What are Rachael Blackmore’s best chances at Cheltenham 2022?

Rachael Blackmore had a Cheltenham Festival to remember last year, riding six winners to land the Top Jockey title. Five of those winners were in Grade 1 contests, including the Champion Hurdle, the Champion Bumper, the Ryanair Chase, the Ballymore, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

And she’ll arrive back at Prestbury Park this year looking to defend her title with a strong book of rides. We’ve taken a closer look at her best chances of winners this year – a list that includes some familiar names in what’s shaping up to be yet another fantastic Cheltenham Festival.

 

Honeysuckle

If Blackmore is the Queen of Cheltenham, then Honeysuckle is the equine equivalent, and she’ll be back to defend her Champion Hurdle crown and her unbeaten record, which now stands at 14.

Blackmore and Honeysuckle landed the Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival earlier this month for the third consecutive year, and all roads now lead to the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Her two main rivals will be Teahupoo and Appreciate It, but they both have a lot to find if they are to see off Honeysuckle, especially with the 7lb mares’ allowance that Honeysuckle receives.

 

Telmesomethinggirl

And the connections of Honeysuckle could well taste success again straight after the Champion Hurdle.

Like Honeysuckle, Telmesomethinggirl is owned by Kenneth Alexander and trained by Henry de Bromhead and is the current ante-post favourite for the Mares’ Hurdle.

She landed the Mares’ Novice Hurdle at last year’s Festival and has run well in defeat twice this season while giving weight to her rivals.

Off level weights at Cheltenham, she should go extremely close to following up her 2021 victory with success in the Mares’ Hurdle.

 

Bob Olinger

Bob Olinger has won six of his seven races under rules, including the Ballymore at last year’s Cheltenham Festival with Blackmore on board.

Making the switch to fences this season, he’s won two from two, including a Grade 3 contest at Punchestown last time out.

Connections are still to decide which race he will run in at Cheltenham – either the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase or the Turners Novices’ Chase – but he’s already a short-priced favourite for both.

Whichever race he lines up in at the Festival, he and Blackmore look to have an excellent chance of success.

 

Envoi Allen

Envoi Allen has won at the Cheltenham Festival in 2019 and 2020 – landing the Champion Bumper and Ballymore.

Last year saw him sent off the odds on favourite for the Marsh Novices, but his race was over when falling at the 4th fence under Jack Kennedy.

Now trained by Henry de Bromhead, Envoi Allen has won two of his three races this season, sandwiching a disappointing run in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown when sent off the 7/4f.

Entered in the Champion Chase and the Ryanair Chase this year, he needs to step up on what he’s produced so far this year, but you can never right off a dual Festival winner.

 

A Plus Tard

A Plus Tard announced himself as a high-quality horse with victory in the Close Brothers Novices’ Chase at the 2019 Festival, and he’s since placed 3rd and 2nd at the Cheltenham Festival.

Last year saw him fill the runners-up spot in the Cheltenham Gold Cup behind stablemate Minella Indo, but he and Rachael Blackmore look to have an excellent chance at landing the big one this year.

Their stunning victory in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November propelled them to the top of the ante-post betting market, and they were unlucky not to win the Savills Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas – being caught right on the line by Galvin.

The yard wasn’t firing on all cylinders over the festive period, though, and you can be assured Henry de Bromhead will have him in peak condition for the Cheltenham Gold Cup on the final day of the Festival.

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