2022 Cheltenham Festival handicaps: potential runners plus a long-range shout

With just three weeks until the famous Cheltenham roar returns, the fields for the 28 races across the four days are beginning to take shape.

The contenders for the big races were already known, and now entries for the handicaps have been revealed.

If last year is anything to go by we could be in store for a blend of major shocks and well-orchestrated punts in the most deeply competitive races across the four days. Here is our guide to the festival handicaps.

2022 Cheltenham Festival: big-race entries

Ultima Handicap Chase (2.50 Cheltenham, March 15)

Total entries: 82
The key horses: Classy novice chaser Does He Know surged to the head of the betting for the Ultima after powering through the mud to win the Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

However, experienced chasers have landed the last three Ultimas and last year's third Aye Right could bid to go two better this time. Kiltealy Briggs and Corach Rambler – a winner on the New course in December – are also among the leading candidates.

Frodon: has been entered in the UltimaCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The unexpected standout name on the list though is undoubtedly Frodon, as last season's King George VI Chase hero and three-time Grade 1 winner was given a surprise entry.

What happened last year: Having been defeated in his first four attempts in the race, popular grey Vintage Clouds made it fifth time lucky with a shock success under Ryan Mania, denying the Kim Bailey-trained Happygolucky and Aye Right.

Ante-post favourite: Does He Know (6-1)

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (4.50 Cheltenham, March 15)

Total entries: 50
The key horses: Irish trainers have landed the last four runnings and look to hold a strong hand once again. The unexposed Gaelic Warrior, a three-race maiden in France who has yet to run for Willie Mullins, looks a leading candidate.

The Gordon Elliott-trained The Tide Turns has been highly tried on his last two starts but could drop into handicap company for the first time, while Brazil (Padraig Roche) and Champion Green (Joseph O'Brien) – both impressive winners last time – add depth to the Irish challenge.

What happened last year: Jeff Kidder provided the shock of the meeting when running out an impressive winner at odds of 80-1, denying 9-2 favourite Saint Sam by two lengths.

Ante-post favourite: Gaelic Warrior (4-1)

Coral Cup (2.50 Cheltenham, March 16)

Total entries: 110
The key horses: Good Risk At All had bumped into some of the best novice hurdlers in Britain this season prior to his impressive victory in a handicap hurdle at Ascot on Saturday. Trainer Sam Thomas is keen to stick to the handicap route rather than pitch him into Grade 1 company.

Unexpected Party was a dominant winner at Ascot last month and could be among the leading British-trained fancies for the race, while Ireland's challenge could be headed by Dublin Racing Festival winner Good Time Jonny and Boyne Hurdle winner Thedevilscoachman.

What happened last year: The race showcased one of the rides of the meeting as conditional Richie Condon guided 33-1 outsider Heaven Help Us to a remarkable front-running success to give him his first festival winner.

Ante-post favourite: Good Risk At All (7-1)

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase (4.50 Cheltenham, March 16)

Total entries: 38
The key horses: Sky Pirate capped his remarkable rise through the ranks when plundering this prize last year, and he could bid to become just the second back-to-back winner of the race.

However, it will be a tough ask this time as he may come up against Brave Seasca, who beat him easily at Warwick before finishing third in the Kingmaker last time.

Buddy Rich looks extremely well handicapped for Gordon Elliott, while Willie Mullins can count on Ciel De Neige – an easy winner at Punchestown last time – among his entries.

What happened last year: On one of the rare occasions when Britain were able to celebrate victory over their Irish counterparts, the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Sky Pirate held off the challenge of Entoucas by a short head to land the biggest win of his career.

Ante-post favourites: Brave Seasca (7-1)

Pertemps Network Final (2.10 Cheltenham, March 17)

Total entries: 53
The key horses: Fergal O'Brien was left disappointed when Imperial Alcazar failed to fire last year, but the trainer could be well placed to atone this time with the classy Alaphilippe.

Call The Cops in 2015 was the last British-trained winner, however, and Ireland will have another typically strong hand, led by Gordon Elliott's Dunboyne and including his stablemate and dual Pertemps winner Sire Du Berlais.

Alaphilippe: a leading candidate for this year's Pertemps FinalCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

What happened last year: Bryan Cooper and trainer Paul Nolan had been without a festival winner for some time but ended their droughts when Mrs Milner stormed to a five-length victory over favourite The Bosses Oscar, giving Ireland a 1-2 in a race they tend to dominate.

Ante-post favourite: Alaphilippe (8-1)

The Cheltenham Plate (4.10 Cheltenham, March 17)

Total entries: 67
The key horses: The last two winners have been novices and they could hold the key once more, with first-season chasers Imperial Alcazar – a course-and-distance winner last time – among the leading fancies.

However, Celebre D'Allen has been in fine form and is unbeaten in three starts since switching to Philip Hobbs, including when a game winner at Warwick this month, while the Evan Williams-trained Coole Cody boasts a terrific Cheltenham record.

What happened last year: In one of the shrewdest training performances of the meeting, The Shunter gave Emmet Mullins a mammoth payday when scooping a £100,000 bonus by following up in this race having won the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on his previous start.

Ante-post favourite: Celebre D'Allen (6-1)

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup (5.30 Cheltenham, March 17)

Total entries: 63
The key horses: The last two winners have come out of Gordon Elliott's Cullentra House yard and the trainer has another leading contender in the shape of Frontal Assault, who has yet to score in three chase starts but has an appealing handicap mark.

Last year's Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle second Oscar Elite has also been given an entry to get his chasing career back on track.

Mount Ida (right) and Jack Kennedy storm to a remarkable victory in the Kim MuirCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

What happened last year: In what was an astonishing race, Mount Ida roared to an unlikely victory having traded at 999-1 in running.

Matched at the Betfair maximum when tailed off on the first circuit, Jack Kennedy's persistence paid off handsomely as she picked off her rivals to storm clear to win by six and a half lengths as the 3-1 market leader.

Ante-post favourite: Frontal Assault (11-2)

The McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle (2.10 Cheltenham, March 18)

Total entries: 81
The key horses: A race which tends to go to either an up-and-comer or a horse who has already shown Grade 1 quality. A progressive-looking contender this year is the Gordon Elliott-trained Top Bandit, who has won his last three starts.

The Willie Mullins-trained State Man appears in similar mould, while their stablemate and Grade 1 heroine Echoes In Rain and Dan Skelton's Greatwood Hurdle winner West Cork could bring real quality to the table.

What happened last year: Few would have picked out the bottom weight and 33-1 shot Belfast Banter, given he had been put in his place on his previous two starts, but he bounced back to his best with an emotional victory for jockey Kevin Sexton and trainer Peter Fahey.

Ante-post favourite: Top Bandit (7-1)

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (5.30 Cheltenham, March 18)

Total entries: 110
The key horses: Given he bumped into Grade 1 star Galopin Des Champs in this race last year, Langer Dan could be considered an unlucky runner-up. He is on course to try to go one better this time.

Willie Mullins could be mob-handed as he seeks a fifth win in the contest, with his team likely to be led by Cheveley Park-owned Deploy The Getaway, while Gordon Elliott could be represented by Chemical Energy and Saint Felicien.

Sean O'Keeffe celebrates his victory in last year's Martin Pipe on Galopin Des ChampsCredit: Michael Steele (Getty Images)

What happened last year: Galopin Des Champs obliged under a cool ride from Sean O'Keeffe, in the process securing the trainers' crown for Mullins.

Ante-post favourite: Langer Dan (8-1)

Long-range shout

Oscar Elite

Ultima Handicap Chase, 2.50, March 16

By Robbie Wilders

Colin Tizzard's best novice hurdler from last season has failed to take off over fences, yet.

There have been excuses for his disappointments. He has generally been running over trips too short on ground too quick, and it has taken some time to rebuild his confidence after he fell when moving well in a red-hot novice contested by subsequent Grade 2 winners Threeunderthrufive and Does He Know.

Oscar Elite retains the potential to be much better than his chase mark and could come alive over further in the spring, having finished second in the Albert Bartlett at the 2021 festival before placing behind Ahoy Senor and Bravemansgame at Aintree.

Odds: 16-1

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