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

With the handicap weights now revealed for the Cheltenham Festival, we take a look back at last year's big-race results and outline the key numbers you need to know.

2022 Cheltenham Festival: big-race entries and weights

Ultima Handicap Chase (2.50 Cheltenham, March 15)

2021 winner: Vintage Clouds (143, 10st 11lb)

2021 weights:

Topweight: Cepage (158, 11st 12lb), Bottomweight: Fingerontheswitch (132, 9st 9lb)

What happened last year: Vintage Clouds caused a 28-1 surprise to make it fifth time lucky in the race, defeating the favourite Happygolucky, who found little off the bridle. Cepage gallantly finished fourth off his big weight with Aye Right also performing well from near the head of the weights in third. Fingerontheswitch was pulled up.

Total entries (2022): 82

The key horses: Kim Bailey could go one better than last year with Does He Know (rated 152), who was a dominant winner of the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot last time out. Aye Right (158) should run well again, while Frodon (164) also holds a surprise entry and would be a hugely popular winner for Paul Nicholls.

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

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (4.50 Cheltenham, March 15)

2021 winner: Jeff Kidder (125, 10st 8lb)

2021 weights:

Topweight: Nassalam/Youmdor (141, 11st 10lb), Bottomweight: Curious Bride (123, 10st 6lb)

What happened last year: Despite a poor round of jumping, 80-1 longshot Jeff Kidder caused a huge shock, defeating favourite Saint Sam in a race where the pace collapsed as they turned into the straight. Nassalam and Curious Bride never factored in the finish.

Total entries (2022): 50

The key horses: Willie Mullins is yet to win the Boodles but his French recruit Gaelic Warrior (129) heads an Irish-dominated market. The Tide Turns wasn't disgraced in Grade 1 company and is the class horse in the race, with Saint Segal (126) the best of the British.

Ante-post favourite: Gaelic Warrior (10-3)

Coral Cup (2.50 Cheltenham, March 16)

2021 winner: Heaven Help Us (138, 10st 2lb)

2021 weights:

Topweight: Thomas Darby (155, 11st 12lb),
Bottomweight: Witness Protection (130, 10st 1lb)

What happened last year: Heaven Help Us made all the running to record a comfortable success under 7lb claimer Richie Condon, with few market principals getting involved and the top and bottom weights both well beaten.

Total entries (2022): 110

The key horses: The race revolves around Good Risk At All (137), who stepped up in trip to devastating effect at Ascot last time, and a 10lb rise doesn't seem overly harsh. Willie Mullins' State Man (141) was installed towards the top of the market after his impressive Limerick win, while the improving pair Unexpected Party (142) and Good Time Jonny (146) are of significant interest.

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

Good Risk At All: ante-post favourite for the Coral CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

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

2021 winner: Sky Pirate (152, 11st 6lb)

2021 weights:

Topweight: Duc Des Genievres (158, 11st 9lb)
Bottomweight: Capuccimix/Or Jaune De Somoza (136, 10st 4lb)

What happened last year: Sky Pirate held off a strong challenge from Entoucas to win by a short-head in one of the finishes of the week, with joint-bottom weight Capuccimix finishing a fair sixth.

Total entries (2022): 38

The key horses: It's a very competitive market at this stage, with Buddy Rich (144) and Brave Seasca (146) trading favouritism. Last year's winner Sky Pirate (156) holds an entry, while Ciel De Neige (152) and Coeur Sublime (151) are two strong Irish candidates.

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

Pertemps Network Final (2.10 Cheltenham, March 17)

2021 winner: Mrs Milner (134, 10st 9lb)

2021 weights:

Topweight: The Bosses Oscar/Unowhatimeanharry (151, 11st 5lb)
Bottomweight: Kansas City Chief (126, 9st 10lb)

What happened last year: Mrs Milner scampered clear on the run-in for a comfortable five-length success, with joint top weight The Bosses Oscar following the mare home. Milliner, one of the bottom weights, ran a good race to fourth.

Total entries (2022): 53

The key horses: Alaphilippe (138) was an eyecatcher on handicap debut but stamina could be a worry for the ante-post favourite. Sire Du Berlais (156) will hope to repeat his 2020 heroics, but Dunboyne (134) is the chief Irish threat according to the market.

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

The Cheltenham Plate (4.10 Cheltenham, March 17)

2021 winner: The Shunter (140, 10st 5lb)

2021 weights:

Topweight: Top Notch (154, 11st 5lb)
Bottomweight: Maypole Class (132, 10st 4lb)

What happened last year: The Shunter was subject of relentless market support and justified 9-4 favouritism, defeating Farclas and top-weight Top Notch. Bottom weights Dead Right and Maypole Class were tailed off and pulled up respectively.

Total entries (2022): 67

The key horses: Celebre D'Allen (141) is unbeaten since joining Philip Hobbs and is the improving force in the race. Imperial Alcazar (152) was a ten-length winner at Cheltenham in January and could be a graded horse lurking, while Birchdale (148) and last year's winner The Shunter (155) head a JP McManus battalion of entries.

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

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

2021 winner: Mount Ida (142, 11st 9lb)

2021 weights:

Topweight: Mount Ida (142, 11st 9lb)
Bottomweight: Morning Vicar/Didero Vallis (11st 1lb)

What happened last year: Mount Ida produced an unlikely success off joint-top weight, flying home from out of the clouds to score after hitting 999-1 in running. Neither of the bottom weights factored, with the race dominated by the higher-rated horses.

Total entries (2022): 63

The key horses: Three-race chasing maiden Frontal Assault (145) has multiple entries but this looks to be his target for a yard that has won the last two runnings of the Kim Muir. Ain't That A Shame (144) and Diol Ker (142) are other big dangers from Ireland, while Mister Coffey (137) and Omar Maretti (137) are the British flag-bearers.

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

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

2021 winner: Belfast Banter (129, 10st 0lb)

2021 weights:

Topweight: Petit Mouchoir (155, 11st 5lb)
Bottomweight: Belfast Banter (129, 10st 0lb)

What happened last year: It was a battle of the top and bottom weights and Belfast Banter came out on top, making rapid progress on the home turn and quickening up smartly to score over the brave Petit Mouchoir.

Total entries (2022): 81

The key horses: Top Bandit (139) bids for a four-timer and is ante-post favourite, with Greatwood winner West Cork (141) only a point behind in the market. Willie Mullins has won five of the last 12 renewals and Echoes in Rain (150) and State Man (141) are the chief dangers from Closutton.

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

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

2021 winner: Galopin Des Champs (142, 11st 9lb)

2021 weights:

Topweight: Floueur (143, 11st 10lb),
Bottomweight: Folcano (132, 10st 13lb)

What happened last year: Galopin Des Champs was a ready winner of this handicap, an obvious result with the benefit of hindsight. He was chased home by Langer Dan and the front pair were well clear of top-weight Floueur.

Total entries (2022): 110

The key horses: Last year's second Langer Dan (137) had a good prep run at Taunton in February and leads the market as a result. The Gordon Elliott-trained pair of Chemical Energy (137) and Hollow Games (143) are also prominent in another market where British horses are tough to find.

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

Read more on the Cheltenham Festival weights reveal:

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

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)

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