Fact To File and Il Est Francais clash in Ryanair

Fact To File and Il Est Francais lead the way as nine horses were declared for Thursday’s Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Willie Mullins relies solely on Fact To File in the extended two-and-a-half-mile highlight, with Gaelic Warrior not declared while Il Est Francais could be a notable first Festival scorer for his training team of Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm.

Last year’s winner Protektorat defends his title for Dan Skelton, with 2023 victor Envoi Allen also in the line up for Henry de Bromhead.

Teahupoo won last year’s Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle for Gordon Elliott and he will face 14 rivals as he goes for back-to-back victories.

Joseph O’Brien’s Home By The Lee finished third on that occasion and tries his luck again while other key names include the Nicky Henderson-trained Lucky Place, winner of the Relkeel Hurdle and Teahupoo’s stablemate The Wallpark.

Springwell Bay tops the weights for the Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase, but Jagwar does not feature in the 20-strong field.

His trainers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero have instead opted to pitch their novice into open company for the Trustatrader Plate Handicap Chase, in which 21 runners have been declared.

Maughreen spearheads a strong Mullins-trained challenge in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, with Gavin Cromwell’s Sixandahalf a likely favourite for the Grade Two.

The Pertemps Final features Henderson’s Jeriko Du Reponet in a full field of 24, while the closing Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase also has 24 contenders lead by Johnnywho.