Cheltenham Festival
Ryanair Chase Early Entries Ahead Of The 2026 Cheltenham Festival
Early entries for the 2026 Ryanair Chase closed on Tuesday and it could be one of the races of this year’s Cheltenham Festival if the protagonists stand their ground.
A total of 33 horses are in contention for this spring’s Ryanair Chase and winning connections will scoop a staggering £211,012 – making it one of the most lucrative races at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
Willie Mullins, the most successful trainer in Cheltenham history, has made several eye-catching entries in the race and he dominates the head of the betting but the chasing pack will be hungry to ensure he doesn’t have everything his own way.
While the Gold Cup will no doubt attract a plethora of runners, the Ryanair Chase is a Grade 1 event in its own right and unbeaten horses often turn up here.
Without further ado, you can check out the full list of horses entered at the initial entry stage for the 2026 Ryanair Chase below:
Ryanair Chase Early Entries 2026:
- Banbridge – Joseph Patrick O’Brien
- Better Days Ahead – Gordon Elliott
- Champ Kiely – W. P. Mullins
- Croke Park – Gordon Elliott
- Edwardstone – Alan King
- Energumene – W. P. Mullins
- Envoi Allen – Henry de Bromhead
- Fact To File – W. P. Mullins
- Firefox – Gordon Elliott
- Found A Fifty – Gordon Elliott
- Gaelic Warrior – W. P. Mullins
- Gidleigh Park – Harry Fry
- Grey Dawning – Dan Skelton
- Handstands – Ben Pauling
- Heart Wood – Henry de Bromhead
- Il Etait Temps – W. P. Mullins
- Impaire Et Passe – W. P. Mullins
- JPR One – Joe Tizzard
- Jango Baie – Nicky Henderson
- Jagwar – Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
- Jonbon – Nicky Henderson
- Kalif du Berlais – Paul Nicholls
- Majborough – W. P. Mullins
- Master Chewy – Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
- Matata – Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
- Panic Attack – Dan Skelton
- Protektorat – Dan Skelton
- Romeo Coolio – Gordon Elliott
- Solness – Joseph Patrick O’Brien
- Spillane’s Tower – James Joseph Mangan
- The Jukebox Man – Ben Pauling
- Thistle Ask – Dan Skelton
- Twinjets – Paul Nicholls
We’re now just nine weeks away from the 2026 Cheltenham Festival and punters can bet on the Ryanair Chase at William Hill.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
