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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Melissa Jones

ITV Racing's Chris Hughes names his three biggest tips for Cheltenham Festival 2022

Love Island star turned racing presenter Chris Hughes has named his three biggest tips for the Cheltenham Festival.

The Gloucestershire native is a regular at the top sporting fixture, which gets under starter's orders on Tuesday.

Hughes, who has worked with ITV Racing since 2019, will be in his usual broadcast role next week.

As well as being on the nation's TV screens, Hughes has watched a horse he part-owns compete at the major event.

Annie Mc, trained locally by Jonjo O'Neill, lined up in the 2020 Marsh Novices' Chase.

Hughes, an ambassador for Great British Racing, has regularly given his 490,000 Twitter followers updates about the mare.

Chris Hughes has revealed his top tips for Cheltenham 2022 (Great British Racing)

But unfortunately she missed the 2021 Festival due to a setback and is not racing for one of the big prizes this time.

Instead Hughes will be keeping a close eye on the 28 races for ITV – and has revealed the horses he will be supporting.

"My best bet is Frontal Assault to win Kim Muir," he told the Mirror.

"He’s a standout in this handicap and his form over the last 12 months is healthy too.

"I expect him to run a huge race.

"I also like Unexpected Party in the Coral Cup. I visited trainer Dan Skelton's yard earlier in the month and saw this grey strutting his stuff.

"I think he can prove too good for the huge field..

"Honeysuckle is the certainty of the Festival for me, she shouldn’t be beaten.

Chris Hughes pictured next to the Best Mate statue at Cheltenham Racecourse (PA)

"Although it’s more a race to appreciate as opposed to betting on it. She’s a real legend of the sport."

At the current odds with bookmakers, the Gordon Elliott-trained Frontal Assault is 4-1 for the Kim Muir (5.30pm) on Thursday.

Unexpected Party, the winner of his last race at Ascot in December, is priced at 9-1 for the Coral Cup.

Honeysuckle, one of the 'bankers' for punters at the meeting, is around the 4-7 mark.

Fans will be able to watch the action live this year after the 2021 event was held behind closed doors.

Tickets have been selling out in record time – and racing chiefs are considering adding a fifth day in the future.

The cumulative crowd noise when the tapes go up for the first race on Tuesday, the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, is one of the things Hughes is looking forward to most.

"It’s going to create an atmosphere like no other," he said about the return of racegoers.

"The crowds will be ready. Last year I felt incredibly lucky to be working there, but the clear hole in the Festival was so apparent with the general public having to watch from home.

"I cannot wait to hear the roar as the tapes go up for the Supreme."

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