Five tips chalked up at 20-1 or bigger for the Cheltenham Festival

Race: National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Handicap Chase.

Odds: 33-1.

In D’Or is one of the least exposed runners in the National Hunt Chase after just three starts over the larger obstacles. Although beaten at Sandown last time, where he was chasing a hat-trick, he still produced a career-best effort, despite ground conditions arguably being slower than ideal. 

The combination of a return to better ground and step up in trip could provide the catalyst for further improvement, and that would make him a dangerous outsider for the Venetia Williams team. 

Race: Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle.

Odds: 20-1.

Dan Skelton has won the past two renewals of this race with Langer Dan, who will be trying to complete a famous hat-trick (if he goes for this race again). However, it is stablemate Joyeux Machin that makes more appeal at the prices on offer, IF he gets in, and it’s a big if, at this stage. 

Joyeux Machin looked like he was coming to the boil nicely when an eye-catching second at Ascot in February behind course specialist Altobelli, shaping like he would relish the uphill finish at Prestbury Park.

He’s a horse that shows his best form on decent ground, so conditions appear to be coming in his favour, and he’s capable of having a big say off this sort of mark, IF he gets a run. 

Race: Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase.

Odds: 25-1.

Dancing On My Own was taken out of this race last year because of soft ground, but it looks like connections have no such worries this time around, and he looks a big player in Wednesday’s penultimate contest at 25-1. 

His best effort, by some distance, came when winning over this course and distance in October 2023 (off an identical handicap mark) so we know he’s well suited to the demands of this contest, and he’s purposely been kept fresh for this since his respectable third behind Calico in October. 

Race: Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle.

Odds: 25-1.

James Owen’s moment in the sun is more likely to come in the JCB Triumph Hurdle (more on that race below) but his One Big Bang looks a sporting bet at the prices in a wide-open Pertemps Final. 

He got back on the upgrade when travelling strongly through a qualifier at Haydock before putting the race to bed with the minimum of fuss. That came on good to soft ground, so we know he’s fine away from proper winter ground, and he is exactly the sort of hold-up performer that will relish sitting off a strong pace in a race like this. 

He’s got form on the New Course at Cheltenham and although he’s up to a career-high mark, there could very easily still be more to come. 

Race: JCB Triumph Hurdle.

Odds: 20-1.

Arguably the best piece of juvenile form in Ireland this season was the Leopardstown race in which Hello Neighbour beat Galileo Dame by three-quarters of a length. The winner is 5-1 yet Galileo Dame is 20-1, despite still having a stack of upside and shaping like she will relish a stiffer test at Cheltenham. 

This talented recruit from the Flat has been brought along steadily over hurdles by Joseph O’Brien and that patience could be rewarded with a bold show on the biggest stage. Conditions won’t be a problem, so as long as she can get into a nice rhythm early on, expect her to be coming home strongly.