By Blake Bint
With one of the biggest National Hunt racing festivals starting today, faces new and old come together for the prestigious meeting, lasting four days.
Across the span of the festival, six grade one races over fences are to be ran as well as eight grade one titles to be won over hurdles. The Gold Cup the most prestigious of them all, totalling at a £625,000 prize fund.
Four Previews for each day’s feature race:
Champion Hurdle (Tuesday)
The feature race on the opening day is the triple crown hurdling event- the champion hurdle.
Defending the crown, undefeated in 15 races- Honeysuckle (4/6) is the clear favourite, ridden by last years top jockey, Blackmore.
Paul Townend trains Honeysuckle’s biggest threat according the bookies with Appreciate it (9/2), an eight-year-old who is undefeated this season and also recorded a 24 length win last time out.
Long shot each way claims come for Tommy’s Oscar (40/1) who’s form and rising rating looks to give a chance for the Irish seven-year-old if ground suits however the step up in class will likely offer a challenge.
Queen Mother Champion Chase (Wednesday)
Shishkin (4/5) takes a strong favourites position following his unbeaten chase record including a dominant 12 length novice chase win at last year’s festival.
Closest competition Energumene (7/2) looks to have a chance for Willie Mullins after a one length loss to Shishkin at the last attempt. On ground worse than soft, Energumene may find the chances of a debut Cheltenham win could be increased.
Defending winner of the Queen Mother, Put The Kettle On comes in at 33/1 following a remarkable slump in form since the win this time last year. Last time out on New Year’s Day, the eight-year-old was tried at a longer distance of two miles and five furlongs and suffered a last place finish at Fairyhouse.
However, the drop in distance and winning experience at the course prove invaluable over some of the more inconsistently performing competitors.
Stayers’ Hurdle (Thursday)
Winner in this race last year, Flooring Porter comes in as favourite (3/1) despite the winless record since that of this time last year.
Klassical Dream (9/2) was absent from the festival in 2021 but a novice stayers’ win in 2019 will give trainer Mullins confidence with a couple of wins recorded last year added to that. However, a slip up last time out as an odds on (1/3) favourite has opened the door in this one.
In particular, Royal Kahala (9/1) has been in impressive form since last March where she was underwhelming in the novices’ hurdle. With two wins and a second and signs of improvement across further distances makes her a promising prospect for this one over three miles following her win ahead of Klassical Dream last time out.
Gold Cup (Friday)
The largest race of the meeting comes with it’s rich 98 year history. Minella Indo was last year’s winner ending Al Boum Photo’s previous back-to-back streak. Favourite A Plus Tard (3/1) has ran twice for Henry de Bromhead and Rachel Blackmore since his second place in this race last year with a win over three miles and one furlong and a slim defeat to fellow gold cup runner Galvin last time out in December over three miles.
Galvin (100/30) has proven successful at Cheltenham in the past with a novice grade two title last year and has proven very successful with only one loss on good to soft or good ground in the three year existing career.
Each way claims for Tornado Flyer (10/1) provided a turn up for the books when he defeated bookies’ favourite Chantry House (16/1 for Gold Cup) as a 28/1 shot for Willie Mullins in the King George VI race on boxing day; beating second place by a considerable nine lengths.
Other races
Elsewhere, Tuesday’s action sees veterans Vintage Clouds (28/1), Lostintranslation (25/1) and Frodon (14/1) all compete over three miles and one furlong for the handicap chase at 2:50pm although weight claims are against the latter two.
Telmesomethinggirl (4/1) in the Mares’ Hurdle has looked impressive against competitive runners since the grade two win at the festival last year.
On Wednesday, Threeunderthrufive at 14/1 has potential to have odds shortened based on form matching that of the favourite, performed on more ground versatility making for good each way claims.
In poor form, two-time Grand National winner Tiger Roll (13/8) will start over three miles and six furlongs as favourite of the class two race despite poor form of late.
Finally, Suprise Package (8/1) warrants claims in Friday’s County Handicap Hurdle following his 20/1 grade three win in a field of 22 last time out.
All action from the four days of racing can be found on ITV from 1:30pm Tuesday 15th March to Friday 19th March.