Fact To File spearheads 14 possibles for Ryanair Chase

Defending champion Fact To File heads the 14 confirmations for the Ryanair Chase on day three of the Cheltenham Festival.

The impressive Irish Gold Cup winner, who would have to be supplemented if connections decide to take a shot at the Cheltenham equivalent, was an impressive winner of the Grade One 12 months ago and sets the standard once again as one of five possible runners for Willie Mullins.

Regular rival and Irish Gold Cup runner-up Gaelic Warrior is another from Closutton who has the Gold Cup as a realistic ambition, with Energumene and Impaire Et Passe moving forwards alongside Il Etait Temps, who is also among the leading contenders for Wednesday’s Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Henry de Bromhead’s Heart Wood chased home Fact To File last year and could return for another crack, while other notable names include Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon, the Gordon Elliott-trained Romeo Coolio and Joseph O’Brien’s Banbridge, although all have alternative options at the Festival.

Lossiemouth is another whose Festival destination has yet to be determined and having won the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle for the past two years, she is confirmed for what would be a hat-trick bid despite a run in the Unibet Champion Hurdle a tantalising prospect.

The Kenny Alexander-owned duo of Jade De Grugy – second to Lossiemouth last year – and Murcia are two other possible contenders for Mullins in a race the owner famously won twice with dual Champion Hurdle heroine Honeysuckle.

Champion Hurdle-bound Brighterdaysahead and Golden Ace are missing from the 14 remaining, but Elliott’s Wodhooh is in the mix and last year’s Martin Pipe winner could prove one of the leading players judged on her achievements this term.

Last year’s Champion Bumper winner Bambino Fever and her Naas conqueror Oldschool Outlaw could face a rematch in a fascinating Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

There are 25 still in the hunt including Echoing Silence for Alexander and last year’s winning trainer De Bromhead, along with Declan Queally’s Grade One runner-up Carrigmoornaspruce, who will be leading Flat owners Victorious Racing’s first runner at the Cheltenham Festival.

De Bromhead has a strong hand for the Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase with both Koktail Divin and 2024 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Slade Steel prominent in the betting.

Ben Pauling’s Meetmebythesea is also amongst the 36 still engaged, with Paul Nicholls looking for back-to-back victories in the race with Regent’s Stroll and Scilly Isles scorer Sixmilebridge fancied to get Fergal O’Brien off the mark at the meeting.

There are 33 remaining in the Pertemps Network Final, while 36 stand their ground for the concluding Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup, in which JP McManus has leading claims with Jeriko Du Reponet and Waterford Whispers despite the defection of Leinster National-bound Uhavemeinstitches.