Ryanair Chase Odds: All the runners for this competitive renewal

The second of three Group 1 races on Thursday is the Ryanair Chase, which is run over 2m 4f and has 11 confirmed runners at the time of posting. This looks a really competitive renewal, with three horses between 9/2 and 5/1 but there are other horses with a shout too.

Betfred will be boosting a selected horse at 11am on Thursday, but for now let's move on to the Ryanair Chase odds. 

Envoi Allen @ 9/2

Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore already teamed up to win the first race of the Festival via Slade Steel and can they now go one better and grab another Ryanair victory?

Envoi Allen is looking to go back-to-back here after winning the race in 2023, which extended the 10-year-old's record to three wins from four starts at Cheltenham.

However, since that win last March he has come up wanting in three successive races, finishing fourth in the Punchestown Gold Cup, third in the Gowran Park Champion Chase and second last time out in the Down Royal Champion Chase.

Stage Star @ 9/2

This eight-year-old son of Fame and Glory is trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Harry Cobden. Stage Star picked up the Turners Novices' Chase at the Festival last year and then went on to win the Gold Cup Handicap Chase here in November.

That good form was blighted with a disappointing run on New Year's Day and he was pulled up when out of contention. However, the ground was against him that day and he could be one to watch on Thursday.

Banbridge @ 5/1

Joseph O'Brien has just the one entry in the Ryanair in the form of Banbridge. The eight-year-old has four wins from six over fences including the Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton in January.

JJ Slevin's mount is also a previous Festival winner, picking up the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle back in 2022.

Capodanno @ 13/2

Remarkably Willie Mullins only has one runner here too, with Capodanno being ridden by Mark Walsh. Finished fourth in the Brown Advisory here last year over a longer trip and also ran in the Grand National a month later, where he was pulled up before the last.

Since then he's been back over three miles and won last time out in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham back in late January, where he finished 2l ahead of The Real Whacker.

This could be too short for him but there will be no question of him staying under testing ground.

Conflated @ 7/1

This Gordon Elliott gelding is into his fourth year over fences and has picked up five wins from 20 starts across that timeframe. However, he does possess plenty of class and is usually in and around the places, as proven when third in last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup.

He has unseated his rider in his his last two outings but if he can stay on his feet could be a real threat here.

Protektorat @ 10/1

This Sir Alex Ferguson-owned, Dan Skelton-trained nine-year-old is a fantastic jumper and has some handy pieces of form.

He finished third behind Shishkin in the Denman Chase last time out and fifth in the Gold Cup last year behind Galopin Des Champs but hasn't entered the winning circle since November 2022.

Ahoy Senor @ 11/1

This Lucinda Russell nine-year-old has generally ran over a longer distance than this and has mixed form at the Festival, finishing second in the Brown Advisory in 2022, before falling in the Gold Cup last year.

Derek Fox will take the ride and will be encouraged by a decent run in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase last time out, before finishing third of four.

Fil Dor @ 14/1 

The youngest horse in the race by some way at just six, Fil Dor is another from the Gordon Elliott yard and has been flip-flopping between hurdles and fences for a couple of seasons now.

He finished four lengths behind El Fabiolo in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork in December but struggled here up the hill last year, when finishing 19th in the Coral Cup.

Fugitif @ 20/1

Richard Hobson's Fugitif is next in the betting and has run here regularly over the last couple of seasons, finishing second in the Magners Plate Handicap last year, before winning the Gold Cup Handicap Chase in December.

Jockey Sean Bowen will fancy his chances at an upset here.

Ga Law @ 22/1

This eight-year-old is a two-time course winner, including last time out in a handicap chase in late January. Jamie Snowden is the trainer of Ga Law who has won five from 12 over the fences and carries a threat.

Hitman @ 22/1

Last, but not least is Hitman, who is French-bred and comes out of the Paul Nicholls yard.

The eight-year-old carries mixed form, having came third in this very race last year and second behind Shishkin last time out in the Demnan Chase.

However, that has to be tempered with a disappointing ninth here in January, where he finished 27 lengths behind Ga Law.

Find more Cheltenham Tips here at Betfred Insights.