National Hunt Chase Tips 2022
The National Hunt Chase tips for Cheltenham 2022 feature a detailed look at the second-longest race at the entire Festival. The National Hunt Chase, which is the final fixture on Day 1 of Cheltenham, has had more renewals in its history than any other race. Our horse racing betting experts examine some top National Hunt Chase Tips for 2022.
National Hunt Chase Potential Runners & Favourites
There are just seven runners for the National Hunt Chase 2022 renewal in what is a select field to say the least! Our betting experts give their verdict for the race.
STATTLER brings some winning form to the National Hunt Chase betting tips table, as he has won both runs this season for trainer Willie Mullins. The latest of those was in a Grade 3 at Naas in January. In addition, Stattler was fourth in last year’s Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival.
RUN WILD FRED brings some claims for Gordon Elliott as he has made some steady progress in the sphere this season. He was second in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown in December and will likely go straight to the Festival.
VANILLIER is a good, competitive horse and will look for further progress. In his last two efforts for the season, he has been defeated by Fury Road and Stattler, both of whom could be key challengers in this year’s renewal.
Another that warrant respect in National Hunt Chase is PAT’S FANCY, who has quietly strung together an impressive season including banking two wins in his last three.
National Hunt Chase Confirmed Runners
| Horse | Silks | Trainer/Jockey | Odds |
| Run Wild Fred |  | J: J J Codd T: Gordon Elliott | 2/1 |
| Stattler |  | J: P W Mullins T: Willie Mullins | 5/2 |
| Vanillier |  | J: Derek O’Connor T: Gavin Cromwell | 4/1 |
| Pats Fancy |  | J: B O’Neill T: Rebecca Curtis | 8/1 |
| Braeside |  | J: R James T: Gordon Elliott | 11/1 |
| Beatthebullet |  | J: James King T: Rebecca Curtis | 80/1 |
*Odds Correct as of 11am 14/03/22*
How Often Does a Favourite Horse Win The National Hunt Chase Race
The lay of the land for National Hunt Chase favourites shows that they haven’t had the greatest of times. None of the last eight National Hunt Chase winners has been the favourite. The previous winning favourite in this famous old Cheltenham race was Back In Focus in 2013.
Some longer-priced options have come home first in the most recent editions, with three of the last five National Hunt Chase winners being at 12/1 or bigger.
So, it’s worth looking down the field a bit for National Hunt Chase betting tips, although none of the last 10 renewals has been won at bigger than 16/1, so there is a cut-off in regards to price. Meanwhile, five of the previous six winners have been Irish horses.
National Hunt Chase Favourites vs Winners in The Past 10 Years
| Year | Favourite Horse* | Winning Horse |
| 2021 | Escaria Ten (3rd) | Galvin (8/1) |
| 2020 | Carefully Selected (UR) | Ravenhill (12/1) |
| 2019 | Ballyward (F) | Le Breuil (14/1) |
| 2018 | Jury Duty (F) | Rathvinden (9/2) |
| 2017 | A Genie In Abottle (5th) | Tiger Roll (16/1) |
| 2016 | Southfield Royale (4th) | Minella Rocco (8/1) |
| 2015 | Very Wood (10th) | Cause Of Causes (8/1) |
| 2014 | Foxrock (9th) | Midnight Prayer (8/1) |
| 2013 | Back In Focus | Back In Focus (9/4) |
| 2012 | Teaforthree | Teaforthree (5/1) |
*(-) = Finishing Position, UR = Unseated Rider, F = Faller, RO = Ran Out, PU = Pulled Up
National Hunt Chase History & Present Time
The race is formally known as the National Hunt Challenge Cup, and it is a Grade 2 fixture that is the final action on the Cheltenham Festival Day 1 card. With more than 160 renewals, it is the most-ran race in the history of the Cheltenham Festival (but not the oldest, however, with that title going to the Grand Annual).
The early days of the National Hunt Chase didn’t have a permanent home until it went to Cheltenham to stay in 1911. The race is currently 3m 6f (approx) and therefore second only to the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the Festival in terms of distance.
2019 was a modern turning point in the race, which is a novices’ chase. With only 4 of 18 starters making it home, the race was cut in both distance and the number of fences to the current tally of 23. The 2022 purse is at £125,000.
National Hunt Chase Jockey & Trainer Records
The leading jockey in the National Hunt Chase since 1946 is Jamie Codd, who has ridden home three winners. Those have all been recent successes, with the first of Codd’s wins coming in 2015 on Cause Of Causes.
The leading trainer in the National Hunt Challenge is Jonjo O’Neill, with six victories. The latest of those came with Minella Rocco in 2016. The only other trainers to have won the race more than once in the last 20 editions have been Gordon Elliott (4), Willie Mullins (2) and Alan King (2).