FESTIVAL CHELTENHAM DAVY RUSSELL'S - Star Sports
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DAVY RUSSELL’S
CHELTENHAM
FESTIVAL
2022 POCKET GUIDE
STARSPORTS.BET
DAVY RUSSELL - AMBASSADOR I just cannot wait to hear that famous Cheltenham roar again… Plenty of water has gone under the bridge for all of us since Chosen Mate won the Grand Annual back in 2020. That was my last winner at the Cheltenham Festival, in fact, it was my last ride. Injury meant that I had to watch last year’s behind-closed-doors Festival from home like all of you. The truth is I’ve really missed it. Cheltenham is such a special place, and I cannot wait to hear that roar again. So, it will be great to be back, and it will be even better to have you lot back there with me. I hope you find this guide as useful as ever as it’s packed full of helpful stats, as well as my views on the feature races. I’ll be writing my usual daily blogs plus there will be plenty of video previews to enjoy too. I wish you the best of luck in finding some winners and hopefully we all have a bit of luck…
THE SCHEDULE THU 17TH MARCH
TUE 15TH MARCH
TIME RACE DISTANCE
TIME RACE DISTANCE
1:30 Turners Novices’ Chase 2m 4f
1:30 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 2m ½f Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle 3m
2:10
2:10 Sporting Life Arkle 2m Ryanair Chase 2m 5f
2:50
2:50 Ultima Handicap Chase 3m 1f Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle 3m
3:30
3:30 Unibet Champion Hurdle 2m ½f Cheltenham Plate Handicap Chase 2m 5f
4:10
4:10 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle 2m 4f
4:50 Parnell Properties Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle 2m 1f
4:50 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle 2m 4 ½f Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup 3m 2f
5:30
5:30 National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Chase 3m 6f
FRI 18TH MARCH
WED 16TH MARCH
TIME RACE DISTANCE
TIME RACE DISTANCE
1:30 JCB Triumph Hurdle 2m 1f
1:30 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 2m 5f 2:10 McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle 2m 1f
2:10 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase 3m ½f 2:50 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 3m
2:50 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f 3:30 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup 3m 2½f
3:30 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase 2m 4:10 St. James’s Place Festival Challenge 3m 2½f
4:10 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 3m 6f Cup Open Hunters’ Chase
4:50 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual 2m ½f 4:50 Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase 2m ½f
Handicap Chase 5:30 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ 2m 4½f
5:30 Weatherbys Champion Bumper 2m ½f Handicap Hurdle
SKY BET
SUPREME NOVICES’ HURDLE
TUE 15 MARCH 1:30PM 2M 1/2F
STAT ATTACK
Winner’s Age 5 6 5 5 6 6 6 5 6 7 APPRECIATE IT WAS A 24-LENGTH WINNER LAST YEAR
Winner’s SP 10/1 15/1 7/2f 2/1f 4/1 25/1 9/1 6/1 6/1 8/11f
Fate of Fav. 7TH 2ND 1ST 1ST 2ND 2ND 11TH 4TH & 10TH 4TH 1ST
Winning Dist. 1¼ ½ 6 4½ 7 2¼ NECK 4½ HEAD 24
Previous Run 1ST
1ST
1ST
1
ST
1ST
6TH
1ST
1ST
1ST 1ST
DAVY RUSSELL’S
KEY TRENDS
10 of the last 12 winners won on their last start and within 59 days
VERDICT
Only one four-year-old winner in past 47 years
Plenty have billed this as the race of the Festival in
10 of the last 12 winners had at least four runs over hurdles
the build-up and if all the big names turn up it may
well be. Nicky Henderson could easily saddle both
CONSTITUTION HILL and JONBON, while Willie
Mullins is spoilt for choice with the likes of both
SIR GERHARD and DYSART DYNAMO. At this stage,
my preference would be for Jonbon as he has had a
fair bit of practice now and looks the real deal, but it
promises to be a cracker.
SPORTING LIFE
Arkle Challenge Trophy
TUE 15 MARCH 2:10PM 2M
STAT ATTACK
Winner’s Age 6 7 6 7 6 7 6 6 6 7 NICO DE BOINVILLE CELEBRATES SHISHKIN’S WIN LAST YEAR
Winner’s SP 8/11f 8/13f 33/1 4/6f 1/4f 1/4f 5/6f 5/1 16/1 4/9f
Fate of Fav. 1ST 1ST 2ND 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 7TH 6TH 1ST
Winning Dist. 7 2¼ HEAD 6 7 6 14 13 1½ 12
Previous Run 1ST
1ST
1
ST
1ST
1
ST
1ST
1ST
1ST
1ST
1ST
DAVY RUSSELL’S
KEY TRENDS
All of the last 10 winners had won on their previous start VERDICT
Seven of the last 10 winners have returned odds-on
There is no getting away from the fact that Gordon’s
Seven of the last 12 winners had at least one previous victory
at Cheltenham mare RIVIERE D’ETEL was incredibly unlucky not
to win the Irish Arkle the last day. She got the last
all wrong and still managed to pick herself up and
only narrowly failed to reel back in BLUE LORD. She
brings the most experience to the race and may
just be the one they all have to beat. Of the home
challenge, EDWARDSTONE sets the bar high and
could be her biggest danger.
UNIBET
CHAMPION HURDLE
TUE 15 MARCH 3:30PM 2M 1/2F
STAT ATTACK
Winner’s Age 7 9 6 7 8 6 7 5 6 7 HONEYSUCKLE & RACHAEL BLACKMORE WERE IMPERIOUS IN 2021
Winner’s SP 11/1 13/8f 9/1 4/5f 5/2f 5/1 4/6f 16/1 2/1f 11/10f
Fate of Fav. 3RD 1ST 4TH 1ST 1ST DQ 1ST 6TH 1ST 1ST
Winning Dist. 1¼ 2¾ NECK 1½ 4½ 4½ NECK 15 3 6½
Previous Run 2ND
1ST
4TH
4TH
1
ST
1ST
1ST
1ST
1ST
1ST
DAVY RUSSELL’S
KEY TRENDS
19 of the last 28 winners had previously won a race at Cheltenham
VERDICT
10 of the last 12 winners were aged between six and eight
Every time HONEYSUCKLE runs there always seems
Irish-trained horses have won 12 of the past 20 runnings
a reason to take her on. However, she is just simply
brilliant and keeps on winning and will more than
likely make it back-to-back Champion Hurdles here.
She has so much class and when Rachael presses
the button, she always finds. I’d be surprised if it
doesn’t become 15 from 15! The question is simply
who will chase her home with APPRECIATE IT and
former winner EPATANTE looking the most likely.
WE
KEY TRENDS
REMAINDER OF DAY ONE TUE 15 MARCH
2:50
Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase
? !
Only one of the last 10 renewals has been won by a horse aged nine
D
or older
IP P E
Just two Irish trainers have won this race since the turn of the century
4:10
CLOSE BROTHERS MARES’ HURDLE
Only two UK-trained winners since the race’s inception in 2008
P TO £ BACK AS
100 ERY RACE L
GET UP T ON EV FESTIVA
11 of the past 12 winners came from the top three in the market
F REE BE ENHAM
A E CHELT
4:50
BOODLES JUVENILE HANDICAP HURDLE AT TH
Seven of the past 10 winners were sent off 25/1 or bigger Pipped?! Cheltenham Offer
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Eight of the past 12 winners carried greater than 11st
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BIGGEST
5:30
National Hunt Challenge Cup Download the app, visit starsports.bet or call 08000 521 321
Only three favourites have obliged since 1992
Eight of the past 12 winners were trained in Ireland
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BROWN ADVISORY
NOVICES’ CHASE
WED 16 MARCH 2:10PM 3M 1/2F
STAT ATTACK
Winner’s Age 7 7 7 6 7 8 7 7 8 7 PAUL TOWNEND AFTER HIS VICTORY WITH MONKFISH IN 2021
Winner’s SP 9/2 8/1 12/1 13/8f 8/1 7/2f 5/2f 4/1 4/1 1/4f
Fate of Fav. 4TH 4TH 2ND 1ST 3RD 1ST 1ST 3RD 3RD 1ST
Winning Dist. 2½ 1¾ NECK 6 ½ NOSE 7 ½ 1 6½
Previous Run 1ST
2ND
3RD
1
ST
1ST
1ST
1ST
2ND FELL 1ST
KEY TRENDS DAVY RUSSELL’S
Only four winners since 1990 have been younger than seven
Nine of the last 13 winners had won a Graded race over hurdles
VERDICT
Six of the last 11 winners had contested the Albert Bartlett
So much depends on whether or not Willie Mullins
Novices’ Hurdle steps GALOPIN DES CHAMPS up in trip for this race
or sticks at the intermediate distance. I’d fancy him
to rock up here, if truth be told, and on what we have
seen so far, he will take some beating. FURY ROAD is
better than he showed the last day and will be better
suited back up to three miles. Home challengers
BRAVEMANSGAME and AHOY SENOR could be
dangers but have Aintree as an alternative.
BETWAY QUEEN MOTHER
CHAMPION CHASE
WED 16 MARCH 3:30PM 2M
STAT ATTACK
Winner’s Age 9 7 8 7 10 10 8 9 9 7 PUT THE KETTLE ON EDGED A THRILLER LAST YEAR
Winner’s SP 4/1 1/4f 11/4f 9/2 5/1 11/1 EVSf 4/11f 6/1 17/2
Fate of Fav. 2ND 1ST 1ST PU 2ND 7TH 1ST 1ST 4TH 3RD
Winning Dist. 1¼ 19 6 1¼ 3½ HEAD 7 1¾ 9½ ½
Previous Run 2 ND
1ST
1ST
1
ST
1ST
5TH
1ST
1ST
5TH
3RD
DAVY RUSSELL’S
KEY TRENDS
13 of the last 14 winners had previously won a Grade 1 over fences VERDICT
12 of the last 14 winners had run three times or fewer that season
This promises to be an intriguing rematch between
Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls have trained nine of the
SHISHKIN and ENERGUMENE after their blockbuster
last 14 winners
at Ascot the last day. When you throw in a back-
to-form CHACUN POUR SOI and Dan Skelton’s
NUBE NEGRA it promises to be a proper race. To be
honest, SHISHKIN has always been the one I like in
the division and will be a tough one to crack. He just
runs all the way to the line and the combination of
stamina and class gets him out of trouble every time.
WE
KEY TRENDS When others are
REMAINDER OF DAY TWO WED 16 MARCH abandoning the high street
1:30
BALLYMORE NOVICES’ HURDLE
Seven of the last 10 winners had previously won a Graded race
Irish horses have won seven of the last 10 renewals
CORAL CUP HANDICAP HURDLE
WE
2:50
Nine of the last 12 winners were rated 140 or higher
Six winners in the last 10 years returned at an SP of 16/1 or higher
4:10
GLENFARCLAS CROSS COUNTRY CHASE
11 of the last 12 runners had run at least once at a trip of 3m6f or further
10 of the last 12 winners had made at least 13 starts over fences
4:50
JOHNNY HENDERSON GRAND ANNUAL
are
lay the
ng
openi
HANDICAP CHASE
None of the last 28 winners carried top weight to victory
SHOPS
BIGGEST
Eight of the last 16 winners had run in the race before
5:30
WEATHERBYS CHAMPION BUMPER
Only two of the last 12 favourites have emerged victorious
11 of the last 12 winners had run in at least two bumpers Visit the UK’s fastest growing See us on the high street, download the app,
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CHASE
THU 17 MARCH 2:50PM 2M 5F
STAT ATTACK
Winner’s Age 8 7 8 7 7 9 7 7 9 7 ALLAHO WAS SUPERB WHEN WINNING THE RACE IN 2021
Winner’s SP 7/2f 9/2 11/4f 16/1 EVSf 7/4f 8/1 9/2 2/1 3/1f
Fate of Fav. 1ST 2ND 1ST 3RD 1ST 1ST 2ND 8TH 3RD 1ST
Winning Dist. ½ 9 19 5 6 1½ 4½ 1¼ NECK 12
Previous Run 1ST
1ST
2ND
UR 2
ND
1ST
2ND
1ST
2ND
1ST
KEY TRENDS DAVY RUSSELL’S
Nine of the last 10 winners finished inside the top two on their
previous run
VERDICT
Willie Mullins is the race’s leading trainer with four wins ALLAHO produced the standout performance at last
Nine of the last 10 favourites have finished inside the top three year’s Festival and he’s looked in pretty good order
so far this campaign too. The reality is he could take
some pegging back in this if he lines up in anywhere
near that form. It would be interesting to see who
takes him on and it could be a stayer that picks up
the pieces. CONFLATED gave me a lovely spin in
Leopardstown and could go well if aimed here as
could JANIDIL.PADDY POWER
STAYERS’ HURDLE
THU 17 MARCH 3:30PM 3M
STAT ATTACK
Winner’s Age 9 9 6 6 8 7 7 7 7 6 DANNY MULLINS HAD HIS FIRST FESTIVAL WINNER LAST YEAR
Winner’s SP 5/6f 17/2 15/2 14/1 EVSf 10/1 12/1 11/8f 50/1 12/1
Fate of Fav. 1ST PU 2ND 2ND 1ST 3RD 5TH 1ST 7TH 3RD
Winning Dist. 1¾ 2½ 1½ 3¼ 7 ¾ 2 2¾ 2 3¼
Previous Run 1ST
1
ST
1ST
4TH
1ST FELL 2ND 1ST
3RD
1ST
KEY TRENDS DAVY RUSSELL’S
Seven of the last 10 winners had won their previous race
Six or seven-year-olds have won six of the previous seven renewals
VERDICT
Four of the last five winners went off at 10/1 or bigger Some of the races have a pretty one-sided look
to them but certainly not the Stayers’ Hurdle. I’ve
always been a big fan of CHAMP and I’m prepared
to forgive him for his slightly below-par effort in
the Cleeve Hurdle. I’d say he is better judged on his
Ascot win, and he could be the one here. Last year’s
winner FLOORING PORTER looks sure to run well
again and they don’t want to be letting him have it
easy on the front end.WE
KEY TRENDS
REMAINDER OF DAY THREE THU 17 MARCH When others
won’t lay a bet
1:30
Turners Novices’ Chase
Only one horse older than seven has won this race
The race’s most successful trainer, Willie Mullins, hasn’t won this
WE
since 2017
2:10
Pertemps Network Final
The last six winners were all trained in Ireland
Only three of the last 22 favourites have come home in front
4:10
Cheltenham Plate Handicap Chase
lay the
Just four of the previous 20 winners have carried over 11st
BIGGEST
The last four winners were priced at 5/1 or shorter
4:50 PARNELL PROPERTIES MARES’
bets
lay the
NOVICES’ HURDLE IN THE
INDUSTRY
Willie Mullins has won five of the last six renewals
BIGGEST
Favourites have a 50% strike-rate from the first six runnings
5:30
FULKE WALWYN KIM MUIR
Challenge Cup
Jamie Codd is the leading rider in the race, with four wins
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Seven or eight-year-olds have won eight of the last 10 renewalsJCB
TRIUMPH HURDLE
FRI 18 MARCH 1:30PM 2M 1F
STAT ATTACK
Winner’s Age Contest restricted to four-year-olds QUILIXIOS WAS RACHAEL BLACKMORE’S SIXTH WINNER IN 2021
Winner’s SP 33/1 4/1 10/1 2/1f 9/2f 7/4f 5/2f 9/1 12/1 2/1
Fate of Fav. 3RD 6TH 4TH 1ST 1ST 1ST 4TH PU UR 4TH
Winning Dist. 3 15 3½ NK 1¼ 5 1¾ 3 2¾ 3¼
Previous Run 3RD
1ST
2 ND
1ST
4TH
1ST
2ND
1ST
1ST
1ST
KEY TRENDS DAVY RUSSELL’S
Nine of the last 13 winners were unbeaten over hurdles
Gordon Elliott has had two winners and two seconds since 2016
VERDICT
Six of the last 10 winners contested Leopardstown’s Spring Gordon holds a strong hand with potentially both
Juvenile Hurdle PIED PIPER and FIL DOR depending on ground
conditions. PIED PIPER beat VAUBAN on his debut
and followed that up with a smart performance at
Cheltenham on Trials Day. He’d relish a sound surface
and has plenty of speed. FIL DOR is a totally different
type who loves soft ground and is a proper staying
type. He was outgunned by Vauban in Leopardstown
the last day but don’t rule him out too soon.Boodles
CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP
FRI 18 MARCH 3:30PM 3M 21/2F
STAT ATTACK
Winner’s Age 9 8 8 8 9 7 8 7 8 8 MINELLA INDO AND JACK KENNEDY WERE VICTORIOUS IN 2021
Winner’s SP 8/1 11/4f 20/1 7/1 9/4f 7/1 5/1 12/1 100/30f 9/1
Fate of Fav. 3RD 1ST 5TH 7TH 1ST 4TH 2ND 8TH 1ST 3RD
Winning Dist. 2¼ 7 HEAD 1½ 4½ 2¾ 4½ 2½ NECK 1¼
Previous Run 1ST
1ST
6TH
1ST
1ST
1ST
1ST
1ST
1ST
4TH
KEY TRENDS DAVY RUSSELL’S
All of the last 21 winners have been aged nine or under
All of the last 20 winners were previous Grade 1 winners
VERDICT
14 of the past 21 winners had previously finished first or second at least GALVIN was brilliant in Leopardstown over Christmas
once at the Festival and proved he stays further than this when winning
the National Hunt Chase here last year. He beat
A PLUS TARD the last day who will be a big threat
again, as will last year’s winner MINELLA INDO,
who bounced back last time behind CONFLATED.
When you throw in the likes of PROTEKTORAT and
CHANTRY HOUSE, who I have always had a soft
spot for, you have the makings of a proper race.KEY TRENDS
REMAINDER OF DAY four
2:10
McCoy Contractors County
Handicap Hurdle Race
fri 18 MARCH
CHECK OUT
17 of the past 19 winners were either a novice or second-season hurdler
14 of the last 21 winners were running at the Festival for the first time
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
STARSPORTS
EXTRA!
2:50
Horses aged six or seven have won 14 of the 17 runnings
None of the last eight favourites have emerged victorious
4:10
St James’s Place Festival Challenge
Cup Open Hunters’ Chase
Six of the last 12 winners had won/finished in the first five
the previous year
Irish-trained runners have won nine of the past 14 renewals
4:50
MRS pADDY POWER MARES’ STEEPLE CHASE
Inaugural edition last year; Colreevy won for Willie Mullins
Run over the same course and distance as the Ryanair Chase
5:30
MARTIN PIPE CONDITIONAL JOCKEYS’
HANDICAP HURDLE
All winners have carried more than 11st
Eight of the last 11 winners were trained by either Willie Mullins, Paul
Nicholls or Gordon Elliott
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