Ryanair Chase Entries 2026 - Fact To File Only Given Ryanair Option & Heads 26 Entries

The 2026 Ryanair Chase attracted the same number of entries as the Gold Cup at the initial stage, but the 33-strong list was slashed to 26 after the race’s first scratching stage. Of those remaining in the race is Fact To File, the ante-post favourite and defending Ryanair champion, has only been given an entry in this contest, with JP McManus and Willie Mullins opting against entering him in the Champion Chase or Gold Cup.

The nine-year-old’s only win in his last six starts came in this contest last season, but that arrived in devastating fashion with conditions clearly suiting him ideally. Now that he has been beaten over both 2m and 3m quite comfortably, connections have decided to play to his strengths again at this year’s Festival.

His John Durkan conqueror Gaelic Warrior is also entered in this race, as well as in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The eight-year-old is a former winner of the Arkle, but missed the Cheltenham Festival last season and could easily go to either contest. Indeed, three of the first four home from the King George VI Chase, in which Gaelic Warrior was third, have been entered in the Ryanair Chase, with the option of this contest likely to tempt the connections of Banbridge and Jango Baie.

2m specialists Jonbon and Solness are entered in the Ryanair Chase should they wish to pursue a step up in distance. The same could be said of the novice Romeo Coolio, who won the Drinmore Novice Chase over 2m4f and for whom there is no Grade 1 option over a middle distance.

Other names of note in the Ryanair Chase entries are Il Etait Temps, who is vying for Champion Chase favouritism, Impaire Et Passe, a former winner of the Turners Novices’ Hurdle and a Grade 1-winning novice chaser at Aintree who is yet to be sighted this season, Thistle Ask, the progressive handicapper also in the Champion Chase, and Protektorat, the 2024 Ryanair hero.

2026 Ryanair Chase Entries