I've spent over 20 years inside the betting industry. I'll guide you to avoid the hype, ignore the noise, and steer clear of the common pitfalls that catch out everyday punters.
- Bookmakers offering just 4/1 on Rachael Blackmore riding at least 7 winners.
- It's 8/1 for Cheltenham to be cancelled due to restrictions
- Nicky Henderson is 4/1 to have 4 or more Winners according to bookmakers
- 20% chance of the Irish winning all 5 Championship races.
As the dawn of 2022 rings in we are a mere 10 weeks away from the biggest national Hunt event of them all, The Cheltenham Festival 2022.
The biggest betting week of the year takes place between 15-18th March and there and all being well, the crowds will throng to Prestbury Park and cheer home no fewer than 28 winners up the hill.
That's if crowds are allowed of course, in the current climate nothing is assured and in true Cheltenham style, you can even have a bet on the event being called off. Currently, one betting site is offering 8/1 odds that Cheltenham will be cancelled, just an 11% chance
Remember that's quite different from spectators unable to attend as in 2021, the price is for the Festival not to take place.
Cheltenham 2022 Special Early Bets
| Market | Odds | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| 7 or more Cheltenham winners for Rachael Blackmore | 4/1 | 20% |
| Cheltenham to be cancelled | 8/1 | 11% |
| Nicky Henderson to have 4 winners | 4/1 | 20% |
| Irish to win all 5 Championship Races | 4/1 | 20% |
Racheal Blackmore
2021 was quite some year for Irish female Jockey Rachael Blackmore when she was the first woman to be the leading jocket at the Cheltenham Festival, and if that wasn't historic enough she followed up a month later by winning the Grand National at Aintree aboard Minella Times.
Imagine making that type of history, but sadly having to do it without an adoring crowd at either event due to COVID-19
Bookmakers have given her a 20% chance of repeating the feat at Cheltenham this year offering 4/1 odd
Nicky Henderson
Nicky Henderson was for some time the top trainer at the Cheltenham festival until Irish raider Willie Mullins grabbed that mantel in 2020. Mullins now has a total of 72 against Henderson's total haul of 62, a figure reached by scoring four times in 2021.
Bookmakers are going 4/1 o a 20% chance of Nicky Henderson getting four winners at least again in 2022
Henderson has won 5 of the last 10 renewals of the Champion chase
Talking of which....
Willie Mullins
Talking of Willie Mullins, between he and Gordon Elliot among others in the last few years, the Irish have established dominance over the Daily Championship races at the Festival, so much so that bookmakers are only offering odds of 4/1 that all 4 races go to the Irish once again in 2022
- Tuesday - Champion Hurdle - 5 of the last 10 winners
- Wednesday - Champion Chase - 1 of the last 10
- Thursday - Champion Stayers - 4 of the last 10
- Friday - Gold Cup - 6 of the last 10
Irish trainers have won 5 of the last 6 Gold Cups too!
Time to dig into those Cheltenham 2022 trends to find out how good these odds being offered by the bookmakers really are.
