Cheltenham Festival 2022 Tips
Here at Betting.Betfair , you will find all the information you need for the 2022 Cheltenham Festival. We have complete coverage of the event, providing you with previews, interviews, news, and of course those all-important tips for all 28 races . There will be insight from the leading trainers about the prospects of their charges for all the main events, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Cheltenham Betting Tips
Owners, trainers, jockeys, and, of course, punters wait all year round for Cheltenham Festival. It’s Christmas Day times four in the third week of March for horse racing enthusiasts. At Betting.Betfair, we’ll arm you with all the best betting tips on the market for all 28 races.
We break down every contest over the course of the four days, giving you the edge on which horses will emerge victorious. You’ll also find daily news and interviews with all the leading figures from the 2022 Cheltenham Festival and perhaps some predictions on the Betfair ante-post for the 2023 Festival.
Daily Cheltenham Racing Tips
We know that Cheltenham Festival is the most important racing week on the calendar. Therefore, at Betting.Betfair, we ensure that we provide the top tips on the market for the 2022 Cheltenham Festival by looking at all the runners and riders participating. Our expert opinions from leading tipsters, such as Tony Calvin and Kevin Blake, delve deeper into the races giving you that edge to pick your winners and help make the week a successful one.
2022 Cheltenham Festival Dates
The Cheltenham Festival takes place between March 15 and March 18, 2022. The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle kicks off the event on Champion Day before the Festival shifts into gear. The Champion Hurdle, Arkle Chase, Champion Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle are all highlight races before the crown jewel of the week, the Cheltenham Gold Cup takes centre stage on the final day.
Cheltenham Day 1 Tips: Champion Day
Start Date: Tuesday, 15th March, 13:30 | Location: Cheltenham Racecourse | End Date: Tuesday, 15th March, 18:00
Cheltenham Festival kicks off with Champion Day , beginning with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and then the Arkle Chase. The Champion Hurdle is the main focus of the afternoon, featuring elite competitors from the circuit, and in 2022 Honeysuckle is the clear favourite.
View the complete day 1 schedule below:
Hour |
Day 1 Races |
Distance |
Type |
1:30 |
Supreme Novices' Hurdle |
2m 87y |
Grade 1 Novice Hurdle |
2:10 |
Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase |
1m 7f 199y |
Grade 1 Novice Chase |
2:50 |
Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase |
3m 1f |
Grade 3 Handicap Chase |
3:30 |
Champion Hurdle |
2m 87y |
Grade 1 Hurdle |
4:10 |
Mares’ Hurdle |
2m 3f 200y |
Grade 1 Mares’ Hurdle |
4:50 |
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle |
2m 87y |
Grade 3 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle |
5:30 |
National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup |
3m 5f 201y |
Grade 2 Novice Chase |
Cheltenham Day 2 Tips: Ladies Day
Start Date: Wednesday, 16th March, 13:30 | Location: Cheltenham Racecourse | End Date: Wednesday, 16th March, 18:00
The quality action at Cheltenham Festival continues on
Ladies Day.
The betting indicates that the Champion Chase is set to be a battle between Shishkin and Energumene.
Here is the day 2 schedule in full:
Hour |
Day 2 Races |
Distance |
Type |
1:30 |
Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle |
2m 5f |
Grade 1 Novice Hurdle |
2:10 |
Festival Novices’ Steeple Chase |
3m 80y |
Grade 1 Novice Chase |
2:50 |
Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle |
2m 5f |
Grade 3 Handicap Hurdle |
3:30 |
Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase |
1m 7f 199y |
Grade 1 Chase |
4:10 |
Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase |
3m 6f 37y |
Class 2 Cross County Chase |
4:50 |
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup |
1m 7f 199y |
Grade 3 Handicap Chase |
5:30 |
Weatherbys Champion Bumper |
2m 87y |
Grade 1 National Hunt Flat Race |
Cheltenham Day 3 Tips: St Patrick's Day
Start Date: Thursday, 17th March, 13:30 | Location: Cheltenham Racecourse | End Date: Thursday, 17th March, 18:00
St Patrick’s Thursday maintains the high standard of competition. The Stayers’ Hurdle is the event to watch on day three. Last year’s winner Flooring Porter is the favourite but his price indicates that race is fairly wide open with Champ and Thyme Hill also fancied to be contention.
Check out the day 3 schedule below:
Hour |
Day 3 Races |
Distance |
Type |
1:30 |
Marsh Novices’ Chase |
2m 3f 168y |
Grade 1 Novice Chase |
2:10 |
Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle |
2m 7f 213y |
Grade 3 Handicap Hurdle |
2:50 |
Ryanair Steeple Chase |
2m 4f 127y |
Grade 1 Chase |
3:30 |
Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle |
2m 7f 213y |
Grade 1 Hurdle |
4:10 |
Paddy Power Handicap Chase |
2m 4f 127y |
Grade 3 Handicap Chase |
4:50 |
The Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle |
2m 179y |
Grade 2 Mares’ Novice Hurdle |
5:30 |
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase |
3m 2f |
Class 2 Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase |
Cheltenham Day 4 Tips: Gold Cup Day
Start Date: Friday, 18th March, 13:30 | Location: Cheltenham Racecourse | End Date: Friday, 18th March, 18:00
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the event that we all wait for with bated breath and it’s well worth the wait. Betfair Chase winner A Plus Tard is the favourite in 2022 with Galvin and last year’s winner Minella Indo also fancied. Two-time winner Al Boum Photo also has a shot at regaining his crown.
Here is the full schedule for day 4:
Hour |
Day 4 Races |
Distance |
Type |
1:30 |
JCB Triumph Hurdle |
2m 179y |
Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle |
2:10 |
County Handicap Hurdle |
2m 179y |
Grade 3 Handicap Hurdle |
2:50 |
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle |
3m |
Grade 1 Novice Hurdle |
3:30 |
Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase |
3m 2f 70y |
Grade 1 Chase |
4:10 |
St James’s Place Challenge Cup Hunter Steeple Chase |
3m 2f 70y |
Class 2 Hunter Chase |
4:50 |
The Mrs Paddy Power Mares Steeple Chase |
2m 4f |
Grade 2 Mares’ Chase |
5:30 |
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle |
2m4f 56y |
Class 2 Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle |
Cheltenham Festival Winners of the Last Years
The five tables below include recent Cheltenham Festival winners of the open championship races at the meeting. These are the Gold Cup, Stayers’ Hurdle, Ryanair Chase, Queen Mother Champion Chase, and Champion Hurdle:
GOLD CUP WINNERS
Year |
Horse |
Jockey |
Trainer |
2021 |
Minelle Indo |
Jack Kennedy |
Henry De Bromhead |
2020 |
Al Boum Photo |
Paul Townend |
Willie Mullins (IRE) |
2019 |
Al Boum Photo |
Paul Townend |
Willie Mullins (IRE) |
2018 |
Native River |
Richard Johnson |
Colin Tizzard |
2017 |
Sizing John |
Robbie Power |
Jessica Harrington (IRE) |
2016 |
Don Cossack |
Bryan Cooper |
Gordon Elliott (IRE) |
2015 |
Coneygree |
Nico de Boinville |
Mark Bradstock |
STAYERS’ HURDLE WINNERS
Year |
Horse |
Jockey |
Trainer |
2021 |
Flooring Porter |
Danny Mullins |
Danny Cromwell |
2020 |
Lisnagar Oscar |
Adam Wedge |
Rebecca Curtis |
2019 |
Paisley Park |
Aidan Coleman |
Emma Lavelle |
2018 |
Penhill |
Paul Townend |
Willie Mullins |
2017 |
Nichols Canyon |
Ruby Walsh |
Willie Mullins |
2016 |
Thistlecrack |
Tom Scudamore |
Colin Tizzard |
2015 |
Cole Harden |
Gavin Sheehan |
Warren Greatrex |
RYANAIR CHASE WINNERS
Year |
Horse |
Jockey |
Trainer |
2021 |
Allaho |
Rachael Blackmore |
Willie Mullins |
2020 |
Min |
Paul Townend |
Willie Mullins |
2019 |
Frodon |
Bryony Frost |
Paul Nicholls |
2018 |
Balko Des Flos |
Davy Russell |
Henry De Bromhead |
2017 |
Un De Sceaux |
Ruby Walsh |
Willie Mullins |
2016 |
Vautour |
Ruby Walsh |
Willie Mullins |
2015 |
Uxizandre |
Tony McCoy |
Alan King |
QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE WINNERS
Year |
Horse |
Jockey |
Trainer |
2021 |
Put The Kettle On |
Aidan Coleman |
Henry De Bromhead |
2020 |
Poltiologue |
Harry Skelton |
Paul Nicholls |
2019 |
Altior |
Nico de Boinville |
Nicky Henderson |
2018 |
Altior |
Nico de Boinville |
Nicky Henderson |
2017 |
Special Tiara |
Noel Fehily |
Henry De Bromhead |
2016 |
Sprinter Sacre |
Nico de Boinville |
Nicky Henderson |
2015 |
Dodging Bullets |
Sam Twiston-Davies |
Paul Nicholls |
CHAMPION HURDLE WINNERS
Year |
Horse |
Jockey |
Trainer |
2021 |
Honeysuckle |
Rachael Blackmore |
Henry De Bromhead |
2020 |
Epatante |
Barry Geraghty |
Nicky Henderson |
2019 |
Espoir D’Allen |
Mark Walsh |
Gavin Cromwell |
2018 |
Buveur D’Air |
Barry Geraghty |
Nicky Henderson |
2017 |
Buveur D’Air |
Noel Fehily |
Nicky Henderson |
2016 |
Annie Power |
Ruby Walsh |
Willie Mullins |
2015 |
Faugheen |
Ruby Walsh |
Willie Mullins |
At the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, Appreciate It produced a performance that ranks with the best in recent memory to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Shishkin pulled away from his rivals to land the Arkle Challenge Trophy. Honeysuckle produced a vintage performance to comfortably land the Champion Hurdle and while there was joy for Black Tears’ backers in the Mares’ Hurdle.
Bob Olinger excelled against an illustrious field to win the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, while Monkfish justified short odds in the Festival Novices’ Chase. Put The Kettle On profited from high-profile absentees by capturing the Queen Mother Champion Chase, while Tiger Roll delivered a winning performance reminiscent of his pomp to triumph in the Cross Country Chase.
Chantry House won the Marsh Novices’ Chase after short-priced favourite proved disappointing, while Allaho took the Ryanair Chase. Flooring Porter’s victory rarely looked in doubt in the Stayers’ Hurdle, while Quilixios was the winner in the smallest Triumph Hurdle field since 1965. Vanillier took the Albert Bartlett while Minella Indo won the big prize of the week – the Gold Cup - to give Henry De Bromhead the holy trinity along with the Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase.
Cheltenham’s Top Jockeys
Sadly, many who can lay claim to being Cheltenham top jockey are no longer active riders. Weighing room greats Ruby Walsh, Tony McCoy, and Barry Geraghty always used to turn on the style at the Festival, but have all retired from the saddle in recent years. With those riding legends gone but not forgotten, the torch is passed to others who would be Cheltenham top jockey.
In 2021, Rachael Blackmore became the first woman to become the leading rider at the Festival, with six winners. Paul Towned, the successor to Walsh as the stable jockey to Willie Mullins, took the honour on countback in 2020. The same tiebreak of most placed horses after winners was used to crown Nicky Henderson’s stable jockey Nico de Boinville in 2019. Davy Russell has also been Cheltenham top jockey in the past but faces a race against time to be fit for this year’s Festival after spending much of the season injured.
Cheltenham’s Top Trainers
The Irish have dominated Cheltenham top trainer honours for most of the last decade. After 2010, only Nicky Henderson has stopped this being a battle between Emerald Isle rivals Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins who was the top trainer in 2021. The latter is a odds-on shot to be named top trainer at this year’s Festival.
Nicky Henderson is the Cheltenham top trainer among British handlers with 64. A record eight of those have come in the Champion Hurdle. Henderson also shares the record for most Queen Mother Champion Chase victories with Paul Nicholls, as both have six apiece. He is some way behind in total Festival winners, however, with 45 heading into 2021.
Cheltenham Festival FAQs
🏇 What is the Cheltenham Festival?
Cheltenham Festival is the signature four day event in the jumps racing calendar in the United Kingdom and Ireland, featuring the leading owners, trainers , jockeys and horses from the National Hunt. They compete for the leading prizes from their respective fields over the course of the competition.
🏇 Why is Cheltenham so popular?
Cheltenham is popular because the Festival provides great entertainment for racing enthusiasts. The best of the best compete in major races across the week, showcasing the incredible talent of the leading competitors in the sport. More often than not Cheltenham produces exhilarating races that live long in the memory.
🏇 Where is Cheltenham Festival?
Cheltenham Festival is staged in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in the south of England. Cheltenham Racecourse provides the venue for the event, holding a capacity of 67,500. The Festival sells out almost every year as over 250,000 people flood through the gates to witness one of racing’s ultimate events.
🏇 When is this year’s Cheltenham Festival?
Cheltenham Festival 2022 begins on Tuesday 15th March and ends on Friday 18th March. The event is always traditionally held in the third week of March and this year’s event is no exception.
🏇 How many days does Cheltenham Festival last?
Cheltenham Festival lasts for four days. It begins on the Tuesday of the third week of March and ends on Friday. The Festival used to last three days, but the expansion of the event resulted in a fourth day being added from 2005 onwards.
🏇 How many races are there at Cheltenham Festival?
There are 28 races held every year at Cheltenham Festival. Each day of the Festival stages seven races. They all showcase elite events, beginning on opening day with the Champion Hurdle all the way through to the prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.
🏇 What time do the Cheltenham Festival races begin and end?
The first race of the day at Cheltenham Festival is run at 1.30 pm GMT, while the last contest of the day begins at 5:30 pm GMT. Delays can occur, therefore visitors wishing to see an entire day of action should be ready to wait until 6pm GMT for the finish.
🏇 Is there a dress code for the Cheltenham Festival?
There is no specific dress code for regular punters at Cheltenham Festival, although smart-casual wear is preferred. If you are sitting in hospitality areas of Cheltenham Racecourse you may be required to don formal wear along with hats for both men and women.
🏇 Has Cheltenham Festival ever been cancelled?
Cheltenham Festival has only ever been cancelled on one occasion. In 2001, the Festival was scrapped twice due to a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in England. The event was initially postponed in March but rescheduled for April. However, an outbreak within the vicinity of Cheltenham caused its complete cancellation.
🏇 When was the 2021 Cheltenham Festival?
The Cheltenham Festival was staged over four days between March 16th and March 19th in 2021.
🏇 Which jockey had the most wins at Cheltenham in 2020?
Rachael Blackmore had the most wins at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival and became the first woman to win top jockey at the Festival. Blackmore recorded six victories over the course of the week. This included her win in the Champion Hurdle, riding Honeysuckle to victory.
🏇 How do I bet on Cheltenham Festival?
You can sign-up to Betting.Betfair to create an account and place a deposit. You can access the Cheltenham Festival page , and select the race and horse that you wish to bet on and then enter your stake. If your horse wins you will receive a payout into your account.