Cheltenham Festival

Cheltenham Festival 2022: A look back on the four days at Prestbury Park

Racing fans up and down the nation might have a few post-Cheltenham Festival blues, but in order to keep the embers burning a little longer, here’s a look back on the main talking points and results from last week’s meeting.

Tuesday:

Day One began with an almighty roar from a packed crowd of around 68,000 and the opening contest, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, didn’t disappoint with Constitution Hill running out a hugely impressive winner. He came home 22 lengths ahead of stablemate Jonbon and smashed the track record in the process.

In the feature of the day, the Champion Hurdle, Honeysuckle retained her crown, joining an elite group of 14 horses to have won the race more than once. She was given a superbly cool ride by Rachael Blackmore once again and the remarkable mare made it 15 career wins from 15. Who knows how many more lie ahead of them.

It was a good day for punters, with three of the first four favourites going in, including Edwardstone, while in the final race, the Kim Muir, Stattler returned a well-backed 2/1 winner.

One of the stories of last year’s Festival had been the Irish domination, but that didn’t materialise here as many were expecting, with UK-trained horses winning four of the seven races.

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

Constitution Hill 9/4J

Jonbon 5/1

Kilcruit 6/1

Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

Edwardstone 5/2F

Gabynako 25/1

Blue Lord 4/1

Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Corach Rambler 10/1

Gericault Roque 9/1

Oscar Elite 22/1

Tea Clipper 12/1

Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

Honeysuckle 8/11F

Epatante 16/1

Zanahiyr 28/1

Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

Marie’s Rock 18/1

Queens Brook 4/1

Mrs Milner 14/1

Boodles Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 3)

Brazil 10/1

Gaelic Warrior 13/8F

Bell Ex One 28/1

HMS Seahorse 8/1

National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)

Stattler 2/1

Run Wild Fred 15/8F

Vanillier 11/4

Wednesday:

Day Two will be remembered for the rain, which hammered down throughout the day, turning the going heavy.

The conditions were not thought to suit Tiger Roll in the Cross County and he drifted to 3/1 on the day, but true to form ‘The Tiger’ proved doubters wrong. It was agonisingly close to being the perfect swansong for him as he lost out to stablemate Delta Work by less than a length. However, he received a reception for the ages when walking into the winners’ enclosure alongside his stablemate. He can now enjoy his retirement and will never be forgotten.

Many horses were unsuited by the swift turn in conditions, including Shishkin who failed to run his race in the feature of the day, the Champion Chase. However, it was his rival from their big clash at Ascot, , Energumene, who emerged victorious, giving trainer Willie Mullins a first Champion Chase victory.

The testing conditions were no object to Sir Gerhard, though, who ploughed through the mud to win the opening Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.

Paul Nicholls’ Bravemansgame was a notable omission from the Brown Advisory, but there was an impressive winner in L’Homme Presse, who jumped superbly throughout and will surely be a contender for the Gold Cup next season.

Bookmakers got a bit of respite, with big priced winners of the handicaps, but Facile Vega’s win in the Champion Bumper took the shine off the day for them.

Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

Sir Gerhard 8/11F

Three Stripe Life 8/1

Whatdeawant 18/1

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

L’Homme Presse 9/4F

Ahoy Senor 4/1

Gaillard Du Mesnil 11/1

Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Commander Of Fleet 50/1

Fastorslow 18/1

Ashdale Bob 14/1

Camprond 10/1

Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)

Energumene 5/2

Funambule Sivola 40/1

Envoi Allen 10/1

Glenfarclas Chase (A Cross Country Chase)

Delta Work 5/2F

Tiger Roll 3/1

Plan Of Attack 25/1

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Global Citizen 28/1

Andy Dufresne 10/3F

Frero Banbou 6/1

Editeur Du Gite 15/2

Champion Bumper (Grade 1)

Facile Vega 15/8F

American Mike 5/2

James’s Gate 16/1

Thursday:

The sun returned for Day Three and several brilliant performances lit up Prestbury Park.

Galopin Des Champs looked to be on his way to a commanding defeat of rival Bob Olinger in the opening race only to crumple to the turf after jumping the final fence with too much exuberance. It was a moment that shocked the crowd and was a bitter pill to swallow for jockey Paul Townend and favourite backers alike.

Townend bounced back swiftly though as Allaho, put in one of the performances of the Festival when blowing his rivals away in the Ryanair for the second year running.

In the feature of the day, the Stayers’ Hurdle, there was another repeat success as Flooring Porter was given the perfect ride from the front by Danny Mullins and never saw another rival.

Other than Allaho’s win it was a better day for the bookies, with big priced horses taking the handicaps.

The UK managed four winners on the day to Ireland’s three, but the Emerald Isle still held the advantage at 11-10 going into the final day.

Turners Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

Bob Olinger 6/5

Bussleton 50/1

El Barra 18/1

Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Third Wind 25/1

Alaphilippe 11/2C

Mill Green 33/1

Winter Fog 11/2C

Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)

Allaho 4/7F

Janadil 12/1

Eldorado Allen 14/1

Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

Flooring Porter 4/1

Thyme Hill 11/2

Paisley Park 17/2

Craft Irish Whiskey Co. Plate Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Coole Cody 22/1

Imperial Alcazar 7/2F

Spiritofthegames 12/1

Stolen Silver 18/1

Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)

Love Envoi 15/2

Ahorsewithnoname 50/1

Grangee 13/2

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase

Chambard 40/1

Mister Coffey 5/1J

Didero Vallis 66/1

Fakir D’alene 33/1

Friday:

History was made on Gold Cup Day as Rachael Blackmore banished her demons of 12 months ago and won the Gold Cup with A Plus Tard. On the run to the second last it looked as though we might be in for a repeat of last year’s placings as Minella Indo went to the front, but Blackmore had saved a bit on the favourite and unleashed her mount with a devastating bust of speed to race clear on the run to the last.

Few atmospheres could have matched the reception they got on returning to the winners’ enclosure. It marked the first Gold Cup win for a female jockey and proved once again that Blackmore is taking the sport to new levels.

A Plus Tard’s success also marked a brilliant training performance from Henry de Bromhead who for the second year running had the first and second in the Gold Cup.

This was a day for the Irish, St Patrick’s Day delayed 24 hours, as they produced a clean sweep to take all seven races on the card. Finishing the with 18 Festival winners to the UK’s 10 to reclaim the Prestbury Cup.

Willie Mullins was the star of the show, plundering five of the seven races, including Grade 1 wins in the Triumph Hurdle with Vauban and the Albert Bartlett with The Nice Guy.

Mullins finished up with a record 10 Cheltenham Festival winners across the week, with stable jockey Paul Townend emerging as leading jockey with five wins.