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| Grade 1, Cheltenham 15:20 £375,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 2m 4f 127y, Class 1  |
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Matata announced himself as a horse ready to dine at the top table with a commanding display in the Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase at Cheltenham, a performance that may well have earned him a shot at the Ryanair Chase later in the spring.
He's far too good 🏇💨
— Tote (@ToteRacing) January 1, 2026
MATATA (£7.20) routs the field in impressive style under @samtwiston for trainers @willy_twiston & @NigelTwistonDav 💚@CheltenhamRaces | 🔞 https://t.co/isLAft1zGn pic.twitter.com/lk8Nv2AePc
The eight-year-old, trained by Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies, has spent much of recent times operating over shorter trips, but this return to two and a half miles for the valuable New Year’s Day contest proved very much to his liking. Settled beautifully throughout by Sam Twiston-Davies, Matata travelled with real purpose, jumping fluently and holding a strong position as the race developed.
Cheltenham’s demanding finish has not always been kind to the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned gelding. On previous visits, his exuberance had often counted against him, leaving him vulnerable once the famous hill came into play. This time, however, maturity and restraint told a very different story. Still tanking approaching the home turn, Matata was produced with a perfectly timed challenge and, when asked to go and win his race, he did so in devastating fashion.
Powering clear up the hill, he left his rivals toiling behind him and ultimately stretched nine and a half lengths clear of Paul Nicholls’ Il Ridoto at the line, the manner of the success every bit as impressive as the margin itself.
It was a victory that understandably delighted connections and immediately prompted talk of loftier targets, with potential appearances at both the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree now firmly on the agenda for the 6-1 scorer.
Nigel Twiston-Davies said: “He has never been at his best round Cheltenham because he has always been so free and then has never managed to get up the hill. He’s learned to settle and got the two and a half miles well today.
“Sam did a brilliant job settling him as he’s still a lunatic at home, but he was cantering at the bottom of the hill and then it was a question of if he would come up it, which he did, which was lovely.
“We’ve been wanting to go this distance for a long time and the fact he settled so beautifully was great.
“I guess we have to think about the Ryanair again after that, but we’ll see what the handicapper does. He could do both Cheltenham and Aintree and he’s a tough horse, he would be a lovely horse to have in the Ryanair.”
Matata was immediately introduced into the Ryanair Chase betting at 33-1 by Paddy Power, and while those markets will evolve in the coming weeks, this performance felt like a significant moment not just for the horse, but also for the team behind him.
It marked a milestone success for Willy Twiston-Davies, as it was the first time the father-and-son training partnership had enjoyed a winner together at their local track. For the younger Twiston-Davies, it was a moment of quiet satisfaction after a season that had threatened frustration on home soil.
He added: “That is very special and he’s a very talented horse who has been crying out for a step up in trip. However, you look at those opportunities at the shorter trips and try to take them.
“I’ve been on the licence for only this season and nothing has really changed, but I thought when we have been coming here this season with the likes of Un Sens A La Vie and some other favourites and they’ve got beat, I was beginning to wonder if I was a curse. It’s so nice to have one on the board.”
On a day when Cheltenham once again tested stamina, resolution and temperament, Matata passed every examination with distinction, and in doing so opened the door to an exciting spring campaign that could yet take him to the very biggest stages.
Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)
£375,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 2m 4f 127y, Class 1
POSSIBLE entries
Going:
NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY (form as of Jan 01)
1 15-223 Ballyburn 8 - W P Mullins
2 17-442 Banbridge 10 - Joseph O'Brien
3 12136- Better Days Ahead 8 - Gordon Elliott
4 127-33 Croke Park 8 - Gordon Elliott
5 411-12 Dinoblue 9 - W P Mullins
6 76-115 Djelo 8 - Venetia Williams
7 F2F-F1 El Fabiolo 9 - W P Mullins
8 /1U3-1 Envoi Allen 12 - Henry De Bromhead
9 31-426 Fact To File 9 - W P Mullins
10 362-12 Firefox 8 - Gordon Elliott
11 311-13 Gaelic Warrior 8 - W P Mullins
12 /P12-2 Gidleigh Park 8 - Harry Fry
13 2P12-1 Grey Dawning 9 - Dan Skelton
14 11P-24 Handstands 7 - Ben Pauling
15 42P-14 Heart Wood 8 - Henry De Bromhead
16 /11-11 Il Etait Temps 8 - W P Mullins
17 15U-F3 Ile Atlantique 8 - W P Mullins
18 1131-B Impaire Et Passe 8 - W P Mullins
19 1311-3 Jagwar 7 - Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
20 213-14 Jango Baie 7 - Nicky Henderson
21 212-22 Jonbon 9 10 - Nicky Henderson
22 16/1P- Jungle Boogie 12 - Venetia Williams
23 143-13 L'Eau du Sud 8 - Dan Skelton
24 11-F77 Lecky Watson 8 - W P Mullins
25 54-305 Monty's Star 9 - Henry De Bromhead
26 2142-3 Protektorat 11 - Dan Skelton
27 25-293 Spillane's Tower 8 - James Joseph Mangan
28 /11-11 The Jukebox Man 8 - Ben Pauling
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)
