Cheltenham Festival 2022 guide: When is it, times, big races, top horses, trainers, jockeys and more
The Cheltenham Festival is racing’s Olympics, but fortunately we don’t have to wait four years for it. Planet Sport's Jonathan Doidge delivers his guide to the big races, trainers, jockeys and more.
For four days in March, the world watches on as our equine superstars, prepared and accompanied by some very skilled jockeys, do battle for numerous different championship categories.
It's Great Britain versus Ireland with occasional raiders of other nationalities throwing their hats in the ring. But it's more than just national pride that's at stake.
It's about a place in sporting history and it's a chance when the small stable might just have that one horse that can topple the might and clout of the big hitters.
Here's Planet Sport's essential guide to the stuff you should know about the Cheltenham Festival, so you can sound like an expert.
When is the Cheltenham Festival?
The 2022 Festival takes place from Tuesday March 15 to Friday March 18 inclusive.
During the four day Festival, the first race will always start at 13:30 and the last race goes off at 17:30, with the feature races of each day usually at 15:30. They've kept timings nice and simple.
But be aware these are rough times, as horses don't own wrist watches and don't tend to like lining up in order on time. So you still might have a bit more time to get your bets on. Thoroughbreds eh!
Where is the Cheltenham Festival?
The Cheltenham Roar
It all starts traditionally at around 13.30pm on Tuesday with the 'Cheltenham Roar'.
We've waited a year to be back here and as the racecourse commentator announces, "They're coming into line for the Supreme" the spectators cannot hold their delight any longer. As the tapes go up, the runners head up towards the stands for the first time to a tumultuous roar. It's almost as if it's staged but it isn't. This is spontaneity. This is excitement. THIS is Cheltenham.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup
Day Four - Friday, March 18, 15:30 GMT
The biggest race of the lot, crowning the champion staying chaser and always the feature on the final day of the card. It can be a gruelling test of both horse and rider.
Some of the greatest jumps horses of all time have lifted this prize, including five-time champion Golden Miller and triple champions Arkle and Best Mate. Current holder is Minella Indo, who should be back to defend his title in March.
Who could win the Cheltenham Gold Cup: Galvin, Minella Indo, Protektorat, A Plus Tard, Chantry House, Tornado Flyer (e/w)
The Champion Hurdle
Day One - Tuesday, March 16, 15:30 GMT
The feature race on day one and the championship for the speedsters, the two-mile hurdlers. Hatton's Grace, Sir Ken, Persian War, See You Then and Istabraq all won this three times each.
Last year's winner, the darling of Ireland, Honeysuckle, looks set to defend her title in 2022 and will be aiming to maintain her unbeaten record.
Who could win the Champion Hurdle: Honeysuckle, Appreciate It, Eptante, Zanahiyr (e/w)
The Queen Mother Champion Chase
Day Two - Wednesday, March 16, 15:30 GMT
Wednesday each year sees the fastest chasers on four legs go to post for the two-mile championship over the larger obstacles.
The race is named in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, who was a wonderful supporter of National Hunt racing.
This race has produced some of the most wonderful performances ever seen at the Festival, the likes of Master Minded, Moscow Flyer before him, and more recently the brilliant Sprinter Sacre and fellow dual winner Altior.
Put The Kettle On won it for Ireland in 2021 and should be back to defend the title this time.
Who could win the Queen Mother Champion Chase: Shishkin, Energumene, Chacun Pour Soi, Nube Negra (e/w)
The Ryanair Chase
Day Three - Thursday, March 17, 14:50 GMT
Only one horse, Albertas Run in 2010 and 2011, has proved good enough to win the race twice. Other memorable winners have been Cue Card, Vautour and Frodon.
Last year's winner, Allaho, is another champion set to defend his particular crown in March.
Who could win the Ryanair Chase: Allaho, Saint Calvados, Mister Fisher (e/w)
The Stayers' Hurdle
Day Three - Thursday, March 17, 15:30 GMT
Notable winners since the dawn of the 21st Century include dual French-trained scorer Baracouda, Inglis Driver, who also won it twice, and the impressive Big Buck's who won four successive runnings from 2009-2012.
Who could win the Stayers' Hurdle: Flooring Porter, Klassical Dream, Champ, Thyme Hill, Paisley Park (e/w)
Other Cheltenham Festival races of note
Day One - Tuesday, March 15
16:50 - Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
17:30 - National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup (Grade 2)
Day Two - Wednesday, March 16
13:30 - Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)
14:10 - Brown Advisory Novices' Steeple Chase (Grade 1)
14:50 - Coral Cup Hurdle (Grade 3)
16:50 - Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase (Grade 3)
17:30 - Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1)
Day Three - Thursday, March 17
13:30 - Turners Novices' Chase (Grade 1)
16:10 - Paddy Power Plate (Grade 3)
16:50 - Mares Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)
Day Four - Friday, March 18
13:30 - JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
14:10 - McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
14:50 - Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Race (Grade 1)
16:50 - Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Steeple Chase (Grade 2)
Top trainers
Willie Mullins
The master of Closutton has become a Cheltenham phenomenon. A record 78 winners have been sent out from Willie Mullins' County Carlaw yard and he looks certain to raise the bar even higher in March.
He's also won four Champion Hurdles, two Stayers' Hurdles and four Ryanair Chases. Anything saddled by this man across the four days of the Festival merits the closest of scrutiny.
Leading fancies at Cheltenham 2022:
Tuesday, March 15 : Sir Gerhard - Supreme; Dysart Dynamo - Supreme; Blue Lord - Arkle; Appreciate It - Champion Hurdle; Stattler - National Hunt Challenge Cup
Wednesday, March 16: Energumene and Chacun Pour Soi - Queen Mother Champion Chase; Facile Vega - Champion Bumper
Thursday, March 17: Allaho - Ryanair; Galopin Des Champs - Turners Novices' Chase
Friday, March 18: Vauban - JCB Triumph Hurdle; Al Boum Photo - Gold Cup
Nicky Henderson
Henderson began training in 1978 and has now trained an incredible 70 Cheltenham Festival winners.
Of those, Long Run (2011) and Bobs Worth (2013) won the Gold Cup, while See You Then won the Champion Hurdle in 1985, '86 and '87.
There have been other brilliant performers at the Festival for him too, in the shape of dual Champion Chase winners Sprinter Sacre and another who landed the two-mile championship, Remittance Man.
Leading fancies at Cheltenham 2022:
Tuesday, March 15: Jonbon and Constitution Hill - Supreme
Wednesday, March 16: Shishkin - Queen Mother Champion Chase, Walking On Air - Ballymore
Thursday, March 17: Champ - Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle
Paul Nicholls
Leading fancies at Cheltenham 2022:
Tuesday, March 15: Threeunderthrufive - National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Novices' Chase
Wednesday, March 16: Bravemansgame - Brown Advisory Novices' Chase; Stage Star - Ballymore
Thursday, March 17: Saint Calvados - Ryanair Chase
Gordon Elliott
Leading fancies at Cheltenham 2022:
Tuesday, March 15: Pied Piper – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle; Riviere D’etel – Arkle; Teahupoo – Champion Hurdle; Run Wild Fred and Fury Road – National Hunt Challenge Cup
Wednesday, March 16: Tiger Roll – Cross Country Chase; American Mike – Champion Bumper
Thursday, March 17: Party Central – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
Friday, March 18: Pied Piper and Fil Dor – Triumph Hurdle; Ginto – Albert Bartlett; Galvin – Gold Cup; Mount Ida and Riviere D’etel – Mares’ Chase
Henry de Bromhead
De Bromhead did not train his first Festival winner until 2010 but has now chalked up 15 of them from his base at Knockeen, County Waterford.
Leading fancies at Cheltenham 2022:
Tuesday, March 15: Honeysuckle - Champion Hurdle; Telmesomethinggirl - Close Brothers' Mares' Hurdle
Wednesday, March 16: Journey With Me - Ballymore or Albert Bartlett (Fri 18)
Thursday, March 17: Bob Olinger - Turners Novices' Chase
Friday, March 18: Minella Indo and A Plus Tard - Cheltenham Gold Cup
Dan Skelton
His time will come. Note that three of his four winners were delivered in the unbelievably competitive County Handicap Hurdle.
Surely it is just a matter of time before the Alcester handler is winning championship races, and anything he saddles in Cheltenham week merits respect.
Leading fancies at Cheltenham 2022:
Tuesday, March 15: Third Time Lucki - Arkle
Wednesday, March 16: Nube Negra - Queen Mother Champion Chase
Thursday, March 17: Est Est Belle - Mares' Novices' Hurdle
Friday, March 18: Protektorat - Cheltenham Gold Cup
Top jockeys
While trainers rightly get huge recognition for preparing their horses to deliver on the big day, it's the jockeys who really grab the limelight.
Paul Townend
Biggest winner: Al Boum Photo (Gold Cup - 2019 and 2020)
Davy Russell
Biggest winner: Lord Windermere (Gold Cup 2014)
Rachael Blackmore
What a three years at Cheltenham it has been for the 32-year-old from County Tipperary.
The 2020 Cheltenham Festival saw her partner Honeysuckle to success in the Mares' Hurdle, and the partnership then stepped up to win the 2021 Champion Hurdle, making Blackmore the first female jockey to win hurdling's blue riband.
In all, she rode an incredible six winners at the 2021 Festival, becoming the first woman to win the Ruby Walsh Trophy for leading jockey at the meeting.
Biggest Cheltenham winner: Honeysuckle (Champion Hurdle 2021)
Harry Skelton
A superb horseman, fabulous judge of pace and a real giver of confidence to his mounts as they approach their obstacles, whatever Dan achieves, Harry will be along for the ride.
He'll also surely pick up more Festival winners for other yards in years to come.
Biggest Cheltenham winner: Politologue (Champion Chase 2019)
✨November National Hunt Sale✨
— Tattersalls Ireland (@tatts_ireland) March 19, 2021
Minella Indo lands the 2021 WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup under @jackkennedy15 for @HenrydeBromhead
Sold by @rathkenty to John Nallen for €24,000 at the November NH Sale
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