Cheltenham Day 3 Preview: Ryanair Chase & Stayers’ Hurdle Deep Dive

Aaron Hamilton

in News 9 Mar 2026

By RacingBase | Published 8 March 2026 | 9 min read

Thursday 12 March · Ryanair Chase 3:00 AM AEDT · Stayers’ Hurdle 2:20 AM AEDT

Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival — St Patrick’s Thursday — is headlined by two of the most compelling Grade 1 races of the entire week. The Ryanair Chase, over two and a half miles, is a championship race for the versatile chaser who is not quite a Gold Cup horse but is a cut above a two-mile specialist. The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle, over three miles, is the ultimate test of stamina for the hurdling division.

The Ryanair Chase

3:00 AM AEDT (16:00 GMT) · 2m 4f 127y · Going: Good to Soft

The 2026 Ryanair Chase is one of the most anticipated races of the Festival, with a field that is deeper and more competitive than many Gold Cups. The race is headlined by a fascinating clash between Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior, two horses who have been trading blows all season.

Horse	Trainer	Rating	TS	Form
Fact To File ★	W P Mullins	181	171	1-4261
Il Etait Temps	W P Mullins	180	166	11-11F
Banbridge	Joseph Patrick O’Brien	178	164	17-442
Gaelic Warrior	W P Mullins	178	167	11-132
Jonbon	Nicky Henderson	177	165	2-2211
Heart Wood	Henry De Bromhead	170	162	2P-141

Source: Racing MCP, racecards data, March 2026

The Contenders in Depth

Fact To File
W P Mullins · Rating 181

A brilliant winner of the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at last year’s Festival, he has continued to progress this season, winning his last start in impressive fashion. A superb jumper with high cruising speed — tailor-made for the Ryanair trip. Highest-rated horse in the field and rightful favourite.

Gaelic Warrior
W P Mullins · Rating 178 · TS 167 (highest in field)

Brilliant Arkle winner at last year’s Festival, he has since demonstrated he stays three miles with consummate ease. His topspeed figure of 167 is the highest in the field and his jumping is close to flawless. The key question: does he have the tactical speed to match Fact To File over this shorter trip?

Banbridge
Joseph Patrick O’Brien · Rating 178

Quietly building a formidable record — second to Galopin Des Champs in the Savills Chase, fourth in the Irish Gold Cup. A strong stayer who relishes soft ground. At a bigger price than the Mullins horses, he represents genuine each-way value.

Jonbon
Nicky Henderson · Rating 177

A proven Grade 1 performer — Arkle winner, Champion Chase placed. Superb jumper with high cruising speed. A major threat if he can reproduce his best form.

Verdict

A race to savour. Fact To File gets the nod on the strength of his superior rating and his proven ability to handle the demands of the Cheltenham track. Gaelic Warrior is the danger, and Banbridge is the each-way value.

Selection: Fact To File (Win)

Each-Way: Banbridge

The Stayers’ Hurdle

2:20 AM AEDT (15:20 GMT) · 3m · Going: Good to Soft

The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle is the championship race for the three-mile hurdling division, and the 2026 renewal is headlined by the defending champion Teahupoo bidding for back-to-back wins.

Horse	Trainer	Rating	TS	Form
Teahupoo ★	Gordon Elliott	172	146	22-111
Bob Olinger	Henry De Bromhead	170	140	/221-2
Ballyburn	W P Mullins	168	134	15-223
Home By The Lee	Joseph Patrick O’Brien	166	133	UP-641
Impose Toi	Nicky Henderson	163	148	-21112
Hewick	John Joseph Hanlon	162	138	8-7145

Source: Racing MCP, racecards data, March 2026

The Contenders in Depth

Teahupoo
Gordon Elliott · Rating 172 · Defending Champion

Brilliant winner of this race last year and has continued to progress, winning his last three starts in impressive fashion. A strong stayer who relishes soft ground — he is the horse they all have to beat.

Bob Olinger
Henry De Bromhead · Rating 170

A former Ballymore winner who has rediscovered his best form this season — a good second to Teahupoo in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle. Has the class to win a Stayers’ Hurdle.

Ballyburn
W P Mullins · Rating 168

A horse who divides opinion. Supreme Novices’ winner at the 2024 Festival with the raw ability to win here — but beaten three times this season and his jumping can be erratic when he gets keen. Needs to settle and jump cleanly.

Home By The Lee
Joseph Patrick O’Brien · Rating 166

Consistent performer who has been placed in this race before. A strong stayer who will relish the uphill finish — represents each-way value at a bigger price.

Verdict

Teahupoo is the clear selection. He is the defending champion, he has been in excellent form this season, and he has the profile of a multiple Stayers’ Hurdle winner. Bob Olinger is the danger, and Home By The Lee is the each-way value.

Selection: Teahupoo (Win)

Each-Way: Home By The Lee

Day 3 Summary: The Bets

Race	Time (AEDT)	Selection	Strategy
Stayers’ Hurdle	2:20 AM	Teahupoo	Win
Ryanair Chase	3:00 AM	Fact To File	Win

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