The Big Race for Each Day of the Cheltenham Festival

There are 28 races scheduled for the Cheltenham Festival 2022 in total, starting from Tuesday, March 15^th and continuing for four days till Friday, March 18^th. Each day at the Cheltenham Festival will see a total of 7 races being held at the Cheltenham Racecourse. While there are several big-money races on each of the four days, there is only one big race, aka the Featured Race scheduled for each day,

Understand that it’s no mean feat to be ranked as the day’s Feature Race in UK’s biggest National Hunt event, which contains 14 Grade 1 races in the schedule and a total prize purse that exceeds £4.4+ million. Without further ado, let’s get to know the big races for each day of the Cheltenham Festival next.

Champions Day on Tuesday, 15th March: Champion Hurdle

Favourites & Odds:

1. Honeysuckle – 8/13
2. Appreciate It – 5/1
3. Sharjah – 7/1

The Champion Hurdle will enter its 95^th year on Tuesday, 15^th March 2022, once the horses kick-off at 1:30 pm (GMT). With 8 hurdles spread over 3,298 metres, the Champion Hurdle is open to 4yo+ thoroughbreds only. Sponsored by Unibet, expect the prize pool for this year’s Champion Hurdle to be around £470,250, with the winner taking home £264,610.

Ladies Day on Wednesday, 16^th March: Queen Mother Champion Chase

Favourites & Odds:

1. Shishkin – 4/6
2. Energumene – 9/4
3. Chacun Pour Soi – 9/1

Entering its 63^rd year in 2022, the Queen Mother Champion Chase was previously known as the National Hunt Two-Mile Champion Chase. In honour of the Queen Mother, Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon’s 80^th birthday, the name was changed to Queen Mother Champion Chase in 1980.

On Wednesday, 16^th March, the Queen Mother Champion Chase will start at 3:30 pm (GMT), as 5yo+ champion horses and their jockeys will be riding across 3,199-metres, over 13 steeples (fences). The prize pool for the Featured Race of Cheltenham Festival Ladies Day is set at about £400,000 in 2022. The hurdle race will be sponsored by Betway, and the winner will take home at least £225,080 from the pool.

Saint Patrick’s Thursday on 17th March: Ryanair Chase, aka the Festival Trophy

Favourites & Odds: (Ryanair Chase)

1. Allaho – 4/5
2. Energumene – 9/4
3. Saint Calvados – 8/1

Favourites & Odds: (Stayers Hurdle)

1. Champ: 2/1
2. Flooring Porter: 7/2
3. Thyme Hill: 9/2

Although the Ryanair Chase/Festival Trophy is the original feature race on St Patrick’s Thursday, this fact can be debated as many consider the Stayers Hurdle to be the feature race on Day 3 during the Cheltenham Festival. Nevertheless, both races are going to be huge in 2022. Check out the important bits about both the Ryanair Chase and the Stayers Hurdle next:

• The Ryanair Chase (Race 3) starts at 2:50pm (GMT), which will be contested among 5yo+ thoroughbreds for £350,000 (winner’s share – £196,945) across 4,139 metres and 17 steeples.
• The Stayers Hurdle (Race 4) starts at 3:30pm (GMT), which will be contested among 4yo+ thoroughbreds for £325,000 (winner’s share – £182,878) across 4,785 metres and 12 hurdles.

Cheltenham Gold Cup Day on Friday, 18^th March: Cheltenham Gold Cup

Favourites & Odds:

1. A Plus Tard – 3/1
2. Galvin – 4/1
3. Minella Indo – 7/1

Sponsored by Boodles to its former prize purse of £625,000, the Cheltenham Gold Cup is not just the Featured Race on Day 4, but it is also the Featured Race of the Cheltenham Festival itself. Some of the best 5yo+ champion thoroughbreds will be gunning for the massive winner’s share of £351,688 across 5,294 metres inlaid with 22 treacherous fences.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the big race of course and other than the Grand National, there is no bigger national Hunt race on the British horse racing calendar, be it in terms of prestige or prize pool. Millions will be staked on this one race, so be careful and go through these crucial horse racing tips for the Cheltenham Gold Cup to make the most out of your betting budget. The race starts at 3:30 pm (GMT) sharp on Friday, 18^th March.

Other than the obvious five we just discussed, don’t forget to keep an eye for favourites and odds in some of the other popular races such as the Arkle Challenge (£175,000 – Day 1), Broadway Novices’ Chase (£175,000 – Day 2), the Golden Miller Novices’ Chase (£150,000 – Day 3) and the Spa Novices’ Hurdle (£130,000 – Day 4) as well. Spread your betting budget for the Cheltenham Gold Cup across all four days to give yourself a fair chance of breaking even after the Cheltenham Festival is over.