The third day’s premier race is the Ryanair Chase, which is run over 2 miles and 4½ furlongs on Cheltenham’s new course. Horses need to jump 17 fences along the way.
If you’re planning to bet on this race, read our guide on Ryanair Chase odds, betting markets, and what to look for in a runner.
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Ryanair Chase Odds
When browsing Ryanair Chase betting markets, these are some of the most common bets you’ll find:
- Win betting
- Forecast betting
- Tricast betting
Ryanair Chase Win Odds
The Win market is straightforward: predict which horse will finish first in the race. If the horse wins, the bet settles according to the Ryanair Chase odds provided by the bookmaker. For example, if a horse is priced at 5/1, it means a successful bet returns £5 for every pound. Your original stake is also returned.
The favourite is typically the runner with the lowest price. Historically, favourites have performed relatively well in this race. However, be on the lookout for injuries and ground conditions before the race.
Current odds for the Ryanair Chase winner:
| Horse | Age / Weight | Jockey / Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fact to File | 9 / 11-10 | J: Mark Walsh / T: W P Mullins | 1/1 |
| Heart Wood | 8 / 11-10 | J: Darragh O’Keeffe / T: Henry De Bromhead | 12/1 |
| Banbridge | 10 / 11-10 | J: Sean Bowen / T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien | 13/2 |
| Impaire et Passe | 8 / 11-10 | J: Paul Townend / T: W P Mullins | 5/1 |
| Jonbon | 10 / 11-10 | J: Nico de Boinville / T: Nicky Henderson | 15/4 |
| JPR One | 9 / 11-10 | J: Brendan Powell / T: Joe Tizzard | 40/1 |
| Matata | 8 / 11-10 | J: J J Slevin / T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies | 50/1 |
| Master Chewy | 9 / 11-10 | J: Sam Twiston-Davies / T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies | 100/1 |
| Croke Park | 8 / 11-10 | J: Jack Kennedy / T: Gordon Elliott | Non Runner |
Ryanair Chase Forecast & Tricast Odds
In a forecast bet, punters have to predict the first and second horses in the correct finishing order. This means you need two outcomes to be correct for your bet to pay out, so your potential return is much higher in this market. For example, you predict Horse A will be 1st and Horse B will be second. If the order is reversed or if only one horse places, the bet loses.
Bettors can also take a ‘Reverse Forecast’ bet, which covers both finishing combinations. Take this bet only if you are confident about the best two horses in this race.
A Tricast bet goes one step further. It requires selecting the first three horses in the exact finishing order. It has long odds because the risk is higher. Check the horses’ ratings and previous wins before taking this bet. If it’s a competitive field, you can take the Tricast as a side bet. Cautious bettors should avoid this market.
Popular Ryanair Chase Betting Markets
Here are some more markets to consider for the Cheltenham festival:
Each-Way Betting
This Ryanair Chase betting market combines two wagers:
- A win bet on the horse
- A place bet on the horse finishing within a set place
A race with eight runners might have three place bets. So, you can bet that your horse will win or finish in the top three. Let’s say you want to bet on Fact to File, but are not sure it will win. Take the each-way bet. A £20 bet will be divided £10 on the win and £10 on the place. If Fact to File wins the race, both parts of the bet are successful. If it finishes in the top three, but doesn’t win, the Place part of your bet pays out.
Note that place bets pay lower than win bets as they are calculated as a fraction of the win odds (commonly 1/5 or 1/4).
Take the each-way bet if the field is competitive with more than one past winner.
Match Bets
In a Match Bet, you can select two horses and predict which one will finish ahead of the other. It’s a safer market for cautious bettors, as you don’t have to predict the winner. You can bet on which leading contender will dominate over another horse.
Non-Runner No Bet
If your selected horse is declared a non-runner on race day, your stake is refunded in this market. This can be a useful bet on horses that are entering multiple races at the Festival. Trainers may decide to rest or withdraw their horse a day before the final confirmation.
Betting is only available to participants aged 18 years and over. Please bet responsibly. BeGambleAware.org