Go back 12 months to the 2021 Cheltenham Festival and the biggest story out of the week was complete dominance by the Irish team. Fast forward to 2022, and more of the same is expected. While the Irish may find it tough to match the 23 winners they had last year, 20 is the target, and their team looks formidable.
A look at the latest Cheltenham Festival betting and you will see many races with Irish favorites at the top of the market. Those include some of the biggest names in racing too, such as Honeysuckle, who is 1/2 favorite for the Champion Hurdle, and A Plus Tard, the current 10/3 favorite for the Gold Cup.
When it comes to who will have the most winners between the UK and Ireland, betting suggests that the Irish are going to be tough to beat for the home team. The latest Prestbury Cup odds have Ireland at 1/20 to take that crown home once again, while you can get 11/1 on a Team GB win at the festival.
Even if Ireland were to suffer a handful of major disappointments, they still look formidable enough to win the Prestbury Cup with ease. On top of that, even if their big guns do disappoint, in many races, they have plenty of other chances to pick up a win, they are not focusing their winning efforts on just one runner.
Who are the Strongest Irish Challengers?
Two of the biggest Irish challengers have already been named, with Honeysuckle, in particular, seen as the banker of the meeting from an Irish perspective. But what about elsewhere?
In the Champion Chase, Irish hopes to rest with Energumene, who was beaten by Shishkin at Ascot when they met earlier this year, can he turn things around and get a victory in their second meeting?
A special mare ⭐
🗓️ 16th March
🏇@rachaelblackmor& Honeysuckle
🏆 Champion Hurdle
🧢@HenrydeBromhead#EveryRacingMoment | @CheltenhamRacespic.twitter.com/evNo0HnFWO
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) March 8, 2022
The Stayers Hurdle was won by Ireland in 2021, as Flooring Porter landed the race in great style, he is back again for more this year, and is currently a favorite for the race, in a division that appears to lack depth again this season.
Elsewhere, the novice races are always worth looking at, and this is where we will see stars of the future. The second day of the meeting looks a particularly interesting day if Irish contenders are what you are looking for.
Sir Gerhard is set to run in the Ballymore, and we may see a clash between Bob Olinger and Galopin Des Champs in the Brown Advisory Chase, both big Irish stars of the future. The day concludes with the bumper, and two big Irish talking horses dominate that market as we head into the meeting.
Facile Vega for Willie Mullins and American Mike for Gordon Elliott head to the course to run in the only flat race on the card. Not only do we see future stars come from the race, but it is yet another that Ireland has dominated for years, just like they look set to do over the entire meeting in 2022.
and then