Cheltenham Festival: Favourites in EVERY race, latest updates and best free bets
THE Cheltenham Festival ante post markets have been in full swing since March.
Shrewd punters have been busy plotting and predicting how this year's races will finish.
Irish trainers dominated last year and with the likes of Willie Mullins and Henry de Bromhead having such strong yards, it's no surprise many of their superstars lead the way again.
Here, SunSport looks at the ante post betting - and best free bet offers.
All odds correct at the time of writing and generally taken at best on offer now firms have gone non-runner no bet. Favourite for every race listed.
Tuesday March 15 2022
Supreme Novices' Hurdle
2-1 Constitution Hill (Trainer: Nicky Henderson)
Most read in Horse Racing
2021 winner: Appreciate It
Supreme Novices' Hurdle news
Jonbon looked very, very, very impressive for Henderson when winning by six lengths on hurdling debut at Newbury.
But Constitution Hill is a mega market mover after winning on hurdles bow at Sandown on Tingle Creek weekend, with Hendo saying: "He is the most extraordinary creature I have come across."
He backed it up with a facile success in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown on January 8 and duly replaced stablemate Jonbon as favourite.
But Matt Chapman thinks Constitution Hill should at least be entered for the Champion Hurdle.
Kilcruit is a big drifter out to 10-1 following his shock defeat at 1-14 to Largy Debut - now 14s for this race - at Cork.
This is shaping up to be the race of the Festival (arguably) with Dysart Dynamo (3-1), Jonbon (5-1) and Sir Gerhard (11-4) all vying for favouritism.
Arkle Chase
11-4 Blue Lord (Trainer: Willie Mullins)
11-4 Edwardstone (Trainer: Alan King)
2021 winner: Shishkin
Arkle Chase news
The big development in the Arkle ante post markets was the injury of big ante post fav Ferny Hollow, meaning he will miss the Festival.
Appreciate It was also fancied but an injury to the Willie Mullins-trained former Supreme winner means he will stay over hurdles for now.
Keep an eye on Gordon Elliott's Riviere D'etel at around 4-1.
Ultimate Handicap Chase
8-1 Does He Know (Trainer: Kim Bailey)
8-1 Imperial Alcazar (Trainer: Fergal O'Brien)
8-1 Shan Blue (Trainer: Dan Skelton)
8-1 Escaria Ten (Trainer: Gordon Elliott)
8-1 Noble Yeats (Trainer: Emmet Mullins)
2021 winner: Vintage Clouds
Champion Hurdle
4-9 Honeysuckle (Trainer: Henry de Bromhead)
2021 winner: Honeysuckle
Champion Hurdle news
Keep an eye on Appreciate It at 4-1. He will remain over hurdles after an injury put back plans for him to go chasing.
Sharjah is out of the Champion Hurdle and the best value may come in the betting without Honeysuckle market, where you can get Appreciate It, Epatante and Zanahiyr at 2-1, 5-2 and 7-2 respectively.
Mares' Hurdle
7-2 Telmesometinggirl (Trainer: Henry de Bromhead)
Mares' Hurdle news
Royal Kahala's victory in the Advent Surety EBF Mares Hurdle (Grade 3) didn't go unnoticed, and neither did Telmesomethinggirl's third-place finish, with Heaven Help Us sandwiched in between.
This race looks an intriguing ante post market but a devilishly difficult one to solve.
One at a bigger price could be Mrs Milner (from 12s to 10), who scored in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle last Festival.
2021 winner: Black Tears
National Hunt Chase
11-4 Stattler (Trainer: Willie Mullins)
2021 winner: Galvin
National Hunt Chase news
Out-and-out stayer Stattler ground out a nice victory over Farouk D'alene (10s) at Naas on January 30.
Threeunderthrufive could represent decent value at 10s given his sublime and highly consistent jumping. Run Wild Fred is second fav at 3-1.
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
9-2 Gaelic Warrior (Trainer: Willie Mullins)
2021 winner: Jeff Kidder
Boodles Juvenile Handicap news
Keep an eye on Britzka. He was joint-fav before finishing fourth to White Pepper at Fairyhouse on January 9.
He has been trimmed to 8-1 from 33s . The Tide Turns (7-1), Champion Green (8-1) and Saint Segal at 9s are the main dangers.
Wednesday March 16 2022
Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
2-1 Dysart Dynamo (Trainer: Willie Mullins)
2-1 Constitution Hill (Trainer: Nicky Henderson)
2-1 Sir Gerhard (Trainer: Willie Mullins)
2021 winner: Bob Olinger
Ballymore Novices' Hurdle news
Two top Irish trainers head the betting here but Gordon Elliott looms large with the impressive Ginto (5-1).
He gave his Bective Stud owners their first Grade 1 with victory at Naas on January 2.
Stage Star has also tightened in price to around 7s after a win at Newbury on December 29.
Arguably none were as impressive as Dysart Dynamo winning the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle, although he could yet go for the Supreme.
Brown Advisory Novices' Chase
Evens Galopin Des Champs (Trainer: Willie Mullins)
2021 winner: Monkfish
Brown Advisory Novices' Chase news
This is shaping up to be a belter should the horses touted to run actually do so.
Nicholls' Bravemansgame looks a monster and has started this season in style, deservedly going into 3-1.
Ahoy Senor has also come into 9-2 for this race on the back of his ridiculous 31-length win at Newbury at the end of November. although he now looks more like a contender for the National Hunt Chase.
As it is, Galopin Des Champs looks much the best horse in this race.
The six-year-old won on the snaff by 22 lengths at Leopardstown on December 28 and had the usually reserved Mullins waxing lyrical about just how good he was.
He continues to be backed, either alone or in multiples - although he has drifted as rumours spread he could go for the Turners.
Galopin won again at the Dubling Racing Festival and connections could keep him apart from Bob Olinger.
Coral Cup
8-1 Unexpected Party (Trainer: Dan Skelton)
2021 winner: Heaven Help Us
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Champion Chase
8-11 Shishkin (Trainer: Nicky Henderson)
2021 winner: Put The Kettle On
Champion Chase news
You might agree with Matt Chapman in the sense that Shishkin has nothing to worry about in Energumene.
But the horse owned by billionaire Brighton owner Tony Bloom can only win what's in front of him and he did that well at Cork on his seasonal bow.
Is it enough to see off Henderson's superstar though...? Not on the evidence of their clash at Ascot at the end of January, with Shishkin winning an all-time classic.
Cross Country Chase
4-1 Tiger Roll (Trainer: Gordon Elliott)
4-1 Prengarde (Trainer: Enda Bolger)
2021 winner: Tiger Roll
Cross Country Chase news
This market changed dramatically overnight with the news JP McManus had bought leading French jumper Prengarde.
The horse has rocketed to the top of nearly all ante post markets, usurping Tiger Roll and Easysland (6-1).
Elliott said had he been at Aintree on December 4 then Tiger Roll wouldn't have run - as it was the horse was pulled up but was reported to be fine the day after.
The dual Grand National winner remains something of an enigma but we know he loves Cheltenham so expect him to be back to his best come March.
He and Easysland have accounted for the past four wins of this race.
And Tiger Roll has gone back into fav after Elliott released footage of him training over the cross country obstacles.
Grand Annual Handicap Chase
8-1 Brave Seasca (Trainer: Venetia Williams)
8-1 Third Time Lucki (Trainer: Dan Skelton)
2021 winner: Sky Pirate
Champion Bumper
8-11 Facile Vega (Trainer: Willie Mullins)
2021 winner: Sir Gerhard
Champion Bumper news
The big question between now and the Champion Bumper is just who the heck is going to come through and challenge American Mike?
Well, we have the answer in the simply jaw-dropping Facile Vega.
Elliott has American Mike plotting the same path as notables Don Cossack, Death Duty, Samcro, Envoi Allen and Sir Gerhard.
The Bective Stud-owned four-year-old took a part rivals by 31 lengths to win the Listed Future Champions INH Flat Race on December 18 - a race won by subsequent Champion Bumper winner Sir Gerhard in 2020.
But Facile Vega looks to have the world at his feet after his demolition job at the Dublin Racing Festival. The son of wondermare Quevega could be anything at Cheltenham.
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Thursday March 17
Turners Novices' Chase
4-5 Bob Olinger (Trainer: Henry de Bromhead)
2021 winner: Chantry House
Pertemps Network Final
6-1 Sporting John (Trainer: Philip Hobbs)
2021 winner: Mrs Milner
Ryanair Chase
10-11 Allaho (Trainer: Willie Mullins)
2021 winner: Allaho
Ryanair Chase news
Allaho ground out a real dogged victory in the John Durkan at Punchestown, leaving behind the likes of Envoi Allen and Asterion Forlonge, who was travelling supremely well before falling.
Winning jockey Patrick Mullins said: "It was hard work. He never really carried me forward. He was going left everywhere and never really had a cut at his fences."
Read into that what you will...
Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle
10-3 Flooring Porter (Trainer: Gavin Cromwell)
2021 winner: Flooring Porter
Stayers' Hurdle news
Will Buzz prove Henderson's other banker at the Festival?
The Cesarewitch winner has made all the right noises so far and looks like he could stay longer than the mother-in-law - until a hip fracture threw his entire racing career into serious doubt.
In his absence steps forward Champ, the winner of that unforgettable RSA in 2020... and the winner of the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on December 18.
He had been entered in the Gold Cup but Champ will stay over hurdles and is 9-2 for the Stayers.
The Cheltenham legend is the same price as Thyme Hill and Klassical Dream, with Paisley Park 6-1.
Paddy Power Plate
8-1 Imperial Alcazar (Trainer: Fergal O'Brien)
8-1 Birchdale (Trainer: Enda Bolger)
8-1 Grand Paradis (Trainer: Gordon Elliott)
8-1 Capodanno (Trainer: Willie Mullins)
2021 winner: The Shunter
Mares' Novice Hurdle
3-1 Allegorie De Vassy (Trainer: Willie Mullins)
2021 winner: Telmesomethinggirl
Mares Novice Hurdle news
This looks like being a cracker with the market leader closely followed by the erratic Brandy Love, who jumped miles left and nearly ran off the course when going down a narrow loser to Allegorie De Vassy at Fairyhouse on January 29.
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
7-1 Frontal Assault (Trainer: Gordon Elliott)
2021 winner: Mount Ida
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Friday March 18
Triumph Hurdle
2-1 Pied Piper (Trainer: Gordon Elliott)
2-1 Vauban (Trainer: Willie Mullins)
2021 winner: Quilixios
Triumph Hurdle news
Has there been a more impressive winner at Cheltenham this season than Pied Piper? Davy Russell didn't move a muscle as the four-year-old made a mockery of rivals with a nine-length win on Trials Day.
However, his future is uncertain and Elliott also saddles Fil Dor, who has gone out to 9-2 after defeat to Vauban at the DRF.
County Hurdle
6-1 Echoes In Rain (Trainer: Willie Mullins)
2021 winner: Belfast Banter
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
7-2 Ginto (Trainer: Gordon Elliott)
2021: Vanillier
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle news
Blazing Khal's injury prompted a market shake up, with Ginto going to the top of it.
Minella Crooner has been slashed in the market after a runners-up finish to Minella Cocooner (6-1) at the DRF.
Cheltenham Gold Cup
10-3 A Plus Tard (Trainer: Henry de Bromhead)
2021 winner: Minella Indo
Don't miss SunSport's Cheltenham Festival 2022 Gold Cup guide including free bets and complete odds
Cheltenham Gold Cup news
A Plus Tard has drifted slightly since being beaten by a short head by the now 4-1 Galvin in the Grade 1 Savills Chase in December.
Minella Indo flopped in the King George but returned to form with a second in the Irish Gold Cup behind shock 18-1 winner Conflated, and is now also 4-1.
St James' Place Hunters' Chase
Billaway 4-1 (Trainer: Willie Mullins)
Mares' Chase
5-2 Concertista (Trainer: Willie Mullins)
2021 winner: Colreevy
Mares' Chase news
Concertista looked better the further she went on chasing debut at Cork in the first weekend of December.
She loves Prestbury Park and heads the betting here ahead of Elimay (6-1).
Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle
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6-1 State Man (Trainer: Willie Mullins)
2021 winner: Galopin Des Champs
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Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chases their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare –
- Gamble Aware –