There are three Grade 1 races down for decision this afternoon: the Ryanair Chase, the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle and the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle.

Ireland will have very strong hopes of landing all of the Grade 1s today.

Fact To File aims to second Ryanair Chase win

The Ryanair Chase, in its 20th year of sponsorship from the Irish airline, will see Fact To File bid for back-to-back successes in the event.

Last year’s victor is among five Irish-trained runners in the nine-horse contest. Fact To File was highly impressive in winning the Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown last month, and tomorrow’s Gold Cup was seriously considered as his Festival target.

Jonbon, who has finished second three times at this meeting and who runs in the same J.P. McManus ownership as Fact To File, and Banbridge, may give the favourite most to do but the Mark Walsh-ridden market leader should add a sixth Grade 1 victory to his CV.

Teahupoo v Bob Olinger for Stayers’ Hurdle?

Teahupoo, winner of the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival bids for a second win in the Grade 1 contest, with six Irish-handled runners in the race.

This will be the son of Masked Marvel’s fourth appearance in the race, having won it, as well as finishing second and third respectively on his previous runs here.

Last year’s victor, Bob Olinger, now 11-year-old, is unbeaten at the Gloucestershire track – which includes three Festival wins – and should give the Gordon Elliott-trained Teahupoo most to do. A concern for backers of the favourite is that Elliott is yet to register a winner this week.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained Home By The Lee will run in the stayers’ for a fifth time this afternoon, with his best result coming when third to Teahupoo in 2024.

A highly popular winner would be the former American Grand National winner, Hewick, handled by John ‘Shark’ Hanlon, as he aims to add this Grade 1 to his 2023 King George win at Kempton.

2025 runner-up Jade De Grugy bids for Mares’ Hurdle upgrade

The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle is the third race at the highest level on Thursday’s card.

This is a race Willie Mullins has dominated over the years and will be represented by Jade De Grugy, runner-up to Lossiemouth in this race last season.

With Lossiemouth out of the picture now following her success in the Unibet Champion Hurdle on Tuesday, the French-bred Jade De Grugy, the mount of Paul Townend, may give Scottish owner Kenny Alexander a second win this week.

Wodhooh, trained by Gordon Elliott and the mount of Jack Kennedy, has only tasted defeat once over hurdles. She won the Martin Pipe over course and distance at last year’s Cheltenham Festival and has won at both Ascot and Leopardstown this season.

Five of the seven runners in the race are trained in Ireland.

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The Racing TV Grand Course de Haies D’Auteuil Hurdle run over 3 miles 1 furlong and 77 yards was the highlight of day one of a two-day meeting in the French Capital.

It may have been seen as a rematch between last year’s winner, Losange Bleu (4/7 favourite), and runner-up Hewick (5/1), but the 8/1 shot El Clavel was the hero of the race.

Ridden by English jockey James Reveley, he had a length and a quarter in hand of Losange Bleu, with Johnny Charron in the saddle.

The 80/1 longshot Imbatable Du Seuil was third, eight lengths behind the runner-up.

Unfortunately for the Shark Hanlon team, Hewick, who raced in rear for most of the race, under Gavin Sheehan, and who looked very outpaced at times during the race, could finish no better than seventh of the eight runners.

Following today’s race, Shark Hanlon Racing tweeted the following on X:

“Hewick is perfectly fine after his run in the French Champion Hurdle. The Grand National took a bit out of him, he’ll now go on a break and we’ll plan on from there.”

Hewick in good form back at @almracing’s stables following the French Champion Hurdle #TeamHewick pic.twitter.com/Vp91gdUlBO

— Shark Hanlon Racing (@jhanlonracing) May 17, 2025

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Brian Hughes is booked to ride Hewick, who is among the 34 horses going forward for summer’s chasing highlight.

The Gavin Cromwell-trained Final Orders and Barry Connell-handled Enniskerry stand their ground, while Kilcruit and 2021 Galway Plate runner-up Easy Game are two of five entries for champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins. 

Gordon Elliott has 11 in the race with Fury Road and Ash Tree Meadow, fourth in the race a year ago, among them.

Lifetime Ambition could represent Jessica Harrington, with Gabbys Cross and Foxy Jacks possible runners for Henry de Bromhead and Mouse Morris respectively. 

The Galway Races get underway at Ballybit on Monday next.

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