasing him. He fought on valiantly and held on to take the spoils in an absolute thriller.
Despite putting forth such an inspired performance at Cheltenham’s 2020 renewal, Min couldn’t recreate his heroics the following year, pulling up two out from the finish.
Frodon – 2019
Entering off the back of a pair of solid displays in a Grade 3 and Grade 2 contest at the same course just months prior, French-bred horse Frodon was taking exceptional form into the Ryanair Chase in 2019. It wasn’t enough to secure him the favourite’s tag however, with him garnering a price of 9/2 in the lead-up to the race – which was good for joint third favourite.
He would go on to defy the Cheltenham betting guide, jumping beautifully and rallying late to secure the lead with 160 yards remaining and win by just over a length. Similarly to the aforementioned Min, Frodon couldn’t make it back-to-back Ryanair Chase victories in 2020 – ultimately finishing fourth and 15 lengths off the eventual champion, giving further credence to just how difficult a challenge it is to become a multiple-time winner.
