*Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing / Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason – you will lose your stake under traditional Antepost rules
The countdown to the Cheltenham Festival is on, with the creme de la creme of the horse racing world set to descend on Prestbury Park for four days of amazing action.
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Paddy’s top traders have priced up antepost markets for EVERY race and you can check out the latest odds by visiting the dedicated Cheltenham betting hub. Otherwise, you’ll find our day-by-day guide to the big contests below.
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When is the Cheltenham Festival 2022?
The Cheltenham Festival 2022 takes place between Tuesday, March 15 and Friday, March 18 – and there are seven races each day to enjoy. A bumper crowd is expected over the course of the week at Cheltenham Racecourse after last year’s meeting took place behind closed doors due to coronavirus restrictions imposed by the UK Government.
What are the big races on day one of the Cheltenham Festival 2022?
Tuesday, March 15 is headlined by the Champion Hurdle as defending champion Honeysuckle is set to attempt back-to-back victories and continue her incredible unbeaten record. Sharjah finished second in the previous two renewals while Willie Mullins could also pitch last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Appreciate It into the mix.
The Supreme kicks off the meeting as the leading two-mile novice hurdlers take to the Old Course. Nicky Henderson has the luxury of two quality prospects in Constitution Hill and Jonbon but Dysart Dynamo and last year’s Champion Bumper winner Sir Gerhard are also in the antepost mix for the Irish.
The leading two-mile novice chasers swiftly follow in the Arkle and 2020 Champion Bumper hero Ferny Hollow is the hot favourite in our antepost betting after defeating Gordon Elliott’s Riviere D’etel on his last start.
The Mares’ Hurdle is the fourth and final Grade 1 on the opening day with previous Cheltenham winners Telmesomethinggirl, Heaven Help Us, Burning Victory, Mrs Milner and Concertista among the entries.
13:30: Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
14:10: Arkle Chase
14:50: Ultima Handicap Chase
15:30: Champion Hurdle
16:10: Mares’ Hurdle
16:50: Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
17:30: National Hunt Chase
What are the big races on day two of the Cheltenham Festival 2022?
The home team’s leading hope to land a championship race, according to our antepost odds, is the Nicky Henderson-trained Shishkin in the Champion Chase, although Willie Mullins will be hoping to land the contest for the first time in his training career and boasts entries including Energumene and Chacun Pour Soi.
Paul Nicholls will be hoping Stage Star can score in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle after a blank at last year’s meeting, although Sir Gerhard could be pitched in the 2m 5f contest while Closutton could also run Dysart Dynamo.
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase antepost favourite Galopin Des Champs delivered one of the performances of the season over the Christmas period but could face a stiff home challenge from Bravemansgame.
The final Grade 1 on Wednesday, March 16, the Champion Bumper, is shaping up to be a battle between Mullins and Elliott with Facile Vega and American Mike at the top of our early betting.
13:30: Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
14:10: Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
14:50: Coral Cup
15:30: Champion Chase
16:10: Cross Country Chase
16:50: Grand Annual Handicap Chase
17:30: Champion Bumper
What are the big races on day three of the Cheltenham Festival 2022?
We’ve got our name on two races on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival including the feature, the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle. Flooring Porter will attempt to become the first repeat winner since the legendary Big Buck’s but Gavin Cromwell’s charge lost to antepost favourite Klassical Dream in the Christmas Hurdle, while Champ could lead the charge for the home team.
The action on Thursday, March 17 kicks off with, arguably, the most exciting novice chaser in training as Bob Olinger attempts to follow up last year’s Ballymore success in the Turners Novices’ Chase. The classy L’Homme Presse could be the principal threat after a classy course-and-distance success in the Paddy Power Dipper Novices’ Chase.
The day’s other Grade 1 is the Ryanair Chase which is likely to see Allaho back to defend his crown. Fakir D’oudairies is set to reoppose after being the best of the rest in last year’s renewal, while 2020 second Saint Calvados has since transferred to Paul Nicholls’ yard with this race in mind.
13:30: Turners Novices’ Chase
14:10: Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
14:50: Ryanair Chase
15:30: Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
16:10: Paddy Power Plate
16:50: Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
17:30: Kim Muir Handicap Chase
What are the big races on day four of the Cheltenham Festival 2022?
The fourth and final day is all about the big one, the Gold Cup. Minella Indo scored in last year’s renewal but has delivered two disappointing runs this term while stablemate A Plus Tard romped to victory in the Betfair Chase before a narrow defeat to rising star Galvin in the Savills Chase. Our resident jockey-turned-pundit Ruby Walsh is backing dual winner Al Boum Photo, while Protektorat could be Britain’s best hope.
Friday, March 18 gets going with a bang as the leading juveniles go to post in the Triumph Hurdle. Fil Dor is the antepost market leader after a sterling maiden campaign over flights that has seen the son of Doctor Dino notch three wins on the spin.
The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle is the other Grade 1 on the day’s card but no horse has pulled clear at the head of our antepost betting, with Blazing Khal currently the favourite from Ginto and Journey With Me.
13:30: Triumph Hurdle
14:10: County Handicap Hurdle
14:50: Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
15:30: Cheltenham Gold Cup
16:10: Festival Hunters’ Chase
16:50: Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase
17:30: Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle
How can I watch the Cheltenham Festival 2022?
You can catch every contest at the Cheltenham Festival on paddypower.com or via the Paddy Power app. All you have to do is find the race you want to watch, log in to your Paddy Power account and you’re away. You don’t even have to place a bet! Alternatively, our pals at ITV Racing will carry live television coverage of the majority of races.
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*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change
CHELTENHAM TIPS
- Cheltenham tips: Ruby Walsh’s antepost slick pick for the Mares’ Hurdle
- Cheltenham tips: Ruby Walsh’s reason for backing Run Wild Fred in the National Hunt Chase
- Cheltenham tips: Ruby Walsh’s antepost best bet for the Champion Bumper
- Cheltenham tips: Ruby Walsh’s antepost betting verdict on the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
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