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Cheltenham Day 4 2022 is the most popular day of the entire Cheltenham Festival. It is the day when the most exciting chase of the festival takes place — the Gold Cup.
If you wish to wrap up this spectacle the way it deserves, find out more about the Cheltenham Day 4 Race Card, odds, tips, previous winners, favourites, and a lot more in this article.
Cheltenham Day 4 Gold Cup 2022: Racecard and Schedule
Are you planning to visit Cheltenham for the grand finale? Whatever you decide to do, you should be well-informed about the races and know what to expect from each one. Take a look at the table below and then check out our detailed Cheltenham Day 4 Race Card guide and pick your favourites!
Day Three 18th March – Start Times | Race | Distance | Type | Favourite |
---|---|---|---|---|
13:20 | The JCB Triumph Hurdle | 2m abt 1f | Hurdle | Quilixios |
13:55 | County Handicap Hurdle | 2m abt 1f | Hurdle | Belfast Banter |
14:30 | The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race | abt 3m | Hurdle | Vanillier |
15:05 | The Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase | 3m abt 2½ f | Chase | Minella Indo |
15:40 | Festival Challenge Cup | 3m abt 2½ f | Chase | Minella Indo |
16:15 | The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase | 2m abt ½f | Chase | Colreevy |
16:50 | Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle | 2m abt 4½ f | Hurdle | Galopin Des Champs |
Cheltenham Gold Cup Odds & Tips 2022
Cheltenham Races Gold Cup Results 2021
Cheltenham Gold Cup Results | Gold Cup Winner | Odds* |
---|---|---|
1 | Minella Indo | 5/1 |
2 | A Plus Tard | 100/30 |
3 | Al Boum Photo | 9/4F |
4 | Native River | 12/1 |
5 | Frodon | 16/1 |
The Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase is the fourth event of the day and is the most prestigious race in the world of horse racing.
The Gold Cup has a very long tradition, as the first race under that name happened back in 1819. However, at the time, it was a flat race. The first time it was run with jumps was in 1924.
The crème de la crème of Irish and British chasers will line up this year for a chance to win the £625,000 prize. Those who win this race are bound to become legends in the world of jump racing, as was the case with Kauto Star, Best Mate, and Denman.
This year, we should not expect a very big surprise compared to last year. The odds at some of the biggest bookmakers tell us that Minella Indo is the favourite this year. That’s the same horse who took the win in 2021.
Cheltenham Day 4: all info you need to know
The JCB Triumph Hurdle
JCB Triumph Hurdle | Race Info |
---|---|
Start Time | 1:20 pm |
Distance | 2m abt 1f |
Type of Course | New |
Number of Fences | 8 |
Favourite | Quilixios |
The 2022 Cheltenham Day 4 opens with a Grade 1 race called The JCB Triumph Hurdle. This race is only open for horses aged four. Moreover, the weight of the horses needs to be 11 stone sharp, even though fillies have a 7-pound tolerance. Therefore, propositions are quite strict.
The race is reserved for novice hurdles only, so it is a fantastic opportunity for inexperienced horses to get some spotlight and show what they are built of during the Cheltenham Gold Cup Day. As such, it is the most popular juvenile race in the UK with a prize of £125,000.
The winner in 2021 was Quilixios, for trainer Henry De Bromhead. In previous years, the first place was taken by Farclas (2018), Defi Du Seuil (2017), and Ivanovich Gorbatov (2016).
The Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle Race
Country Handicap Hurdle | Race Info |
---|---|
Start Time | 1:55 pm |
Distance | 2m abt 1f |
Type of Course | New |
Number of Fences | 8 |
Favourite | Belfast Banter |
Once we’re all warmed up and ready for action, we get to witness the second horse racing spectacle of the final day of the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup Day — The Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle Race.
Horses aged five and above can participate in this race that is 2 miles and 179 yards long. They need to jump a total of 8 fences and, if they do it successfully, they might win the £100,000 prize.
As you can see from the name, this is a handicap race, so there are no weight limits. The handicapper will take care of it.
There was a shock winner of the race in 2021, as 33/1 chance Belfast Banter won by a length and a quarter. Petit Mouchoir finished second and Milkwood was third.
The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle | Race Info |
---|---|
Start Time | 2:30 pm |
Distance | abt 3m |
Type of Course | New |
Number of Fences | 12 |
Favourite | Vanillier |
Just before the Gold Cup chase, which is the race everyone is waiting for, we have another hurdle event on the Cheltenham Day 4 Race Card. It is the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race. This race takes place on the New Course which is 2 miles 7 furlongs and 213 yards long. Horses four years and over need to navigate a total of 12 hurdles. The prize for this event is £125,000.
Four-year-old horses can weigh 10 stone 11 pounds, whereas five-year-olds can weigh 11 stone 7 pounds. However, both mares and fillies have a seven-pound allowance.
Vanillier was the horse that won this race in 2021, which meant that he followed in the footsteps of Minella Indo, who won the race in 2020.
The Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase
Gold Cup Steeple Chase | Race Info |
---|---|
Start Time | 3:05 pm |
Distance | 3m abt 2½ f |
Type of Course | New |
Number of Fences | 22 |
Favourite | Minella Indo |
Finally, after three days of waiting and several hours of suspense during the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup Day, we get to the main event — The Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup Day Steeple Chase.
As one can expect, this is a Grade 1 race that takes place on the New Course. The racecourse is long 3 miles, 2 furlongs, and 70 yards. Moreover, the horses and their jockeys will need to conquer 22 fences to get to the finish.
Once the race is over, the winner will be awarded the biggest prize of the entire festival — £625,000!
Al Boum Photo wasn’t able to win a third straight Gold Cup in 2021, as Minella Indo claimed the illustrious win. It was a one-two for trainer Henry De Bromhead, as A Plus Tard was second.
The St. James’s Place Foxhunter Steeple Chase Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup | Race Info |
---|---|
Start Time | 3:40 pm |
Distance | 3m abt 2½ f |
Type of Course | New |
Number of Fences | 22 |
Favourite | Porlock Bay |
Even though the main event of the day is over by the time the Foxhunter Steeple Chase begins, everyone is still hyped. You can feel adrenaline in the air, so the suspense is high during this race as well.
This is an ungraded race for amateurs aged five and above. Therefore, you can always expect the unexpected from it. The 3-mile, 2-furlong, and 70-yard racecourse is often full of surprises.
The horses and jockeys are competing for a £45,000 prize by jumping 22 hurdles and racing each other.
In the previous three years, the winners were Pacha Du Polder, On the Fringe and Porlock Bay.
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase
Grand Annual Handicap Chase | Race Info |
---|---|
Start Time | 4:15 pm |
Distance | 2m abt ½f |
Type of Course | New |
Number of Fences | 14 |
Favourite | Colreevy |
The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase is the shortest and the fastest event of the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup Day. The Grand Annual Chase is the oldest race of the festival, as it was established back in 1834.
This Grade 3 race is a handicap so there are no weight limits. It is run over a distance of 2 miles and 62 yards, and there are 14 jumps to complete before reaching the finish line. The prize the winner can expect to get is £111,000.
Horses aged five and older can compete in the race. Previous winners include Croco Bay, Le Prezien, and Rock the World. Colreevy was the horse that was able to add her name to that impressive roll of honour in 2021.
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
Conditional Jockeys’ | Race Info |
---|---|
Start Time | 4:50 pm |
Distance | 2m abt 4½ f |
Type of Course | New |
Number of Fences | 10 |
Favourite | Galopin Des Champs |
Last but not least is the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle. This is a relatively new event established in 2009 and named after Martin Pipe, a very successful trainer.
The race is 2 miles, 4 furlongs, and 56 yards long, with a total of 10 fences to navigate. This event is unique because it is open to conditional jockeys only. Therefore, the prize the winner will take home is ‘just’ £70,000.
There was a very impressive winner in the 2021 renewal, as Galopin Des Champs won for trainer Willie Mullins by two and a quarter lengths from Langer Dan.