National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Betting Odds & Preview – 5.30 Cheltenham 2022 – March 15th, 2022

A look at this year's National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup at Cheltenham 2022 Day 1

National Hunt / Somerset ©IMAGO / Shutterstock 22.02.2022

The final action of the Cheltenham Festival Day 1 brings the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup betting into the spotlight.

This is a chance for the amateur jockeys to take centre stage and get some Cheltenham Festival experience under their belts.

This contest for novice chasers only is a long Grade 2 race at well over three and a half miles.

No other race at the Cheltenham Festival has had more renewals than the National Hunt Challenge Cup has had.

In this National Hunt Challenge Cup betting guide for the Cheltenham Festival 2022 we take a look at some of the leading contenders to take this year’s edition, as well as taking a look at some trends and history of the fixture.

National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Details

Date: 15th March 2022
Time: 5.30 pm
Grade: Grade 2
Distance: 3m 6f
Age: 5-year-olds plus
Entries: 16 max

National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Favourites and Outsiders

Each of the last ten winners of the National Hunt Challenge Cup has been no bigger than an 18/1 SP.

So that is a place to start for sizing up some National Hunt Challenge Cup betting options for 2022.

There has not been one winning favourite in the last eight renewals of this amateur riders contest after there were back to back ones in 2012 and 2013.

That is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to National Hunt Challenge Cup betting trends.

Our betting experts look through some more in detail later in this preview.

Five of the last six winners have been Irish bred horses, and there will no doubt be plenty more to come who will challenge to get in the frame in this renewal.

For this National Hunt Challenge Cup betting preview 2022, we examine some of the front runners, but also take into consideration some longer priced each-way considerations as well.

National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Odds Cheltenham 2022

While we can take a look at the ante-post National Hunt Challenge Cup odds for 2022, the market will likely take on a different complexion closer to the start of the Festival.

With 32 early entries into the race, the field is going to be chopped in half come the time of final declarations.

That will see some alterations to the National Hunt Challenge Cup betting market.

For now, here is a list of current National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup odds taken at the time of writing.

Stattler 5/2
Run Wild Fred 11/4
Vanillier 5/1
Threeunderthrufive 6/1
Farouk D’alene 7/1
Does He Know 8/1
Fury Road 8/1
Jungle Boogie 8/1
Ontheropes 9/1
Diol Ker 10/1
Braeside 12/1
Pats Fancy 12/1
Brinkley 16/1
Frontal Assault 20/1
Lord Accord 25/1
33/1 bar
* (odds recorded at 21:49 GMT on February 28th, 2022 at Bet365)

Bet at Bet365

About the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup

The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup is actually older than the Cheltenham Festival itself.

After fluttering around at different venues in its early days, it was incorporated into the Cheltenham scene permanently in 1911.

For a couple of decades, it was second in profile only to the Grand National in the National Hunt season.

The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup is a 3m 6f trip for the runners with a gruelling 23 fences for the novice chasers to get over.

This contest on the Old Course is for amateur riders only and it did go through a change after the 2019 renewal which saw only 4 of the 18 starters manage to get home.

From the 2020 edition, the field and the distance was cut down in the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup.

Mares get a 7lb allowance for the race and the history of the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup can be traced all the way back to 1860 when it ran at Market Harborough.

National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup contenders – DATE

While we are still at the ante-post stage and waiting for final declarations, that ante-post market does at least give signposts as to what could come in this year’s edition.

Here our experts take a look at some in the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup odds who could make an impact.

THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE had opened around 10/1 but is currently in at a quote of 6/1 in National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup odds* (odds recorded at 21:49 GMT on February 28th, 2022 at Bet365).

The form is there after the Paul Nicholls-trained 7-year-old completed a four-timer with a win at Warwick in mid-January.

He will be coming up significantly in distance, but Threeunderthrufive is thriving for his yard at the moment.

DOES HE KNOW is another that is in top shape as well after claiming a win last month at Ascot.

That was in a Grade 2 Novices’ Chase and with three wins in four efforts in this sphere so far, he will warrant respect if he goes in this and not the Ultima.

FAROUK D’ALENE could be a big player and has come in from an opening 16/1 down to 7/1 currently in the market* (odds recorded at 21:49 GMT on February 28th, 2022 at Bet365).

Gordon Elliott’s charge looked every bit a potentially high-quality chaser with a score at Navan in mid-February, delivering the odds superbly.

FANTASTIKAS was a winner at Lingfield in January, taking his form in chasing further forward.

That was the second win in four chase efforts, not having been out of the places in total.

He is a longer priced option in National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup odds and will have more on his plate here.

But if Fantastikas stays the trip, then he could find himself involved.

We should have a look at the current race favourite STATTLER who is at 5/2 in Cheltenham Festival odds* (odds recorded at 21:49 GMT on February 28th, 2022 at Bet365).

The Willie Mullins-trained 7-year-old has won both efforts in this sphere.

The latest of those was at Naas in January, getting a comfortable score over one of the potential key rivals in this renewal, Farouk D’alene.

National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Trends Cheltenham 2022

For the next part of this National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Betting Preview 2022, we are going to dive into some of the trends surrounding the event.

To do that, we cast an eye back over the last 20 editions of this Grade 1 fixture.

National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Trainer Statistics

Jonjo O’Neill is the all-time leading trainer in the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup having seen six of his charges land a score.

The most recent of those was in 2016 with Minella Rocco taking the win. Five of O’Neill’s wins have come inside the last 20 renewals.

Gordon Elliott has stacked up four winners in that same period from just nine runners, which is a superb strike rate.

The only other two trainers to have won the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup more than once in the last two decades is Willie Mullins and Alan King who have both done it a couple of times.

Paul Nicholls has had 16 runners in the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup and didn’t get a winner.

National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Jockey Statistics

Jamie Codd has ridden two of the last three winners of the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup.

Those were back to back in 2019 and 2020 with Le Breuil and Ravenhill respectively.

Derek O’Connor and Patrick Mullins are the only other two jockeys to have landed the race more than once in the last 20 renewals.

Other Key National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Trends

The condition of amateur jockeys make this race very interesting of course and we can dig through some National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup trends.

All but one of the last 20 winners had not run in a Beginners chase last time out.

Also, 19 of the last 20 winners had been no bigger than 20/1 last time out and not in a field of fewer than 13 runners.

Each of the last 20 renewals has been won by a horse that had not had between 7 – 11 starts in their career.

National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup 2021 Review

Last year’s National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup winner was GALVIN from a short quote of 7/2 SP.

He was ridden by Jack Kennedy and kept on well after kicking up his challenge at the last fence. Once he had gotten his nose in front he never looked like losing his grip.

NEXT DESTINATION had to settle for second place despite doing his best to chase down the winner. He just ran out of room really to reel in Galvin.

Taking third place was ESCARIA TEN who had gone off as the 11/4 F.

Cheltenham Festival 2022 Day 1

 

Day 1 Cheltenham Festival National Hunt Chase Challenge Cups 2022

  • 13:30 The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup
  • 14:10 The Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase
  • 14:50 The Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase
  • 15:30 The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy
  • 16:10 The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup
  • 16:50 The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup
  • 17:30 The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Novices’ Steeple Chase

 

Bet at Bet365

National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Former Winners

Year Winner Odds Jockey Trainer
2021 Galvin 7/2 Jack Kennedy I R Ferguson
2020 Ravenhill 12/1 Mr J J Codd Gordon Elliott
2019 Le Breuil 14/1 Mr J J Codd Ben Pauling
2018 Rathvinden 9/2 Mr P W Mullins Willie Mullins
2017 Tiger Roll 16/1 Ms L O’Neill Gordon Ellliott
2016 Minella Rocco 8/1 Mr Derek O’Connor Jonjo O’Neill
2015 Cause Of Causes 8/1 Mr J J Codd Gordon Elliott
2014 Midnight Prayer 8/1 Mr Joshua Newman Alan King
2013 Back In Focus 9/4F Mr P W Mullins Willie Mullins
2012 Teaforthree 5/1F Mr J T McNamara Rebecca Curtis
2011 Chicago Grey 5/1F Mr Derek O’Connor Gordon Elliott

National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Betting Offers

For all races at the Cheltenham Festival 2022, bookmaker Bet365 are going Best Odds Guaranteed and Non-Runner No Bet.

All 28 Cheltenham Festival races can be found by selecting Antepost at the top of the Horse Racing section, simply select Ultima Handicap Chases from the Cheltenham Festival NRNB section if you would like Best Odds Guaranteed and Non-Runner No Bet to apply.

Non-Runner No Bet means that Ante-Post bets placed on ‘NRNB’ markets will be refunded if your selection does not run.

Best Odds Guaranteed is now available on every Ultima Handicap Chase at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival (by selecting Ante-Post ‘NRNB’ markets).

If the SP is bigger at the time of the Ultima Handicap Chase than your odds, Bet365 will pay you out at the bigger odds. This offer is only available to new and eligible customers.

Full Terms & Conditions Apply. 18+ See Bookmaker for full details. Please Gamble Responsibly.

Bet at Bet365

Don’t miss out on other Betting Tips & Predictions

Football Betting Tips

Click here for more Betting Tips