Cheltenham 2022 at William Hill

The Cheltenham Festival starts at 1:30pm. The Champion Hurdle is the first race of the day.

Honeysuckle is defending her Champion Hurdle title. Appreciate It won the Supreme last year.

Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson have won seven of the last ten renewals of this race. Mullin's yet to decide which of Sir Gerhard and Dysart Dynamo will run here. Henderson's likely to run Constitution Hill and Jonbon. Last season's Champion Bumper runner-up Kilcruit and Leopardstown Irish Champion Novice Hurdle winner Mighty Potter are also in the race for the ages.

Honeysuckle is looking to become the 14th horse to win consecutive renewals of the Champion Hurdle. Henry de Bromhead's mare took last year's Champion. She has been imperious in two starts this season, winning the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse and the Irish Champion, taking her unbeaten record to 14 from 14. Appreciate It, Epatante and Adagio are likely to be playing for places behind Honey'suckle.

Rachael Blackmore won six races at the Cheltenham Festival last year.

The Irish had already seized a commanding advantage in the Prestbury Cup standings with five victories to the UK's two. Appreciate It in Supreme and Nicky Henderson’s Shishkin in Arkle were the opening two races. Vintage Clouds was a 28/1 winner of the Ultima Handicap and Jeff Kidder was an 80/1000 surprise winner in Boodles Juvenile Hurdle. Jack Kennedy rode a double, winning on Black Tears in Mares” Hundle and Galvin in National Hunt Chase.