Five ante-post bets for the 2022 Cheltenham Festival

Best odds: 16-1.

The Cheltenham Festival opener looks sure to be one of the races of the meeting, and one of the strongest renewals in recent years. Certainly since Altior defeated Min and Buveur D’Air back in 2016, anyway.

Willie Mullins has won the race more times than any other trainer and currently has four horses priced at 16-1 or under, as well as a host of other entries, as he bids for a record-extending eighth victory.

Dysart Dynamo and Sir Gerhard look his strongest contenders on form, but I expect one of them to head to the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, so the value could lie with State Man at a general 16-1, with this race sure to be his target.

He fluffed his lines when falling at Leopardstown on Boxing Day before contesting a Limerick maiden - which he won impressively - as opposed to testing the waters in Graded company ahead of the Supreme.

I think he could be the best of Mullins’ hand here – he just hasn’t had the chance to show it yet.

Best odds: 2-1.

Irish raiders are highly likely to dominate again at the Cheltenham Festival this year, but the two-mile novice chase division is an area in which they are lacking substantial contenders, and I think it will pay to keep it simple with Edwardstone.

He’s tightened up in the market following his demolition job in the Kingmaker, and rightly so as it was a clear career best, and he consolidated form with the promising Third Time Lucki. Defeat never looked in question at Warwick and it was a foot-perfect performance.

He also boasts some solid Cheltenham Festival form having finished sixth in the 2019 Supreme, and fifth in last year’s County Hurdle, but has taken his form to another level over fences and he can secure a second Grade One victory here. I would say he is one of the British-trained bankers of the meeting this year.

Best odds: 33-1 with Betfair (25-1 generally).

Klassical Dream and Champ looked to have a stranglehold on the Stayers’ Hurdle just a few weeks ago but, in the space of three days, the pair blotted their copybooks, particularly the former who was a disappointing fourth in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park.

This leaves Flooring Porter at the head of the market, despite being winless in his last three outings and failing to complete on two of those outings.

Admittedly, he was the one to take out of the Dornan Engineering Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown over the Festive period following his tardy start, but this quirky character looks short enough at a general 3-1.

I would therefore be happy to take a chance on Thomas Darby at a best-priced 33-1. He’s improved since stepping up to three miles at the backend of last season, cementing his status as a player in this division when running away with the Grade Two Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury in November.

He wasn’t in quite the same form when fourth at Ascot last time out but is an in-and-out performer who goes well at Cheltenham (he finished second in the 2019 Supreme).

He is certainly closer to the market principals than his current odds suggest and is worth taking a chance on.

Best odds: 7-1 with bet365 (6-1 generally).

I haven’t given up on Fil Dor despite the grey being put in his place by Vauban at the Dublin Racing Festival, and that rival did plenty wrong at Leopardstown as well. So, how does he reverse the form?

An extra furlong on the New Course for starters, then add in a proper gallop and we’re sure to see this four-year-old in a much better light.

He is a grinder with a fantastic attitude which he demonstrated when sticking to his guns, despite being outpaced by Vauban, at Leopardstown, and this test will be much more to his liking.

Confidence would also grow should rain arrive, amplifying the test on stamina, and it may yet prove the market has overreacted to his defeat last time out.

Owner-and-stablemate Pied Piper was imperious on Trials Day at Cheltenham, but it was a weak field and his performance demonstrated that the British juveniles are some way off the Irish.

He also wouldn’t mind softer ground and there isn’t much between the trio on a line through their Punchestown maiden.

At the prices, it is Fil Dor for me.

Best odds: General 11-4.

My strongest fancy of the week would be Concertista in the Mares’ Chase.

The classy eight-year-old has form figures of 212 at the Cheltenham Festival and can continue the pattern of that sequence with victory in the penultimate race of the meeting.

She’s looked even better over fences this season, securing Grade Two victories at Cork and Limerick respectively, and she jumped efficiently on both starts. There is a strong likelihood of further improvement to come, too.

She bypassed the Dublin Racing Festival to avoid taking on the geldings, but you can bank on her arriving at Cheltenham in peak form. Willie Mullins won the inaugural contest with Colreevy 12 months ago and he can make it two from two with Concertista.

She is the standout bet of the week at 11-4.