Honeysuckle not so sweet? Star mare edges to evens for Champion Hurdle

Your one-stop shop for Cheltenham Festival news on Tuesday morning

Honeysuckle on the drift in Champion

Honeysuckle is unbeaten in 14 races and many saw her as a banker of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, but she is 5-6 with Betfred for the Unibet Champion Hurdle (), the feature of Tuesday's opening day.

A general 8-13 on Monday, she drifted to 4-5 with plenty of firms on Tuesday morning and Betfred went tighter still.

Pat Cooney, on behalf of bet365, had said on Racing TV: "I hope she wouldn't go even-money. Our strategy was to be top price about her, which seemed a good idea when she was about 8-13 and 4-6, but 4-5 has you thinking.

"The key to the race is how Appreciate It goes in the market and he does seem solid at 4-1. It's good to see him solid, but I think the 4-5 [about Honeysuckle] will shorten up, rather than get bigger."

Appreciate It: off since last year's SupremeCredit: Edward Whitaker

Appreciate It, who has been off the track since impressing in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle on this card 12 months ago, could be the biggest threat.

He is the mount of Paul Townend and Willie Mullins' son Patrick, a vital part of the wildly successful operation, told ITV's The Opening Show on Tuesday morning: "He's as fit as he's ever going to be. You don't see horses his size in Champion Hurdle fields very often.

"He'll dwarf everything in the parade ring, but his performance in the Supreme last year was so impressive. Honeysuckle is Honeysuckle and it's going to be very hard to beat her and coming off this preparation will be even harder, but if you don't try, you don't know."

Market movers

2.50 Grumpy Charley 18-1 (from 25), Floueur 7-1 (from 10), Our Power 10-1 (from 16)
3.30 Teahupoo 9-1 (from 10), Tommy's Oscar 28-1 (from 33)
4.10 Echoes In Rain 8-1 (from 10)
4.50 Brazil 7-1 (from 10)

Posted at 10.08am

Return of crowds 'absolutely wonderful'

Cheltenham supremo Ian Renton was buzzing about the return of racegoers hours before they headed to Cheltenham for day one of the 2022 festival.

Covid-19 restrictions meant last year's meeting took place behind closed doors and not even owners were allowed to attend.

However, things are set to return to normal this week and the famed festival atmosphere should be back in all its glory.

Renton, managing director for Cheltenham and The Jockey Club's west region, told the BBC's Breakfast on Tuesday morning: "It's absolutely wonderful. Last year we saw some unbelievable racing, but in front of no-one. It was disappointing for the participants not to be able to return to the usual amazing atmosphere, so it's going to be wonderful to see racegoers back today.

"I think everyone comes here to have an enjoyable time. We start off relatively quietly before building up to a full house, which we've got on Thursday and Friday."

Cheltenham: stands were empty last yearCredit: Edward Whitaker

Cheltenham has included an appeal for help in Ukraine in the title of Tuesday's National Hunt Chase (5.30) and Renton added: "We're very conscious racegoers come here in celebratory mood, but it's against the very sad backdrop of what's happening in Ukraine. We felt we wanted to do everything we could to lend support.

"The Jockey Club has teamed up with the British Red Cross to try to raise funds and we've used the National Hunt Chase to draw attention for racegoers to donate to the cause and we've also got a raffle for Gold Cup day. It's sold out, but 24 lucky racegoers can win a pair of tickets with a donation through our ."

Posted at 8.02am

Going update: no rain overnight

The going for the first day of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday has been described as good to soft following a dry night.

Unbeaten powerhouse mare Honeysuckle is the star name on the card and she contests the Unibet Champion Hurdle (3.30), which she won in convincing fashion 12 months ago.

Versatile with regards to ground, she should not be daunted by conditions, which seem unlikely to change given a settled dry forecast with highs of 14C on Tuesday.

Cheltenham's clerk of the course Jon Pullin, overseeing his first festival after joining the track last year, said: "We were dry overnight and the going is good to soft on the Old course, which we use today and tomorrow.

"The going remains good to soft, soft in places on the New course, which is in use on Thursday and Friday, while it's also good to soft, soft in places for Wednesday's cross-country race.

"The forecast for today is dry and sunny – temperatures could get up to 13/14C. There is less rain now on the radar for tomorrow than we initially thought, but we could still get 1-2mm with temperatures around 11C.

"Thursday and Friday are set to be dry, bright and sunny with highs of maybe 15C.

"The track is in really good condition. We've had the benefit of a mild winter, which has meant we've come into this in really good shape.

"I'm hugely excited. The focus has very much been on this week since I joined and I'm delighted to be here and can't wait to get started."

Trainer talk: 'He's too big a price' – key quotes on Tuesday of the Cheltenham Festival

Bookmakers Paddy Power on Monday forecast more than £1 billion would be wagered across the four days of the festival and Honeysuckle, with a flawless 14-14 record, is likely to have plenty of supporters.

Updated at 7.20am

Cheltenham Festival tips: best bets for Tuesday's card from Racing Post experts

Non-runners: National Hunt down to six

4.30 1 Petit Tonnerre
5.30 3 Ontheropes

Updated at 9.31am

Tuesday's Cheltenham Festival previews:

1.30 Cheltenham: 'Jonbon has been flawless' – Nicky Henderson on his scintillating Supreme duo

2.10 Cheltenham: 'We'll see if he's good enough' – big British hope Edwardstone takes on Irish

2.50 Cheltenham: 'I expect him to run a massive race' – who fancies their chances in the Ultima?

3.30 Cheltenham: 'She's actually in mighty form' – De Bromhead delighted with champ Honeysuckle

4.10 Cheltenham: Telmesomethinggirl bids for another festival triumph in wide-open Mares' Hurdle

4.50 Cheltenham: 'He looks nicely treated' – Paul Townend puts up Gaelic Warrior as best chance

5.30 Cheltenham: 'He looks tailor-made for this' – key quotes and insight for National Hunt Chase

Sign up to William Hill here and get 30-1 on Honeysuckle to win the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday of the festival. New customers using EPH30. Applies to bets placed from 12:00 9th March 2022 until 15:30 15th March 2022. Max £1 bet at 30-1. Returns paid as 2 x £15 free bets (30-day expiry). Player, currency restrictions and terms apply. 18+. begambleaware.org.