2022 Cheltenham Festival handicaps: big-race weights plus a long-range shout

Ultima Handicap Chase (2.50 Cheltenham, March 15)

Total entries: 82

The key horses: Three-time Grade 1 winner Frodon unsurprisingly tops the weights following his unexpected entry and has been allocated 11st 12lb, with Fury Road next on 11st 8lb while last year's third Aye Right will shoulder 11st 6lb.

Last year's winner Vintage Clouds has been allocated 11st 6lb, while other leading fancies Does He Know and Corach Rambler will carry 11st and 10st 2lb respectively.

Death Duty, who Gordon Elliott nominated as his best handicap fancy, will carry 10st 6lb off a mark of 144 – 1lb below his Irish mark.

Ante-post favourite: Does He Know (7-1, best price)

Death Duty: nominated by Gordon Elliott as his best handicapped horse of the weekCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (4.50 Cheltenham, March 15)

Total entries: 50

The key horses: Gaelic Warrior remains at the head of the betting despite having never raced for Willie Mullins. He will carry 10st 6lb as he aims to make the perfect start for the Closutton trainer.

Fellow leading contender The Tide Turns has been given 11st 5lb, with Champion Green allocated 10st 7lb and Brazil given 11st 7lb. The Gordon Elliott-trained Fil Dor would carry top weight off 11st 10lb, but looks likely to run in the Triumph Hurdle instead.

Ante-post favourite: Gaelic Warrior (3-1)

Coral Cup (2.50 Cheltenham, March 16)

Total entries: 110

The key horses: Good Risk At All shot to prominence with his easy success at Ascot that earned him a 10lb rise in the ratings and he will carry 10st 9lb, while fellow leading British fancy Unexpected Party has been allocated 11st.

The Emmet Mullins-trained Winter Fog will carry 10st 10lb, while other notable contenders from Ireland include Chemical Energy and Thedevilscoachman, who will carry 10st 9lb and 11st 9lb respectively.

The Gordon Elliott-trained The Bosses Oscar has been allocated top weight of 11st 12lb.

Ante-post favourite: Good Risk At All (8-1)

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase (4.50 Cheltenham, March 16)

Total entries: 38

The key horses: Sky Pirate narrowly landed the race last year off 11st 6lb but will face a tougher task this time off 11st 12lb.

Buddy Rich, who has been well supported in the last week, will carry 11st off a rating of 144, while the Venetia Williams-trained Brave Seasca has been allocated 11st 2lb. Fellow leading contender Ciel De Neige has been given 11st 8lb

Ante-post favourite: Buddy Rich (7-1)

Pertemps Network Final (2.10 Cheltenham, March 17)

Total entries: 53

The key horses: Sire Du Berlais could bid to become only the second horse to win the race three times, but will have to do so off top weight of 11st 12lb, which he carried to victory in 2020.

Grade 1 winner Sporting John is next in the weights on 11st 11lb following his easy Warwick win last time, while fellow leading fancy Alaphilippe– who was well beaten by Sporting John last time – will carry 10st 8lb.

The Gordon Elliott-trained Dunboyne has been given 10st 4lb, while stablemate Folcano is 2lb higher on 10st 6lb.

Ante-post favourite: Sporting John, Dunboyne, Alaphilippe (8-1)

Cheltenham Plate (4.10 Cheltenham, March 17)

Total entries: 67

The key horses: The Shunter's win last year came off a mark of 140 but he will race off a 15lb higher mark should he bid for a repeat. He is one of four joint-topweights alongside Andy Dufresne, Hardline and Simply The Betts.

Impressive course-and-distance winner Imperial Alcazar will carry 11st 9lb, while leading fancy Celebre D'Allen has been given 10st 12lb and impressive Leopardstown winner Birchdale 11st 5lb.

Ante-post favourite: Celebre D'Allen (6-1)

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup (5.30 Cheltenham, March 17)

Total entries: 63

The key horses:Clear favourite Frontal Assault was given the go-ahead by trainer Gordon Elliott and he will carry top weight of 11st 12lb alongside Cavalry Master and Grand Paradis.

Aint That A Shame will carry 1lb less on 11st 11lb with Champagne Platinum and Fakir D'Alene, while Smoking Gun has been allocated 11st 7lb.

Ante-post favourite: Frontal Assault (5-1)

McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle (2.10 Cheltenham, March 18)

Total entries: 81

The key horses: The unexposed State Man could head Willie Mullins' team and has been given a rating of 141, meaning he will carry 11st 1lb alongside Greatwood Hurdle winner West Cork, while State Man's Grade 1-winning stablemate Echoes In Rain has been allocated 11st 10lb.

Fellow leading Irish fancy Top Bandit will carry 10st 13lb, while Adamantly Chosen will carry 11st 2lb with Slip Of The Tongue 1lb lower on 11st 1lb.

Ante-post favourite: State Man, Top Bandit (7-1)

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (5.30 Cheltenham, March 18)

Total entries: 110

The key horses: Langer Dan finished second behind Galopin Des Champs off a rating of 135 last year and is just 2lb higher on 11st 2lb.

Should State Man line up in this rather than the County, he will race off 11st 6lb, while Grade 1 runner-up Minella Crooner has been allocated 11st 9lb – 1lb shy of top weight – and Deploy The Getaway 11st 5lb.

Ante-post favourite: State Man, Langer Dan (6-1)

2022 Cheltenham Festival: big-race entries and weights

Long-range shout

West Cork
McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle, 2.10, March 18

To come back from a 631-day absence and win a Greatwood Hurdle is a hell of an achievement. West Cork was evidently well ahead of the assessor on the day and although he suffered a setback at Ascot in December, you can rest assured Dan Skelton will have him spot on for this.

He will race from a mark of 141 which is more than fair and Skelton has won this race three times since 2016 so he certainly knows what it takes.
Adrian Wall, tipster

Read more on the Cheltenham Festival weights reveal:

'It baffles me' - Elliott questions handicapping system and names best hope

Chris Cook: Never mind winning a festival handicap, British runners may struggle to get in (Members' Club)

Cheltenham Festival weights: 2021 cut-off points plus eyecatching entries

2022 Cheltenham Festival handicaps: big-race weights plus a long-range shout

Handicap weights analysis: Britain or Ireland: who do the Cheltenham weights favour? (Members' Club)

Racing Post Ratings: Six Cheltenham contenders the handicapper may have let in lightly (Members' Club)

Which Irish-trained horses fared best and worst in handicaps weights reveal? (Members' Club)

Join Racing Post Members' Club for just £9.99 for your first month!Members' Club is the only subscription racing fans and punters need in order to stay informed and make smarter betting decisions. Features include early access to the Racing Post digital newspaper, exclusive news and interviews, premium tips and form study tools to assist with betting. Head to our subscription page here, select 'Get Ultimate Monthly' and enter code CHELT22!