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THE BEST OF JUMPS SEASON 2022

It's been a memorable year for the Jumps, and while the season may now have come to an end, there's plenty of stories that will live long in the memory. We welcomed so many of you back on course for unmissable racing and entertainment, with record breaking numbers at some of our fixtures in 2021/22. And we can’t wait to do it all over again next season! Here, we look back at some of our favourite moments...

RACHAEL ‘RECORD BREAKER’ BLACKMORE

Rachael Blackmore made history once again on Day Four of The Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse by becoming the first female jockey to win the Boodles Gold Cup after leading A Plus Tard to victory. This was to add to her 2021 Randox Grand National win, her Unibet Champion Hurdle victories in the last two years and her BBC World Sports Star award, to name but a few.

 

Like tea and biscuits or beans on toast, some things belong together - and Rachael Blackmore breaking records is no different.

A FAIRYTALE ENDING FOR SAM

It was the perfect fairytale ending for Sam Waley-Cohen, the amateur jockey who ended his racing career by winning the iconic Randox Grand National. 

Waley Cohen and Noble Yeats won the world’s most famous steeplechase at a whopping 50-1, defeating 15-2 Favourite Any Second Now by two and a quarter lengths with Delta Work (10-1) third and Santini (33-1) fourth.  

 

“This is beyond words. It's a fairytale, it's a fantasy, and I’m just full of love, and happiness and gratefulness.I always wanted to go out on a high, and I thought Thursday was going to be that high. It doesn’t get better than this, and that’s it now - out!”

A CELEBRATION FOR REAL LIFE SUPERHEROES

On 7th April we saw crowds return to Aintree Racecourse for the first time since 2019. We dedicated the day to our real life superheroes, the NHS - calling it ‘Randox Liverpool’s NHS Day’. We donated 10,000 tickets to the NHS and social sector in Merseyside for the race in recognition and celebration of the hard work and commitment of dedicated NHS and professional carers who work tirelessly for COVID-19 patients.

THE ONE AND ONLY TIGER ROLL

‘The horse of a lifetime’ Tiger Roll pulled on the heart strings of all racing fanatics on Day Two of The Festival. Delta Work may have won the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase, but it was stable companion Tiger Roll that racegoers were cheering for as both horses entered the winner’s enclosure together.  It was an emotional day for all as fans cheered for his career success. 12-year-old Tiger Roll, a five-time winner at The Festival™ and twice successful in the Randox Grand National (2018 and 2019) was retired following his run this year. Tiger Roll’s five Festival wins came in the JCB Triumph Hurdle (2014), National Hunt Chase (2017) and Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (2018, 2019 and 2021). His career earnings came to just under £1.5 million.  

CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT SANDOWN PARK

We ended the 2021/22 Jump Season in style on bet365 Jump Finale Saturday with a celebration of great racing and champions. Paul Nicholls was crowned Champion Trainer for the 13th time and enjoyed a successful afternoon winning five of the seven races on the card. While Brian Hughes took the Champion Jockey title and JP McManus the leading Owner.

IT WAS IRELAND’S WEEK (AGAIN) AT THE FESTIVAL™

The Prestbury Cup is a racing staple. It creates a fierce competitiveness amongst racing fans and a tension that can’t be matched. This year, we saw the luck of the Irish as they continued their dominance with an 18-10 victory over Britain. Though it was a tighter battle than many first thought, with Britain trailing by one going into day four. The air was filled with hope but it wasn’t to be. Ireland took all seven victories to seal the trophy. 

HONEYSUCKLE MADE HISTORY

The atmosphere was electric on Day One of The Festival when Honeysuckle became the first mare to become two time winner in the Grade One Unibet Champion Hurdle. Repeating her success of 2021, the eight-year-old was the three and half-length winner from Epatante, the 2020 winner. Zanahiyr was another length away in third.  Winning jockey Rachael Blackmore said: “It was incredible, to be honest. Walking back down there, I’ve never felt an atmosphere like that.”

Coole_Cody_V2.jpg

COOLE CODY A CROWD FAVOURITE

Cheltenham specialist Coole Cody won for a fourth time at the Home of Jump Racing in March by taking the Craft Irish Whiskey Co. Plate Handicap Chase at The Festival. The popular 11-year-old gave trainer Evan Williams his second Festival winner – 14 years after High Chimes in the 2008 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase. The Cheltenham ‘Roar’ was spectacular as he raced down the final straight. 

Tornado Flyer.jpgTORNADO FLYER STORMS HOME

History was made at Kempton Park on Boxing Day 2021 at The Ladbrokes Christmas Festival as Tornado Flyer became the longest-priced winner in the history of the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase. The 28-1 chance beat the previous 25-1 record starting price achieved by French raider Nupsala back in 1987. It was a second King George victory for Ireland’s champion Jump trainer Willie Mullins, 20 years on from Florida Pearl in 2001 and an eighth Irish-trained winner overall of the three-mile Grade One contest.

Surplus_Christmas_Pressies.jpgGENEROUS RACEGOERS

Racegoers at the Unibet Tolworth Hurdle Day in January at Sandown Park were encouraged to take part in our re-gifting initiative and donate any unwanted, duplicate or surplus gifts received over the Christmas period. We worked together with Christ Church, one of two churches in the Parish of Esher alongside St George’s in West End. The generosity was overwhelming, with the gifts donated by racegoers being distributed to disadvantaged members of the local community.

Book your festival tickets for 2023

Cheltenham Festival

From £37.00

Tue 11-Fri 14 Mar | Cheltenham

Cheltenham Festival

Randox Grand National Festival

Thu 11-Sat 13 Apr | Aintree

Randox Grand National Festival

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