48/1 Banker Acca for Day 1 at The Cheltenham Festival 2022
The Cheltenham Festival is fast approaching and as the greatest show on turf nears our experts have delved into the day 1 Tuesday card identifying a 48/1 banker accumulator. Check this out, and why not add it to your bet slip with one click here.
Constitution Hill (1.30 Cheltenham, Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle) 9/4
A winning favourite for the first race on the first day of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival? Oh, go on then.
The British had little to smile about at last year’s Festival, but in CONSTITUTION HILL, they fire one of their strongest bullets of 2022 in the Festival’s curtain-raiser.
The Michael Buckley owned 5yo Constitution Hill has done little to dispel a lofty reputation in two starts this season, bolting up on hurdles debut at Sandown in December and supplementing that with victory in the Grade 1 Tolworth back at that venue next time out.
He heads straight to the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on the back of that, a race his powerful yard has taken in recent seasons with the likes of Altior and Shishkin.
Edwardstone (2.10 Cheltenham, Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase) 9/4
The Arkle has proven a particularly good race for favourites down the years, with seven of the last ten market leaders going in, and backers of EDWARDSTONE will be hoping to see that record enhanced in 2022.
Alan King’s charge has enjoyed a terrific first season over fences, winning every completed start (brought down on chase debut).
Those victories include a bloodless 16l Grade 1 Scilly Isles success, and Edwardstone confirmed himself to be the best 2m novice chaser in Britain when landing a competitive renewal of the Kingmaker Novices’ Chase at Warwick last time out.
Although he possibly lacks the sexy profile of recent Arkle winners, purely on his chase career there is very little to crab Edwardstone over, and he is expected to prove a strong favourite in what looks at this stage like a modest renewal of the Arkle.
Honeysuckle (3.30 Cheltenham, Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy) 4/7
It was a huge shame that 12 months ago there were no crowds in place to celebrate Rachael Blackmore’s incredible haul of Cheltenham winners, yet in 2022, the fans will be back, and no doubt a large majority will be roaring her home when she takes the ride on super mare HONEYSUCKLE in the Champion Hurdle.
This 8yo is yet to taste defeat on the racecourse in any of her 15 starts to date (1 point to point start, 14 hurdles starts).
She confirmed herself to be one of the best horses in training with victory in last season’s Champion Hurdle, and connections have enjoyed an identical prep this campaign, with a victory in the Hatton’s Grace followed by an Irish Champion Hurdle win.
This isn’t a vintage period for 2m hurdlers, and therefore it is difficult to see anything but a second Champion Hurdle going to Henry De Bromhead’s charge.
Gaelic Warrior (4.50 Cheltenham, Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle) 5/2
The Boodles (or Fred Winter) Juvenile Handicap Hurdle is traditionally one of the most competitive handicaps at the Festival, yet this year the race looks all about GAELIC WARRIOR, who has proven one of the most fascinating Festival runners in recent times.
This son of Maxios had some smart form to his name in France last year and was subsequently privately picked up by the powerful owner Rich Ricci.
Sent into training with Willie Mullins, Gaelic Warrior had some strong entries for this season yet connections have interestingly decided to keep him fresh and to hold off for the Fred Winter.
The British handicapper has given Gaelic Warrior a mark of 129, and ever since his price has slowly been contracting. He looks set to go off one of the shortest prices on the first day of the Festival and should he get the win it will be plan well executed by Mullins and Ricci.