Cheltenham 2022: Day 2, Ladies Day

Here we take a look ahead to the second day of the Cheltenham Festival, which is known as Ladies Day. The feature race on the card is the Champion Chase, a thrilling two mile chase event that often offers up an exciting few minutes. Make sure you view our ultimate betting guide for the festival for an incredible list of betting offers, free bets and race enhancements.

The RSA Chase is the main supporting race but is still a Grade 1 contest contested by the best staying novices. The race is often a trial for subsequent Gold Cups but is a gruelling challenge for young horses. The card on the second day also features the only Cross Country race of the week and the most prestigious bumper of the season. These could be described as niche races and not for the connoisseur but any race at Cheltenham is a betting challenge and gets the juices flowing.

Ladies Day is a relatively new concept and the original was Gold Cup day on the Thursday of Royal Ascot. The most famous Ladies Day is probably now the Friday of the Grand National meeting at Aintree. It truly is Liverpool’s day out and the highlight of the social season. The occasion is more about the party than the racing despite the fact that the sport is at the highest level with graded races and major handicaps.

Ladies Day at Cheltenham is different in that the focus is still on the best jumps racing of the season. Just about every attendee is there for the quality of the racing and seeing the best horses run in championship races. The highlight of the day is the Champion Chase, which brings together the best chasers over two miles. Jumping accurately at speed is vital and provides a great spectacle.

See all the records and trends for the other three days of the Festival by clicking the links below:

Champion Day | St Patrick's Thursday | Gold Cup Day

Cheltenham Day Two Betting Tips

You can read our full preview of day two here, where we look at the seven races in detail and give our selections.

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Race by Race Guide and 2022 Results

The Cheltenham Festival is a special and unique racing event, and looking back on the form from previous years should play a big part in your studying. Festival form and horses that have shown the ability to win on the biggest stage is an important factor when making Cheltenham selections, and below you will find statistics about the races taking place on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.

Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle (1.30pm)

Hurdle Race (Two miles and five furlongs – Old Course)
Open to horses four-years-old and older

The Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle has been run since 1971 and is the championship race for novices at the intermediary distance. The race has been won by some legends of the jumping game, including Istabraq in 1997 and Hardy Eustace in 2003. The race is generally the opening contest of the second day of the meeting and often produces future festival champions.

2023 RESULT

Sir Gerhard - 8/11F - Trained by Willie Mullins, ridden by Paul Townend
Three Stripe Life - 8/1 - Gordon Elliott, Davy Russell
Whatdewant - 18/1 - Willie Mullins, D E Mullins

The Last 10 Winners of the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle

2022 - Sir Gerhard - (8/11F) - trained by Willie Mullins, ridden by Paul Townend
2021 - Bob Olinger - (6/4F) - Henry de Bromhead, Rachael Blackmore
2020 - Envoi Allen (4/7F) - Gordon Elliott, Davy Russell
2019 - City Island (8/1) Martin Brassil, Mark Walsh
2018 - Samcro (4/6) Gordon Elliott, Jack Kennedy
2017 - Willoughby Court (14/1) Ben Pauling, David Bass
2016 – Yorkhill (3/1) Willie Mullins, Ruby Walsh
2015 - Windsor Park (9/2) Dermot Weld, Davy Russell
2014 - Faugheen (6/4F) Willie Mullins, Ruby Walsh
2013 - The New One (7/2) Nigel Twiston-Davies, Sam Twiston-Davies

Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle Fact File

Eight of the last nine winners of this race have all been six years-old.
11 of the last 13 winners of this race won last time out.
The favourite has won for the past three years.

Brown Advisory Novices' SteepleChase (2.10pm)

Steeplechase (Three miles – Old Course)
Open to horses aged –five-years-old and older

Previously known as the RSA Chase is the novices’ version of the Gold Cup and often provides pointers for horses subsequently running in the most prestigious chase of the season. The race has had several sponsors but always features 19 fences on the Old Course. Several winners of the race have gone on to win the Gold Cup, including the latest to win both races, Bobs Worth who won the RSA Chase in 2012.

2022 RESULT

L'Homme Presse - 9/4F - Trained by Venetia Williams, ridden by Charlie Deutsch
Ahoy Senor - 4/1 - Lucinda Russell, Derek Fox
Gaillard Du Mensil - 11/1 - Willie Mullins, Paul Townend

The Last 10 Winners of this race

2022 - L'Homme Presse - (9/4F) - Trained by Venetia Williams, ridden by Charlie Deutsch
2021 - Monkfish - (1/4F)- Willie Mullins, Paul Townsend
2020 - Champ (4/1) - Nicky Henderson, Barry Geraghty
2019 - Topofthegame (4/1) Paul Nicholls, Harry Cobden
2018 - Presenting Percy (5/2) Patrick G Kelly, Davy Russell
2017 - Might Bite (7/2) Nicky Henderson, Nico de Boinville
2016 – Blaklion (8/1) Nigel Twiston-Davies, Ryan Hatch
2015 – Don Poli (13/8) Willie Mullins, Bryan Cooper
2014 - O’Faolains Boy (12/1) Rebbeca Curtis, Barry Geraghty
2013 – Lord Windermere (8/1) Jim Culloty, Davy Russell

Brown Advisory Novices' Steeplechase Fact File

Willie Mullins has trained the winner of this race five times.
Four of the last five winners have been aged seven.
Only two favourites have won since 2009.

The Coral Cup (2.50pm)

Hurdle Race (Two miles and five furlongs – Old Course)
Open to horses aged four-years-old and older

The Coral Cup is one of the most competitive handicap hurdles of the season and takes place on the second day of the meeting. The Grade 3 race was first run in 1993 and was won by Olympian. The Martin Pipe trained horse won the £50,000 bonus for winning the Imperial Cup at Sandown the previous Saturday and any race at the festival. The Coral Cup is one of the biggest turnover handicaps of the National Hunt season but favourites have a poor record.

2022 RESULT

Commander of Fleet - 50/1 - Trained by Gordon Elliott, ridden by Shane Fitzgerald
Fastorslow - 18/1 - Martin Brassil, Darragh O'Keefe
Ashdale Bob - 14/1 - Mrs John Harrington, Jack Foley
Camprond - 10/1 - Phillip Hobbs, Aidan Coleman

The Last 10 Winners of the Coral Cup

2022 - Commander of Fleet (50/1) - Trained by Gordon Elliott, ridden by Shane Fitzgerald
2021 - Heaven Help Us - (33/1) - Paul Hennessy, Richard Condon
2020 - Dame De Compagnie (5/1F) - Nicky Henderson, Barry Geraghty
2019 - William Henry (28/1) Nicky Henderson, Nico de Boinville
2018 - Bleu Berry (25/1) Willie Mullins, Mark Walsh
2017 - Supasundae (16/1) Jessica Harrington, Robbie Power
2016 – Diamond King (12/1) Gordon Elliott, Davy Russell
2015 – Aux Ptits Soins (9/1) Paul Nichols, Sam Twiston-Davies
2014 - Whisper (14/1) Nicky Henderson, Nico De Boinville
2013 – Medinas (33/1) Alan King, Wayne Hutchinson
2012 – Son Of Flicka (16/1) Donald McCain, Jason Maguire

Coral Cup Fact File

Two of the last three runnings have been won by horses carrying less than 11 stone.
Seven year-olds have won this race for four of the last six years.
2020 saw Nicky Henderson become the first trainer to win this race two years in a row.
Four of the last five winners have been returned at odds of at least 25/1.

The Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30pm)

Steeplechase (Two miles – Old Course)
Open to horses aged –five-years-old and older

The Champion Chase as the name suggests is the championship race for two mile chasers, the minimum distance. Twelve fences are jumped at speed and one error can cost a horse any chance of being involved in the finish. The race is the feature contest of the second day of the meeting. The Champion Chase was first run in 1959 and is the most prestigious chase over the distance in the National Hunt calendar.

2022 RESULT

Energumene - 5/2 - Trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend
Funambule Silva - 40/1 - Venetia Williams, Charlie Deutsch
Envoi Allen - 10/1 - Henry de Bromhead, Rachael Blackmore

The Last 10 Winners of the Queen Mother Champion Chase

2022 - Energumene - (5/2) - Trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend
2021 - Put the Kettle On - (17/2) Henry de Bromhead, Aidan Coleman
2020 - Politologue (6/1) - Paul Nicholls, Harry Skelton
2019 - Altior (4/11F) - Nicky Henderson, Nico de Boinville
2018 - Altior (11/10F) Nicky Henderson. Nico de Boinville
2017 - Special Tiara (11/1) Henry de Bromhead, Noel Fehily
2016 – Sprinter Sacre (5/1) Nicky Henderson, Nico de Boinville
2015 – Dodging Bullets (9/2) Paul Nicholls, Sam Twiston-Davies
2014 - Sire De Grugy (11/4F) Gary Moore, Jamie Moore
2013 - Sprinter Sacre (1/4F) Nicky Henderson, Barry Geraghty

Queen Mother Champion Chase Fact File

Barry Geraghty has rode the winner of this race on five occasions, sharing the record with Pat Taffe.
Nicky Henderson has twice trained the winner of this race in two successive years. Before Altior in 2018/19, he achieved that feat in 2012 and 2013.
Put the Kettle On was seven years old when winning this race last year, the first horse of that age to win since 2015.

Guide to the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (4.10pm)

Cross Country Race (Three miles and seven furlongs – Cross Country Course)
Open to horses aged five-years-old and older

The Glenfarclas Chase is the only race run on the cross country course during the meeting but there are two trials earlier in the season which often provide pointers to how things pan out at the festival. There are 32 obstacles during the race which are of varying type. The event was first run in 2005 which was the year of the first four day festival. It was originally a handicap but in 2016 the contest became a conditions chase. Some critics believe it should not be part of the festival but it is now the championship race of the season in this discipline.

2022 RESULT

Delta Work - 5/2F - Trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Jack Kennedy
Tiger Roll - 3/1 - Gordon Elliott, Davy Russell
Plan of Attack - 25/1 - Henry de Bromhead, Darragh O'Keefe

The Last 10 Winners of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase

2022 - Delta Work (5/2F) - Trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Jack Kennedy
2021 - Tiger Roll - (9/2) Mrs Denise Foster, Keith Donoghue
2020 - Easysland (3/1) - D Cottin, Jonathan Plouganou
2019 - Tiger Roll (5/4F) - Gordon Elliott, Davy Russell
2018 - Tiger Roll (11/2) - Gordon Elliott, Keith Donaghue
2017 - Cause Of Causes - (4/1) Gordon Elliott, Jamie Codd
2016 – Josies Orders (15/8F) Enda Bolger, Nina Carberry
2015 – Rivage D’Or (16/1) Tony Martin, Davy Russell
2014 – Balthazar King (4/1) Philip Hobbs, Richard Johnson
2013 – Big Shu (14/1) Peter Maher, Barry Cash
2012 – Balthazar King (11/2) Philip Hobbs, Richard Johnson

Cross Country Chase Fact File

Tiger Roll has won three of the last five runnings of this race.
Enda Bolger has trained the winner of this race five times.
Only two favourites have won in the last six runnings.

The Grand Annual Handicap Chase (4.50pm)

Steeple Chase (Two miles and 100 yards – New Course)
Open to horses ages five-years-old and older

The race is a Grade handicap run just over the minimum distance and there are 14 fences to be jumped over about one and a quarter circuits of the New Course. The Grand Annual is the oldest race at the festival and in the National Hunt calendar, dating back to 1834. The race is the one of the festival and is named in the honour of Johnny Henderson who did much to secure the future of Cheltenham racecourse in the early 1960’s when property developers showed in interest in the site.

2022 RESULT

Global Citizen - 28/1 - Trained by Ben Pauling, ridden by Kielan Woods
Andy Dufresne - 10/3F - Gordon Elliott, Mark Walsh
Frero Banbou - 6/1 - Venetia Williams, Charlie Deutsch
Editeur Du Gite - 15/2 - Gary Moore, Joshua Moore

The Last 10 Winners of the Grand Annual Handicap Chase

2022 - Global Citizen - (28/1) - Trained by Ben Pauling and ridden by Kielan Woods
2021 - Sky Pirate - (14/1) - Trained by Jonjo O'Neill and ridden by Nick Scholfield
2020 - Chosen Mate (7/2) Gordon Elliott, Davy Russell
2019 - Croco Bay (66/1) Ben Case, Kielan Woods
2018 - Le Prezien (10/1) Paul Nicholls, Barry Geraghty
2017 - Rock The World (10/1) Jessica Harrington, Robbie Power
2016 – Solar Impulse (28/1) Paul Nicholls, Sam Twiston-Davies
2015 – Next Sensation (16/1) Michael Scudamore, Tom Scudamore
2014 – Savello (16/1) Tony Martin, Davy Russell
2013 – Alderwood (3/1F) Thomas Mullins, Tony McCoy

Grand Annual Handicap Chase Fact File

Only one favourite has won in the last ten years.
Seven of the last ninr winners have carried over 11 stone.

Weatherbys Champion Bumper (5.30pm)

National Hunt Flat Race (Two miles – Old Course)
Open to horses aged between four and six-years-old only

The Weatherbys Champion Bumper as the race title would indicate is the most prestigious National Hunt Flat race of the season. The race often features horses that come back to the festival in subsequent years and do well over obstacles, most notably in recent years Cue Card. The Grade 1 contest is the concluding event on the second day of the festival and has been dominated by horses trained in Ireland.

2022 RESULT

Facile Vega - 15/8F - Trained by Willie Mullins, ridden by Mr P W Mullins
American Mike - 5/2 - Gordon Elliott, Mr J J Codd
James's Gate - 16/1 - Willie Mullins, Sean O'Keefe

The Last 10 Winners of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper

2022 - Facile Vega (15/8F) - Trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Mr P W Mullins
2021 - Sir Gerhard - (85/40) Willie Mullins, Rachael Blackmore
2020 - Fenny Hollow (11/1) - Willie Mullins, Paul Townend
2019 - Envoi Allen (2/1) - Gordon Elliott, Mr JJ Codd
2018 - Relegate (25/1) Willie Mullins, Ms Katie Walsh
2017 - Fayonagh - (7/1) Gordon Elliott, Jamie Codd
2016 – Ballyandy (5/1) Nigel Twiston-Davies, Sam Twiston-Davies
2015 - Moon Racer (9/2F) David Pipe, Tom Scudamore
2014 - Silver Concorde (16/1) Dermot Weld, Robbie McNamara
2013 – Briar Hill (25/1) Willie Mullins, Ruby Walsh

Champion Bumper Fact File

Ruby Walsh has the most wins for a jockey in this race with three victories.
Willie Mullins has trained the winner a record 12 times. including four of the last five
Mullins has won the race three years in a row twice, from 1996-98 and2020-2022.
Sir Gerhard was six when winning this last year, the first horse of that age to win since 2017
Four of the last five winners have been five-year-olds.