The Cheltenham Festival is a sporting event many fans mark on their calendar every year.
Every edition has provided some sensational moments and more jockeys will look to make a name for themselves at one of horse racing ’s most prestigious events in 2022.
Over the years the festival has sprung up its fair share of shocks and ahead of the 2022 festival, Mirror Sport has taken a look at some of the most surprising results that left punters' jaws on the floor.
The Cheltenham 2022 Festival gets underway on Tuesday at 1:30pm, with an action-packed schedule all the way up until Friday evening.
Back in Focus charges home - 2013 National Hunt Chase
Nine years ago, it appeared as though Tofino Bay was galloping towards victory, but Back In Focus had other ideas.
Back In Focus turned in a sterling effort to hand Irish trainer Willie Mullins his fourth winner of that year's Cheltenham Festival in the John Oaksey National Hunt Chase.
The horse, who was eight years old at the time, had stamina in abundance and wore down Tofino Bay up the hill to snatch the spoils from Nina Carberry in the four-mile contest for amateur riders.
Tofino Bay had them all at full stretch two out and Dessie Hughes' charge seemed to have the race in his grasp when Rival d'Estruval came down.
But Ireland's record-breaking amateur Patrick Mullins, riding for his father, had other ideas to deny Tofino Bay victory.
Indefatigable clinches dramatic victory in final race at Cheltenham Festival 2020
The Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle rounded out the now infamous 2020 Cheltenham Festival.
This edition of the event was criticised for being a super-spreader of coronavirus, along with Liverpool’s Champions League match with Atletico Madrid that took place in the same week.
Proceedings on the race-track came to a sensational end however, as Indefatigable pipped Pileon to the finish line.
There was a long pause as the crowd eagerly awaited for the judge to decide who won as it was a tight photo finish.
Jockey Rex Dingle beamed with pride after the incredible and unlikely victory, as trainer Paul Webber's hard work paid off in style.
Who are your favourites for glory at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival? Let us know in the comments section.
Norton's Coin powers to Gold Cup victory in 1990
At 100-1 he was a huge outsider in a race that included the great Desert Orchid.
His trainer Sirrel Griffiths had just three horses to his name, whose primary business was a dairy farmer.
On the morning of the Gold Cup 32 years ago, he did all his usual preparations, including milking his herd of cows, before setting off for Prestbury Park with Gold Cup outsider Norton's Coin in tow.
His level of form was below his competitors but he travelled very well and ended up winning the biggest race of them all by three quarters of a length, with Toby Tobias in second, and Desert Orchid in third.
Noland stuns fans with victory in Supreme Novices’ Hurdle - 2006
Noland was nearer last as the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle was drawing to a close.
The horse flattened three out and briefly dropped out of contention. He was outpaced and looked likely to be heading for a disappointing finish.
But Noland and jockey Ruby Walsh gained a second wind and powered home up the famous Cheltenham hill to win the 2006 renewal of the Supreme Novices Hurdle by a neck from Tony McCoy and Straw Bear.
The pair were rated 999-1 in-running to win the race and after pulling it off, winning owner John Hales told Racing TV: “I got caught up in hundreds of people and hadn’t a clue he’d won the race.
“I couldn’t see the finish. I didn’t know where he had finished. I was gobsmacked.”
And he wasn’t the only one.
Cue Card triumphs in Champion Bumper - 2010
It is incredible to think that 12 years ago, Cue Card was running at the Cheltenham Festival for the first time.
The skill and care of his trainer Colin Tizzard made him a Grade 1 performer year after year.
In 2010, he was an unknown. A comfortable winner of a Fontwell bumper, he came from a small stable and was lost in a betting market dominated by horses from Mullins, Nicholls and many more.
However, when his big moment arrived, he turned in a supreme performance and stormed up the hill to win an incredible 40-1, before going on to become one of National Hunt racing's most beloved animals.
Racing TV is the only channel broadcasting every race live from the Cheltenham Festival, with two exclusive races each day. For a limited time, you can join Racing TV for half price for the Festival – just £12.49 a month for an entire year, with promo code "RTVCHELT50". Click this link for details.
