With the 2022 Cheltenham Festival drawing ever nearer, horse racing fans up and down the country are eagerly perusing the Betdaq horse racing betting odds in a bid to predict some of the winners.
Nothing gets racing fans as excited as the annual Prestbury Park meeting, which features some of the biggest races on the calendar, and the 2022 edition promises to be a memorable one, with crowds welcomed back to Cheltenham for the first time since 2020.
As we count down the days to March 15th, let’s remind ourselves of what happened at last year’s Festival, focusing on day one to begin with.
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – Appreciate It
Willie Mullins has made the Cheltenham Festival his own in recent years, and the 2021 meeting got off to the perfect start for the Irish trainer, as Appreciate It came home in first place in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Paul Townend, a reliable rider for Mullins, was the man in the saddle, delivering as hugely impressive performance which saw Appreciate It win by some 24 lengths.
Arkle Challenge Trophy – Shishkin
Nicky Henderson was the trainer jumping for joy after the next race, as Shishkin delivered another fine performance to earn victory in the Arkle Challenge Trophy. Shishkin had won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2020, and it seems as though he loves running at Cheltenham, as he streaked clear of Eldorado Allen and Captain Guinness to secure a memorable triumph.
Handicap Chase – Vintage Clouds
A Handicap Chase followed the excitement of the two traditional curtain-raisers, and it as the brilliantly named Ryan Mania who proved to be the winning jockey on board Vintage Clouds, guiding the 28/1 shot to a five-and-a-half-length victory over pre-race favourite Happygolucky. Sue Smith was the winning trainer, left jubilant by the expert display of both Mania and Vintage Clouds.
Champion Hurdle – Honeysuckle
The standout race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival is always the Champion Hurdle. As one of the showpiece races across the Festival’s four days, it’s always a special moment for the winner, and a great way to kick off the meeting.
Last year, history was made as Rachael Blackmore became the first female jockey to triumph in the Champion Hurdle, guiding the unbeaten mare Honeysuckle to victory. It was a special moment for both Blackmore and trainer Henry de Bromhead – both of whom would go on to enjoy a fantastic Festival.
Mares’ Hurdle – Black Tears
Honeysuckle’s victory in the Champion Hurdle served as the perfect inspiration for the proceeding Mares’ Hurdle, which was one by Black Tears — ridden by Jack Kennedy and trained by Mrs Denise Foster. It was a close-run thing with second-place Concertista, but Kennedy and Black Tears held firm to win the race by a head and deny Mullins and Townend a second win of the day.
Juvenile Handicap Hurdle – Jeff Kidder
The Juvenile Handicap Hurdle followed the Mares’ Hurdle, and there was a shock victory for Jeff Kidder, who started the race at odds of 80/1. Trained by Noel Meade and ridden by Sean Flanagan, Jeff Kidder managed to win by two lengths ahead of pre-race favourite Saint Sam — another second-place finish for Mullins and Townend.
Challenge Cup Novices’ Chase – Galvin
Day one of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival ended with the Challenge Cup Novices’ Chase, which was won by Galvin. It was another victory in the saddle for jockey Jack Kennedy, this time for trainer Ian Ferguson, as he pipped Next Destination and Escaria Ten to the winning line. Galvin has since gone from strength to strength, and is considered one of the favourites for the Gold Cup in 2022.