Ireland Look Set to Dominate the 2022 Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is less than a month away, and plans are being finalised by trainers, jockeys, owners and of course, punters. Last season, the Irish completely dominated the meeting, winning 23 of the 28 races that took place, and when you look at the expected fields, it would be no surprise to see them dominate again.
Hitting 23 is going to be tough, but the expectation is that they can get to around 20, which would be five per day, from the seven races that are scheduled. Leading the charge are some of the biggest names in racing, trained in Ireland and heading towards the four Championship races that take place at the meeting.
Here is a look at some of Ireland’s best hopes.
Honeysuckle
Perhaps the biggest name in racing, Honeysuckle won the 2021 Champion Hurdle and is now on a sequence of 14 races undefeated. She warmed up for the big one by winning the Irish Champion Hurdle in great style and looks set for another big pot here.
She is seen as one of the bankers of the meeting, not just when looking at Irish runners, but overall, and will likely make or break the festival for many punters. She runs on the first day of the meeting in the Champion Hurdle.
Energumene
The Willie Mullins trained Energumene will run in the Champion Chase, the only one of the four championship races that does not have an Irish favourite. His task is tough, he has to beat Shishkin, another big banker of the meeting for many, but we all know that Willie Mullins has what it takes to get his horses perfectly ready for the big day.
These two clashed at Ascot in January, Shishkin won a thriller, and in terms of a contest, the Champion Chase looks set to be one of the best of the week with these two taking each other on again.
Flooring Porter
Winners of the Stayers Hurdle last season, Flooring Porter has done fine again this season, without really excelling. Having said that, this is also the weakest division, and the race won’t take as much winning as others, the Gold Cup for example.
His main danger is Champ, a horse that has accidently fell back to hurdling, but did win in good style at Ascot, though he was beaten at Cheltenham in December.
Irish Gold Cup Contenders
The big race of the week, and one that is setting up to be an all-time classic. Ireland are strongly represented here, with last year’s winner Minella Indo, the second A Plus Tard and third Al Boum Photo all trained in Ireland and all set to run again.
Throw into the mix Galvin, and up and coming horse, plus Conflated, both of which are trained in Ireland and while the field looks wide open, in terms of where the trophy is heading, Ireland seems to be the obvious destination.
Hitting 23 winners like last year may be tough, but Ireland are sure to have a strong Cheltenham Festival once again, and that includes having strong chances in all of the four feature races.
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