Cheltenham Festival 202412 – 15 March 2024

Ryanair Steeple Chase Betting Tips and Race Preview – Cheltenham 2024

Vautour, with Ruby Walsh up, on their way to winning the Cheltenham Ryanair Steeple Chase

The Ryanair Cheltenham Chase is a staying chase for those who are not quite capable of staying the Gold Cup distance. Many people think this is the easier option to go for, rather than the Gold Cup, but we have seen some fantastic winners of this race and that is no longer the case. There are many great race horses who can’t quite stay the Gold Cup distance, and this is an ideal race for those horses, giving them chance to win at the festival and having their moment of glory.

It is important to check out the horses that you fancy for this race, to make sure they are not entered in other races, and likely to take up those other engagements. As the season goes on, you should be able to tell which horses are likely to drop back to two miles, or step up to over three miles for the Gold Cup. This should help you thin out this race, and work out what will win between those who you think are going to turn up and run, instead of going elsewhere.

The Ryanair has quickly become a top race and deserves to be alongside the big four as a top race that is one of the highlights of the festival.

Ryanair Chase Tips – Day 3, 14:50

Favourites Horse Odds Best Bookmaker Ryanair Chase Tips
#1 Un De Sceaux 13/2 Betfair Read Un De Sceaux Preview Here
#2 Top Notch 16/1 Bet365 Read Top Notch Preview Here

2024 Cheltenham Ryanair Chase Preview

Ruby Walsh celebrates winning the Cheltenham Ryanair Steeple Chase on Vautour

After you have taken into account horses that will be going elsewhere, you should have a list of horses who are very likely to run in this race. When you have this picture you can then work through the race and decide what you want to back. The horse I like the most is Un De Sceaux, who won the race last season and looks sure to come back and defend his crown. He has shown that this distance sees him in a very good light, and while he can also run at two miles, the potential to meet Altior and Douvan in that race means they are highly likely to come back here. There has been little to come out of the novice division to challenge him, and he looks to have the beating of those who would re-oppose from last season.

The second horse to look at in Ryanair Chase 2024 Willie Mullins thinks of him. It looks almost certain Top Notch will run in this race, because Altior is from the same stable and heading to the Champion Chase. Assuming he does then he would have a chance of being near at the finish.

Ruby Walsh celebrates winning the Cheltenham Ryanair Steeple Chase on Vautour

Ryanair Chase Tips – Cheltenham 2024

Un De Sceaux, Favourite #1

Favourites Horse Odds Best Bookmaker Bet Now
#1 Un De Sceaux 13/2 Betfair Bet Now

If you are looking to back a horse who looks certain to run in this race and one who knows what it takes to win it then Un De Sceaux is certainly the horse for you. He won last season’s race in brilliant fashion, taking the race up and holding on despite challengers coming at him, showing just how brave he is. There is no reason to think this season’s Ryanair will be any tougher, and there doesn’t appear to be a huge amount of young horses coming up to try and take his crown.

After racing at two miles for a big part of last season, and for most of his career, many wondered whether Un De Sceaux would stay the distance in this race. However, he did that with ease and when he went back to two miles after he was beaten, making me think that he needs to race over further now and that makes this race his ideal target. Un De Sceaux ticks a lot of boxes right now and he looks to be the safest bet in the Ryanair.

Top Notch, Favourite #2

Favourites Horse Odds Best Bookmaker Bet Now
#2 Top Notch 16/1 Bet365 Bet Now

Speaking of Ryanair Chase tips, Top Notch may only be a small horse, but he has a huge heart and you know that he will always try his best for you if you back him. He ran very well last season, winning many races and coming up against a  potentially very smart Yorkhill in the JLT, a race he lost by a length. Due to Altior’s Champion Chase bid, assuming everything goes well with that it looks certain that Top Notch runs in the Ryanair Chase. If he does then he will be nowhere near 16/1 on the day, the price he is now.

There doesn’t appear to be many standout novice chasers coming up to run at this distance, and it is highly likely that Top Notch will be the best of them. We don’t think Top Notch is as good as Un De Sceaux, unless he really improves this season, but compared to the rest of those who ran in the Ryanair last year, we think he could be better. That gives him a great each way chance, and if anything happened to un De Sceaux, a great chance of winning the race, as he boasts great Ryanair Chase odds.

Ryanair Chase Betting Odds

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Cue Card 9/2 7/2 7/2 4 9/2 4 5
Un De Sceaux 5 9/2 5 4 9/2 7/2 7/2
Valseur Lido
Josses Hill 10 9 10 10 9 10 10
Outlander 8 10 10 10 14 12 10
Black Hercules 16 14 10 16 16 12 10
Sub Lieutenant 16 12 14 16 16 16 16
Vroum Vroum Mag 8 12 7 10 16 10 10
Fox Norton 14 14 16 16 16 16 16
Zabana 20 16 12 16 16 20 14
Each-way terms: 3
1/4
3
1/4
3
1/5
3
1/5
3
1/5
3
1/5
3
1/5
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William-Hill Winner Betfair Betway NetBet 888sports
Cue Card 9/2 4 5 9/2 4 9/2
Un De Sceaux 9/2 4 9/2 5 4 9/2
Valseur Lido
Josses Hill 12 10 10 10 10 9
Outlander 10 10 14 10 10 12
Black Hercules 14 14 16 14 14 14
Sub Lieutenant 16 14 16 16 16 16
Vroum Vroum Mag 8 10 16 10 11 14
Fox Norton 16 16 16 16 16
Zabana 20 16 14 20 18 16
Each-way terms: 3
1/5
3
1/4
3
1/5
3
1/5
3
1/5
3
1/5
Please check all aspects of your bets before placement. Odds shown come from online bookmakers.
The Best Odds Are Bold, Odds Shortening Odds Drifting

Cheltenham Ryanair Chase Winners

It was only when Willie Mullins won the race two years ago that the Irish finally won the race, with British trainers dominating before then. I expect to see the Irish trainers continue to improve in this race, making it a much more even score between the two over the coming years.

Last 10 winners

Year Horse Jockey Trainer
2018 Balko des Flos Davy Russell Henry de Bromhead
2017 Un De Sceaux R.Walsh W.Mullins
2016 Vautour R.Walsh W.Mullins
2015 Uxizandre A.P.McCoy A.King
2014 Dynaste T.Scudamore D.Pipe
2013 Cue Card J.Tizzard C.Tizzard
2012 Riverside Theatre B.Gerraghty N.Henderson
2011 Albertas Run A.P.McCoy J.O’Neill
2010 Albertas Run A.P.McCoy J.O’Neill
2009 Imperial Commander P.Brennan N.Twiston-Davies

Leading Trainers

Wins Trainer Years
2 W.Mullins 2016, 2017
2 D.Pipe 2008, 2014
2 J.O’Neill 2010, 2011
1 Henry de Bromhead 2018
1 A.King 2015
1 C.Tizzard 2013
1 N.Henderson 2012

Leading Jockeys

Wins Jockey Years
3 A.P.McCoy 2010, 2011, 2015
2 R.Walsh 2016, 2017
1 Davy Russell 2018
1 T.Scudamore 2014
1 J.Tizzard 2013
1 B.Gerraghty 2012

Cheltenham 2024 Ryanair Chase Race Conditions

Un De Sceaux jumping a fence during the Ryanair Steeple Chase

The Ryanair Race Cheltenham has been raised in class over the past few seasons and although it doesn’t quite have the huge starts that other Grade One races do at the festival, it is still an important race. This race gives horses somewhere to run at their best, instead of dropping down in trip and being outpaced, or going up in trip and being outstayed.

The race is for chasers who are aged five or older, and it is ran over the distance of two miles and five furlongs. This is an ideal opportunity for those who won’t quite stay the Gold Cup distance and we already have, and will continue to, see some very good horses win the race.

In time, this race has the potential to stand alongside the other four major festival races and become a real highlight of the festival just like those other races are.

Location Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham England
Race Type Chase race
Distance Two miles five furlongs (2M5F)
Age Five year and older
Surface Turf