Cheltenham Festival 2022 Underdogs

Cheltenham Festival 2022 features 28 races from Tuesday 15th March to Friday 18th March.

It’s been two years since crowds gathered at the famous course for four days of world-class jump racing.

While the likes of Honeysuckle (Champion Hurdle), Shishkin (Champion Chase), and Allaho (Ryanair Chase) are strong favourites to win their respective races, you’ll typically see big-priced outsiders perform well.

So here’s a selection of underdogs that could spring a surprise.

Day one

Kilcruit (Supreme Novices Hurdle)

Trained by Willie Mullins, Kilcruit has strong credentials in the festival’s opening race.

Has Cheltenham course form, as witnessed by a second place finish in the 2021 Champion Bumper, beaten half a length by Sir Gerhard. Coupled with an impressive last run to win by 21 lengths at Punchestown, Kilcruit looks primed for this race.

Quilixios (Champion Hurdle)

Honeysuckle is favoured to repeat her 2021 victory in the opening day showpiece. However, Quilixios looks like an interesting runner with each-way potential. Winner of the 2021 Triumph Hurdle at the Festival, and should be available at tempting double-figure odds to bring home the spoils for trainer Henry de Bromhead.

Third Time Lucki (Arkle Chase)

Edwardstone is expected to head the betting. But it makes sense to look at a potential bigger priced challenger. Third Time Lucki seems a reasonable selection to finish in the places. Dan Skelton will have the horse in fine fettle to target the famous Arkle Challenge Trophy. A strong showing cannot be ruled out.

Day two

Stage Star (Ballymore Novices Hurdle)

Impressive winner of the Challow Hurdle at Newbury in December 2021. Paul Nicholls’ six year old has a good chance with jockey Harry Cobden on board.

Commander of Fleet (Coral Cup)

20+ runners line up in this Grade 3 handicap hurdle race, so the betting is always wide open. One to keep an eye on is Gordon Elliott’s Commander of Fleet, which showed Cheltenham form finishing second in the Albert Bartlett in 2019. Victory at Navan in November 2021 could point to a return to form. A solid each-way pick.

Nube Negra (Champion Chase)

2021 Champion Chase runner-up Nube Negra has good form over the Cheltenham fences. An impressive warm-up triumph in November 2021’s Shloer Chase raised hopes for Dan Skelton’s horse. The way Nube Negra dispatched rivals Politologue and Put The Kettle On makes it a lively outsider in day two’s feature race.

Day three

Honest Vic (Pertemps Final)

This 9 year old might not fit the typical profile of a 5 to 8 year old winner. But a fifth-placed finish in the 2020 Coral Cup highlighted his class.Mixed form since then means he runs off a decent weight of 10st 10lbs. There’s plenty to like about this horse, with a place finish a distinct possibility.

Janidil (Ryanair Chase)

From the famous Willie Mullins yard, Janidil has been trained specifically for the Ryanair.

Only beaten by a few lengths behind Allaho at Punchestown in December 2021. That strong place finish ahead of Fakir D’oudairies and Envoi Allen hinted at his potential. 2 miles 4 ½ furlongs could see him bring home the spoils.

Sporting John (Stayers’ Hurdle)

Philip Hobbs’ 7 year old has two handicaps wins this season, including at Warwick in January 2022 and back at Cheltenham in November 2021. So the form stacks up to give Sporting John a cracking each-way chance here..

Day four

Doctor Parnassus (JCB Triumph Hurdle)

The final day of this year’s festival starts with this competitive Grade 1 race.

Trainer Dan Skelton has targeted this race for Doctor Parnassus. A recent 9-length victory at Taunton marked him out as one to watch. And even though a race of this magnitude is a clear step up, he seems unexposed.

Slip Of The Tongue (County Hurdle)

It’s often tough to pick a winner in this hugely competitive 2 mile handicap. Lightly raced and could be open to improvement just in time for this year’s Festival. Looks better value than shorter price alternatives.

Fiddlerontheroof (Gold Cup)

Finished second place in its two most recent outings, including to Cloudy Glen in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury in November 2021. Also, runner-up to Monkfish in last year’s Brown Advisory Novices Chase. This strong stayer looks suited to the testing Gold Cup trip. Trainer Colin Tizzard has high hopes for Fiddlerontheroof.

Interested in which horses to back on Gold Cup day? Read the day four tips.