Cheltenham Festival Review: Tom Collins pinpoints this year's highlights

Saturday was a struggle, wasn’t it? I hope you grabbed a cup of tea and enjoyed the fresh spring weather as the 2022 Cheltenham festival hangover plagued jumps racing fans.

This year’s four-day extravaganza seemed to have just about everything. There were unlimited thrills and some high-profile spills; good-news stories and results that didn’t quite go to plan, and a quick switch to summery conditions after a Wednesday weatherfront that would have been more suitable to the wettest place on Earth, Meghalaya State in India, than Cheltenham in mid-March. 

Add in a couple of controversial decisions to alter the track, an array of big-priced winners coupled with a sprinkling of short-priced favourites, as well as a partial resurgence of British-trained runners and, punting aside, what wasn’t to like? Our horse racing writer Tom Collins scans through the major talking points on each day of the 2022 Cheltenham festival. 

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Tuesday

I’m not a morning person, but even I woke up last Tuesday feeling as fresh as a daisy. It was Champion Hurdle day, and everyone was hoping to witness Honeysuckle record back-to-back victories in the Grade 1 feature. Did she let us down? Of course not.

The star mare recorded her 15th consecutive victory with an authoritative performance under Rachael Blackmore. What was interesting, though, was that she didn’t need to be at her best to do so due to a below-par effort from chief market rival Appreciate It in a weak edition of the Champion Hurdle.

Honeysuckle recorded a time six seconds slower than Constitution Hill, who romped home in the Supreme. That race certainly warmed everyone up for the remaining 27 races! Now we have to wait to watch them face off against one another. Hopefully the hotly-anticipated clash will come at Punchestown next month.

Stattler: has improved a great deal since being sent chasing. PA Wire

Other notable performances came from Stattler, who was unstoppable as he stepped up in trip in the National Hunt Chase, and Edwardstone, a five-time winner over fences this season who showcased his agility to bypass a falling rival en route to success. There were three winning favourites on the card, but the well-backed Gaelic Warrior got chinned in the Boodles. Punters 1-1 Bookmakers after the first day, albeit the smart folk may have bypassed that ludicrously-priced jolly.

Star performances

Constitution Hill (Supreme)
Stattler (National Hunt Chase)

Eyecatchers

Mrs Milner (Mares’ Hurdle)
Gaelic Warrior (Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle)
Swinging London (Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle)

Wednesday

Mixed weather forecasts led to confusion for new Clerk of the Course, Jon Pullin, who put down 5mm of water overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday. Unfortunately, fears of a deluge came true and we were left with deep, sodden ground for the action, which took a bit of shine off proceedings. 

However, the dire conditions didn’t stop Sir Gerhard justifying short-priced favouritism in the opening Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. He’s going to be a real star for trainer Willie Mullins next year, whether that be over hurdles or fences. The Closutton trainer also struck in the Champion Bumper with Facile Vega, who is perhaps the most exciting young horse in jumps racing, and Energumene in the Champion Chase.

Energumene: won the Champion Chase after finishing second at Ascot. Maureen McLean

You would expect that race that lead a review section like this, but the fall of stablemate Chacun Pour Soi and a complete no-show from race favourite Shishkin leaves a big hole in the form. Shishkin’s defeat began a terrible hour for punters as Tiger Roll was denied in the final strides by stablemate Delta Work in the Cross Country Chase, his final ever racecourse start. Delta Work clearly didn’t read the memo.

Star performances

Sir Gerhard (Ballymore)
Facile Vega (Champion Bumper)

Eyecatchers

Ganapathi (Coral Cup)
Il Ridoto (Grand Annual)
James’s Gate (Champion Bumper)

Thursday

The sun came out on Thursday and positive thoughts were back in the air as the racing switched to the New course. Galopin Des Champs vs Bob Olinger in the Turners - what a phenomenal race we had in prospect. 

After a cagey opening circuit, Galopin Des Champs kicked clear as the field turned into the straight and he was greeted with a loud cheer from the packed grandstand as he approached the last. This was a monster display from an immensely-talented horse. Paul Townend saw a stride. One, two, three! Up and over. No! His front legs buckled after another exuberant leap, which left the race at the mercy of Bob Olinger. Annie Power all over again. 

Galopin Des Champs: fell at the last fence in the Turners. Donall Farmer

That heartbreaking defeat will live long in the memory. And for some jockeys it would taint the remainder of the festival, but Paul Townend is built differently. An hour later he saluted the crowd after winning the Ryanair aboard the brilliant Allaho - he proved once again that he is dominant in that division. Perhaps Shishkin will take him on next year?

Flooring Porter took the Stayers’ Hurdle under a good ride from Danny Mullins. I don’t think his counterparts will want to watch their lack of tactical nous again, though. A ride they might want to study is that of Adam Wedge on Coole Cody in the Plate. Resilience, power, desire and determination - all of which was matched by the horse under him. A-plus effort. 

Star performances

Allaho (Ryanair)
Coole Cody (Plate)

Eyecatchers

Home By The Lee (Stayers’ Hurdle)
Celebre D’Allen (Plate)
Mister Coffey (Kim Muir)

Friday

Just like that, it was Gold Cup day. Townend justified short odds (10/11 with SBK) to become leading jockey at the 2022 Cheltenham festival with victories aboard Vauban (Triumph) and State Man (County) to kick off the card. Both will be plying their trade in Grade 1 contests in open company sooner rather than later.

But it was two other riders that stole the show on Friday - Patrick Mullins and, to a greater extent, Rachael Blackmore. The former produced wonders to even get competitive aboard Billaway in the Hunters’ Chase, let alone win. Six lengths down on Winged Leader at the second-last, five lengths behind at the last. No problem. The duo got up right on the line to land a nice touch for punters. That was the best ride of the week.

Vauban: one of seven Irish-trained winners on Friday. Donall Farmer

He still wasn’t the happiest jockey in the Cheltenham weighing room - Rachael Blackmore was. She had won the Gold Cup just 40 minutes prior aboard A Plus Tard, who built on his runner-up finish in the race last year to sprint clear of stablemate Minella Indo and record a famous success. Very few horses finish that powerfully up the Cheltenham hill and he is a force to be reckoned with over the next few years.

Seven on the day for Ireland, which helped them plunder the Prestbury Cup 18-10. The punters won the Friday battle, too, but the bookmakers might have won the war.

Star performances

State Man (County Hurdle)
A Plus Tard (Gold Cup)
Patrick Mullins aboard Billaway (Hunters’ Chase)

Eyecatchers

Party Business (Martin Pipe)
Chemical Energy (Martin Pipe)
Adamantly Chosen (Martin Pipe)