Ryanair Chase |
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| Grade 1, Cheltenham 15:20 £375,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 2m 4f 127y, Class 1  |
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1 Fact To File 6/4F
2 Heart Wood 18/1
3
Envoi Allen 12/1
9 ran Distances: 9l, 8½l, 2¼l
Time: 5m 9.61s (slow by 1.61s)
Wow 👏
— Sporting Life Racing: Cheltenham Festival 2025! (@SportingLife) March 13, 2025
FACT TO FILE is a dominant winner of the Ryanair! 🟢🟡pic.twitter.com/95k4bEa9EY
Fact To File stamped his class on the race, producing a dominant nine-length victory over Heart Wood to land his second Grade One success at The Festival.
The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old, last season’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase hero, was never in danger once hitting top gear, securing an 81st Festival victory for his legendary owner.
For Willie Mullins, the performance was expected—but the manner of victory was still striking. "They went a good gallop, and he stayed with them, got all his jumping right. Off the bend, I don’t think Mark [Walsh] was worried—he just had to get over the last two fences, and he did that well. The way he won was a bit of a surprise, but I always felt he’d win it."
Much has been made of the decision to skip the Gold Cup in favour of this race, and Mullins admitted it was a tactical long-term move. "He could well have given Galopin Des Champs a race tomorrow, but we felt it was better to keep our options open. He’ll be a year older next season, and we didn’t want to risk a really hard Gold Cup race ruining him. That was JP’s thinking, and I can see exactly where he was coming from. Sometimes these things are a year too soon."
Winning jockey Mark Walsh was full of praise for his partner. "That was brilliant. This trip suits him so well—you can just let him gallop and use his jumping. He never missed a beat today, winged everything, and was just so happy on that stride. We ran into Galopin Des Champs twice trying to see if he was a Gold Cup horse, tried two different tactics, and it didn’t work. No point trying a third time!"
Such was Fact To File’s dominance, Walsh even struggled to pull him up. "Coming past the junction of the track, he heard the crowd roaring on my left, and he started pricking his ears and ducking away. There was loads left in the tank!"
When asked about his stellar book of Festival rides, Walsh didn’t hide his excitement. "This is what you dream of—riding these kind of horses. I’m in a privileged position and very grateful for it."
Heart Wood & Envoi Allen Delight de Bromhead
For runner-up Heart Wood and third-placed Envoi Allen, trainer Henry de Bromhead was delighted. "Heart Wood ran a cracker—he’s only a baby at seven, and he’s coming along really nicely. He’s better at this trip; I’ve tried him over three miles a couple of times, and he just wasn’t getting home."
As for Envoi Allen, the Cheltenham legend put in another gutsy display.
"He’s just a warrior. Rachael [Blackmore] said he really dug in to hold onto third, and we’re all delighted with him. He’s 11 now, and those younger legs have the edge, but he owes us nothing. He’s been a superstar for us."
Protektorat Battles Bravely
Dan Skelton was proud of his fourth-placed Protektorat, despite finishing behind Envoi Allen this year. "Fair play to the winner—he looked very impressive. We just weren’t quite good enough on the day, but he’s run his heart out again. When Il Est Francais kicked on, I knew our winning chance had gone, but I still thought he’d run well, and he did."
French Raider Il Est Francais to Return Right-Handed
Noel George, co-trainer of sixth-placed Il Est Francais, felt the course didn’t play to his strengths. "James [Reveley] said he was nearly flat out early as they went a savage pace. He was nice and relaxed, but once the winner came past, there was nothing left to give. He’s probably better right-handed, as he was always edging that way."
Looking ahead, George is already targeting a Christmas campaign at Kempton. "This track just wasn’t for him. No signs of issues—just not his track. We’ll regroup and look forward to Kempton at Christmas."
Gold Cup Next Year?
With Fact To File looking every inch a future Gold Cup contender, all eyes will be on how Mullins maps out his route to Cheltenham 2025. For now, though, it was all about a flawless Ryanair Chase victory—and a clear sign of even bigger days ahead.
Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)
£375,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 2m 4f 127y, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good to Soft
POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 Fact To File 8 11-10 W P Mullins Mark Walsh 6/4F
2 9 Heart Wood 7 11-10 Henry De Bromhead Darragh O'Keeffe 18/1
3 8½ Envoi Allen 11 11-10 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 12/1
4 2¼ Protektorat 10 11-10 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 5/1
5 2½ Master Chewy 8 11-10 Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies 40/1
6 3¾ Il Est Francais 7 11-10 Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm James Reveley 100/30
7 39 Djelo 7 11-10 Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 15/2
PU
Hang In There 11 11-10 Emma Lavelle Harry Cobden 66/1
PU
Jungle Boogie 11 11-10 Henry De Bromhead Danny Mullins 16/1
RYANAIR CHASE - Past Results
2018-WINNER-BALKO DES FLOS 7-11-10 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Henry de Bromhead IRE; Jockey-Davy
Russell; SP-8/1
2ND-Un De Sceaux 10-11-10 Owner-Edward O’Connell; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Paul Townend; SP-8/11 Fav
3RD-Cloudy Dream 8-11-10 Owner-Trevor Hemmings; Trainer-Ruth Jefferson; Jockey-Brian Hughes; SP-10/1
6 ran, Time-5m 23.60s Dist-4½, 8
2017-WINNER-UN DE SCEAUX 9-11-10 Owner-Edward O’Connell; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-7/4 Fav
2ND-Sub Lieutenant 8-11-10 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Henry de Bromhead IRE; Jockey-David Mullins; SP-8/1
3RD-Aso 7-11-10 Owner-The Bellamy Partnership; Trainer-Venetia Williams; Jockey-Charlie Deutsch; SP-40/1
8 ran, Time-5m 9.60s Dist-11⁄2, 6
2016-WINNER-VAUTOUR 7-11-10 Owner-Susannah Ricci; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-Evs Fav
2ND-Valseur Lido 7-11-10 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-David Mullins; SP-11/1
3RD-Road To Riches 9-11-10 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Noel Meade IRE; Jockey-Bryan Cooper; SP-7/1
15 ran, Time-5m 5.50s Dist-6, 1⁄2
2015-WINNER-UXIZANDRE 7-11-10 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Alan King; Jockey- A P McCoy; SP-16/1
2ND-Ma Filleule 7-11-03 Owner-Simon Munir; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-5/1
3RD-Don Cossack 8-11-10 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-Bryan Cooper; SP-5/2 Fav
14 ran, Time-5m 1.10s Dist-5, 3¼
2014-WINNER-DYNASTE 8-11-10 Owner-John White; Trainer-David Pipe; Jockey-Tom Scudamore; SP-3/1 Fav
2ND-Hidden Cyclone 9-11-10 Owner-David & Mrs A F Mee; Trainer-John Hanlon IRE; Jockey-Andrew McNamara; SP-10/1
3RD-Rajdhani Express 7-11-10 Owner-Robert Waley-Cohen; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Mr Sam Waley-Cohen; SP-18/1
11 ran, Time-5m 9.13s Dist-21⁄4, 21⁄4
2013-WINNER-CUE CARD 7-11-10 Owner-Jean Bishop; Trainer-Colin Tizzard; Jockey-Joe Tizzard; SP-7/2
2ND-First Lieutenant 8-11-10 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Mouse Morris IRE; Jockey-Bryan Cooper; SP-2/1 Fav
3RD-For Non Stop 8-11-10 Owner-Potensis Limited & Chris Giles; Trainer-Nick Williams; Jockey-Noel Fehily; SP-12/1
8 ran, Time-5m 19.30s Dist-9, 31⁄4
2012-WINNER-RIVERSIDE THEATRE 8-11-10 Owner-Jimmy Nesbitt Partnership; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-7/2 Fav
2ND-Albertas Run 11-11-10 Owner-Trevor Hemmings; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-A P McCoy; SP-10/1
3RD-Medermit 7-11-10 Owner-The Dunkley & Reilly Partnership; Trainer-Alan King; Jockey-Robert Thornton; SP-8/1
12 ran, Time-5m 9.69s Dist- ½, ½
2011-WINNER-ALBERTAS RUN 10-11-10 Owner-Trevor Hemmings; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-AP McCoy; SP-6/1
2ND-Kalahari King 10-11-10 Owner- Juliet Morgan; Trainer-Ferdy Murphy; Jockey-Graham Lee; SP-7/1
3RD-Rubi Light 6-11-10 Owner-Bill Hennessy; Trainer-Robbie Hennessy IRE; Jockey-Andrew Lynch; SP-16/1
11 ran, Time-5m 7.30s 2/1
Fav Poquelin (4th)
2010-WINNER-ALBERTAS RUN 9-11-10 Owner-Trevor Hemmings; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-14/1
2ND-Poquelin 7-11-10 Owner-The Stewart Family; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-11/4 Fav
3RD-J’y Vole 7-11-03 Owner-Hammer & Trowell Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Davy Condon; SP-28/1
13 ran, Time-5m 11.63s Dist-4.5, nse
2009-WINNER-IMPERIAL COMMANDER 8-11-10 Owner-Our Friends In The North; Trainer-Nigel Twiston-Davies; Jockey-Paddy Brennan; SP-6/1
2ND-Voy Por Ustedes 8-11-10 Owner-Sir Robert Ogden; Trainer-Alan King; Jockey-Robert Thornton; SP-4/5 Fav
3RD-Schindlers Hunt 9-11-10 Owner-Slaneyville Syndicate; Trainer-Dessie Hughes IRE; Jockey-Paddy Flood; SP-22/1
10 ran, Time-5m 18.34s Dist-2, 0.75
2008-WINNER-OUR VIC 10-11-10 Owner-David Johnson; Trainer-David Pipe; Jockey-Timmy Murphy; SP-4/1
2ND-Mossbank 8-11-10 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Michael Hourigan IRE; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-4/1
3RD-Turko 6-11-10 Owner-The Stewart Family; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-7/1
9 ran, Time-5m 10.24s Dist-5, 7 100/30 Fav The Listener (5th)
2007-WINNER-TARANIS 6-11-00 Owner-Mrs A B Yeoman & C R Whittaker; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-9/2
2ND–Our Vic 9-11-05 Owner-David Johnson; Trainer-David Pipe; Jockey-Timmy Murphy; SP-7/2
3RD–Billyvoddan 8-11-00 Owner-Trevor Hemmings; Trainer-Henry Daly; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-20/1
9 ran, Time-5m 10.60s Dist-nk, ½ 7/4 Fav Monet’s Garden (4th)
2006-WINNER-FONDMORT 10-11-00 Owner-Bill Brown; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Mick Fitzgerlad; SP-100/30 Jt Fav
2ND-Lacdoudal 7-11-00 Owner-Carol Skan; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-20/1
3RD-Impek Owner-Jim Lewis; Trainer-Henrietta Knight; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-100/30 Jt Fav
11 ran, Time-5m 3.00s Dist-1¼, hd
2005-WINNER-THISTHATANDTOTHER 9-11-03 Owner-Graham Roach; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-9/2
2ND-Fondmort 9-11-00 Owner-Bill Brown; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Mick Fitzgerald; SP-9/1
3RD-Rathgar Beau 9-11-03 Owner-One-O-Eight Racing Club; Trainer-Eamon Sheehy IRE; Jockey-Shay Barry; SP-9/2
12 ran, Time-5m 11.90s Dist: ½, 2½ 7/4 Fav Our Vic (PU)
