2022 Hunters' Chase Tips - Two each way tips for the amateur's Gold Cup

Jon Vine

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Last updated: 03 Mar 2022

Jon Vine 03 Mar 2022

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Ante-post tips and odds for the 2022 Hunters' Chase
This traditional race takes place on day four of the Cheltenham Festival on Friday 18th March 2022
Billaway heads Winged Leader in the current betting
We're backing both Pont Aven and Fumet D'Oudairies each way

Expired

Porlock Bay ridden by Lorcan Williams (C) on the home straight with Billaway ridden by Paul Townend (R) during the St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase. (Getty)

Once the Gold Cup winner has finished lapping up the applause in the winner’s enclosure, amateur jockeys will then take centre stage in the St James’s Place Hunters Chase. The amateurs Gold Cup was first run at Cheltenham in 1904 and it’s a race that National Hunt purists look forward to all season long.

I’ve taken a look through the betting for the 2022 Hunters’ Chase and picked out my best betting tips.

2022 Hunters’ Chase Odds

Name	Odds
Billaway	3/1
Winged Leader	5/1
Bob And Co	11/2
Shantou Flyer	8/1
Latenightpass	10/1
Cat Tiger	10/1
Pont Aven	12/1
Jett	12/1
Dubai Quest	12/1
Bar	14/1

2022 Hunters' Chase Runners

Billaway2022 Hunters' Chase FavouriteGET 3/1 HERE

Billaway has finished second in the last two Hunter Chases, losing out to It Came To Pass in 2020 and Porlock Bay 12 months ago. Willie Mullins’ charge again travels to Cheltenham on the back of a win at Naas, the same race he won last year. Yet, Billaway could hardly be described as a reliable finisher, having won just four of his eleven starts over the past three years, with all of those victories coming on soft or heavy ground.

Winged Leader took his winning streak to five by comfortably defeating Billaway at Thurles in January. David Christie has laid his eight-year-old out for a tilt at this prize and he holds the bragging rights over the market leader. Personally, I don’t think he represents a great deal of value at 13/2.

I was all over Bob And Co going into last year’s Cheltenham Festival, so I was gutted when Sean Bowen was unseated at the third-last when still travelling nicely. David Maxwell was back in the saddle as Paul Nicholls’ charge made up for that error by scoring at Punchestown. Bob And Co has, however, produced two underwhelming performances so far this season and I’m not as keen on his chances.

2022 Hunters Chase Tip 1 – Pont Aven

Pont Aven E/W2022 Hunters' Chase Tip 1GET 12/1 HERE

Given my misgivings about the leading trio in the betting, I’m going to fire a couple of each-way arrows at this historic prize. My first selection will be PONT AVEN, who used to be trained by Willie Mullins, maintaining an official mark around 140 right up until his move to James Owen’s yard at the end of the summer.

Pont Aven fell when leading on his first start in a point-to-point on New Years’ Eve. Owen’s recruit then went on to bolt up at Higham two weeks later, before warming up for a maiden trip to Cheltenham with an easy win in a Hunters’ Chase at Ludlow, where he cantered to an eight-length success under seven-pound claimer, Alex Chadwick.

Chadwick has ridden Pont Aven on all three of his starts since joining Owen’s stable. Yet, claims count for nothing in this contest, so I’d be shocked if Owen and owner, Tim Gredley didn’t try to secure the services of a Jamie Codd or a Derek O’Connor, who won’t be riding any of the three at the top of the market.

2022 Hunters Chase Tip 2 – Fumet D’Oudairies

Fumet D'Oudairies E/W2022 Hunters' Chase Tip 2GET 16/1 HERE

Tom Ellis has a strong hand to play on day four of the Cheltenham Festival, with three of his stable stars sitting prominently in the market. Ellis’ wife, Gina Andrews gets on well with Dubai Quest and they certainly have to be respected. As does Latenightpass, who finished fourth under Bridget Andrews in this race 12 months ago before losing out to Cousin Pascal at Aintree.

Ellis’ third runner could be FUMET D’OUDAIRIES, who cost connections just £800 after four runs under rules in Ireland for Elizabeth Doyle. Since joining Ellis’s stable, Fumet D’Oudairies has gone from strength to strength, winning five of his first six starts between the flags. Jack Andrews then rode him in a two-mile Hunter Chase at Cheltenham’s April Meeting, where Fumet D’Oudairies jumped and travelled beautifully before picking off favourite Envoye Special to win by a cosy two lengths.

Jack again partnered Fumet D’Oudairies as he stepped all the way up to three-and-a-half miles in John Corbet Cup at Stratford in May. Ellis’ seven-year-old ran another blinder, losing out narrowly to Irish raider Vaucelet, who’s won two valuable hunter chases on home soil this season and holds a Cheltenham entry.

Fumet D’Oudairies has registered two easy wins in standard point-to-points this season. We know he will handle the track, he’s a proven stayer over this sort of trip and possesses a lovely turn-of-foot. There is a nagging doubt in my mind that he might be aimed at the shorter Hunter Chase at Aintree. Yet, if Fumet D’Oudairies was to rock up on Gold Cup day, I’d fancy his chances.

Verdict

2022 Hunters' Chase

Pont Aven ran consistently well in high-profile chases during his career with Willie Mullins and has done little wrong since joining James Owen. He looks like a solid each way option at 12/1.

I’m a big fan of Tom Ellis’ challenger Fumet D’Oudairies and would fancy him to run well if Jack Andrews was confirmed in the saddle. 16/1 in the NRNB market looks good to me.

Pont Aven

Each-Way

@12/1 - 5 Units

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Fumet D'Oudairies

Each-Way

@16/1 - 5 Units

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