The St James’s Place Hunters’ Chase tips follow straight on from the Gold Cup on Friday at the Festival.
Interestingly, the St James’s Place Hunters’ Chase is at the same distance and has the same number of fences as the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The big difference is that this is for amateur jockeys only and it is a Hunter’s Chase.
There have been some longer-priced winners getting home in the last few editions because it can be a really unpredictable race.
Our betting experts look through the odds for the key contenders and size up some trends.
St James’s Place Festival Racing Odds
Billaway 5/2
Winged Leader 9/2
Bob And Co 13/2
Dubai Quest 10/1
Pont Aven 10/1
Cousin Pascal 14/1
Premier Magic 14/1
Fumet D’oudairies 14/1
Mighty Stowaway 16/1
Lord Schnitzel 20/1
It Came To Pass 20/1
Monbeg Chit Chat 20/1
Don Bersy 25/1
28/1 bar
* (odds recorded at 18:54 GMT on March 14th, 2022 at Betway)
Horse Racing Betting at Betway
Table of Contents
- 1 FAV in St James’s Place Festival Racing Odds
- 2 St James’s Place Festival Betting Contenders
- 3 Others to note
- 4 Last 10 St James’s Place Festival Winners at the Cheltenham Festival
- 5 St James’s Place Festival Trends
- 6 St James’s Place Festival Tips & Predictions Cheltenham Festival 2022
- 7 Cheltenham Festival Betting Offer 2022
St James’s Place Festival Race Details Cheltenham Festival
- Class 2
- 5-year-olds plus
- 20 declared runners
- 3m 2f
- Going: Good To Soft
FAV in St James’s Place Festival Racing Odds
BILLAWAY is the current 5/2 favourite in St James’s Place betting odds* (odds recorded at 18:54 GMT on March 14th, 2022 at Betway).
He has been one of the top performers in the Hunter’s chasing sphere for a fair while now. The 10-year-old still has plenty to offer.
Billaway was in tip-top form with a score at Naas a month ago with the cheekpieces on for the first time.
After back to back runner-up spots in this race, can he get the win this year?
St James’s Place Festival Betting Contenders
BOB AND CO is shaping up well for a big challenge at Cheltenham on Friday. He’s another of the top Hunter chasers around.
It has been back to back runner-up finishes for him the last two times.
He was shaping up well in last year’s St James’s Place before he lost his rider three from home.
WINGED LEADER brings some very hot form to the table in this contest after completing a five-timer last time out.
It’s been three straight Hunter chase wins for him.
He did get the better of Billaway in January on a return to Rules at Thurles.
Winged Leader has to be involved as he’s only getting better and better in this sphere.
Others to note
COUSIN PASCAL could get into the thick of things no Friday in the St James’s Place.
He sprung as a surprise in the Aintree Foxhunters’ last term. Cousin Pascal beat Bob And Co comfortably at Haydock on his latest.
FUMET D’OUDAIRIES looked to be at his limit in terms of stamina last time out.
So he will need a bigger improvement in that respect to get in this. He found an improvement to get wins in his first two Hunter Chases, but does he have more?
PONT AVEN is another option to look at. There is some interesting form from chasing there for him.
He took a win at Ludlow on his Hunter’s Chase debut last month.
Last 10 St James’s Place Festival Winners at the Cheltenham Festival
| Year | Winner | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
| 2021 | Porlock Bay | 16/1 | Lorcan Williams | Will Biddick |
| 2020 | It Came To Pass | 66/1 | Miss M O’Sullivan | Eugene M O’Sullivan |
| 2019 | Hazel Hill | 7/2F | Mr Alex Edwards | Philip Rowley |
| 2018 | Pacha Du Polder | 25/1 | Miss Harriet Tucker | Paul Nicholls |
| 2018 | Pacha Du Polder | 16/1 | Bryony Frost | Paul Nicholls |
| 2016 | On The Fringe | 13/8F | Ms N Carberry | Enda Bolger |
| 2015 | On The Fringe | 6/1 | Ms N Carberry | Enda Bolger |
| 2014 | Tammys Hill | 15/2 | Mr J J Smyth | Liam Lennon |
| 2013 | Salsify | 2/1F | Mr C J Sweeney | Rodger Sweeney |
| 2012 | Salsify | 7/1 | Mr C J Sweeney | Rodger Sweeney |
St James’s Place Festival Trends
We next look at the trends surrounding the St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase, to give the race its full name.
It is one of the trickier fixtures from the Cheltenham Festival to pull apart.
Only three winning favourites have come good in the last ten renewals of this race.
Three of the last four winners of the Foxhunters’ Chase have been at least 16/1. The biggest of those was the 2020 66/1 winner It Came To Pass.
The leading trainer from the last 20 renewals is Paul Nicholls with four victories. He’s generally heavy-handed with entries in his one.
St James’s Place Festival Trends Cheltenham Festival
- There have been 3 winning favourites in the last 20 renewals
- Had less than six runs at the trip 20/20
- The last win wasn’t a handicap run 19/20
- Ran at 2m 4f to 3m 2f last time out 19/20
- Was not defeated by more than 25 lengths last time out 19/20
- Had previously attempted 3m 1/2f 19/20
- Last win was carrying 171-176 lbs 18/20
- Had previously won at at least 2m 7 1/2f
St James’s Place Festival Tips & Predictions Cheltenham Festival 2022
COUSIN PASCAL is the first of the selections for St James’s Place tips at a quote of 14/1* (odds recorded at 18:54 GMT on March 14th, 2022 at Betway).
He really hasn’t looked back since winning the Foxhunters’ at Aintree in 2021.
He’s knocked over Bob And Co this season by 2 lengths and can make an impact.
That having been said, it is very tough not to put BOB AND CO on the shortlist as well at 13/2* (odds recorded at 18:54 GMT on March 14th, 2022 at Betway).
He has a very good record in Hunter’s efforts and can improve from his latest, slightly below-par effort.
WINGED LEADER is one of the big players who is on the up in this sphere and smashed Billaway at Thurles in January.
PONT AVEN is the final selection after impressing on his debut in this sphere at Ludlow last month. He could have a lot more to offer.
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