Cheltenham Top Trainer Odds: Mullins, Elliott and De Bromhead dominate the betting
Irish trainers have dominated the Cheltenham Festival over the last decade, and have lifted the Top Trainer title the last nine years, and the betting suggests it could be the Emerald Isle sparkling once again at the 2022 extravaganza, which kicks off on March 15. We take a look at the latest betting here...
Willie Mullins - 4/6
Willie Mullins has claimed the Cheltenham Festival top trainer award a staggering eight times, and the master of Closutton, who has amassed over 60 winners at the Prestbury Park extravaganza will have another strong team heading to the 2022 festival. Installed as the 4/6 favourite with the bookmakers six weeks away from the festival, Mullins will have an abundance of talent in the novice ranks, with the likes of Galopin Des Champs (Brown Advisory Novices' Chase), Stattler (National Hunt Chase) and Blue Lord (Arkle) just three of the heavyweights flying the flag for the Co. Carlow team.
Arguably the Mullins banker of the meeting will be Allaho, who is a red-hot favourite to retain his Ryanair Chase crown, while the likes of Concertista (Mares' Chase) and Dysart Dynamo (Supreme Novices' Hurdle) add more depth to those at the head of the betting in their respective races. With strong contenders in a plethora of races, Mullins will no doubt venture the winner's enclosure on several occasions, and he's sure to be tough to beat.
Gordon Elliott - 5/2
A winner of the top trainer award back in 2017 and 2018, Gordon Elliott is currently second in the betting, as he returns to the Cheltenham Festival having missed it through suspension last season. Elliott was certainly ebullient in the aftermath of Pied Piper's win in the Triumph Hurdle trial at the weekend, and that juvenile alongside stablemate Fil Dor means the Cullentra House handler has a strong team for the Friday opener. Festival legend Tiger Roll is set to return once again and is a leading contender for the Cross Country Chase, while American Mike is a warm order for the Champion Bumper, and could be another winner for Elliott.
Like Mullins, Elliott will have a huge team heading to Cheltenham for the four days and Run Wild Fred (National Hunt Chase) and Ginto (Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle) will be another brace of performers that could taste victory for the Irish handler during the four-day spectacle.
Henry De Bromhead - 5/1
Henry De Bromhead notched a stunning six winners at last year's Cheltenham Festival, but was pipped to the top trainer gong by WIllie Mullins who recorded more seconds over the four days. So, the reigning Grand National-winning trainer is still yet to bag a top trainer gong, but he will an exciting team heading across from Ireland which will be spearheaded by the legendary Honeysuckle, who is a red-hot favourite to win the Champion Hurdle for the second year on the bounce.
Along with Honeysuckle, De Bromhead will have another hugely exciting talent lining up and that is Bob Olinger, who is a hot favourite for the Turners Novices' Chase. While De Bromhead does have two of the most exciting contenders at the festival, he may just lack that significant strength in depth to challenge Messrs Mullins and Elliott.. But, those looking for the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner will be brave to take on De Bromhead, who not only has reigning champion Minella Indo, but also current favourite A Plus Tard, so he has a strong hand in the blue riband event.
Nicky Henderson - 10/1
Last victorious in 2012 (trained seven winners), Nicky Henderson is the first of the British trainers in betting, and the master of Seven Barrows is a 10/1 chance to lift the title on the final day. There's no doubting that the star attraction from the Henderson team will be Shishkin, who is bidding for a third Cheltenham Festival victory when he lines up as an odds-on jolly for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Henderson has a strong team primed for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle with current favourite Constitution Hill and stablemate Jonbon both standing a huge chance in the festival opener on March 15. Former Champion Hurdle heroine Epatante will be bidding to retain her crown in the 2022 running of the Tuesday showpiece, but she will face a stiff task against the aforementioned Honeysuckle. Henderson may lack the firepower he had back in 2012, but having trained over 60 festival winners during his career, he can't be underestimated.
Best Of The Rest
Paul Nicholls was last crowned top trainer at the Cheltenham Festival back in 2009, and the Ditcheat handler is currently a big-priced 50/1 shot to recapture the crown, and it's unlikely he can bag enough winners to challenge. Bravemansgame is sure to be a huge player in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, while Greaneteen (Champion Chase) and Saint Calvados (Ryanair Chase) add more depth to the team.
Dan Skelton will be excited to unleash Protektorat in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on the final day, while Nube Negra will be bidding to go one better and claim victory in the Champion Chase this term. Shan Blue is another exciting Skelton contender that could feature prominently, while he's often seen saddling leading contenders in a number of handicap events during the week, with the County Hurdle often one he targets. A current 66/1 chance to be crowned top trainer, Skelton faces a stiff test to compete with those mentioned before.