Tom Bull: My three best bets for the 2022 Cheltenham Festival

The Cheltenham Festival is looming large and I’ve got three fancies in the handicaps who I think are capable of taking a lead role on the big stage, starting with:

Race: Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. Best odds: 16-1

I think he is very well handicapped for Dan Skelton. He finished fourth to Knight’s Salute at Doncaster last time out, in December, and the winner has continued to thrive and is a leading hope for the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

And before that Too Friendly had won at Stratford and Newcastle. Rated 88 on the Flat, a mark of 125 over jumps looks attractive, not least that he's just the kind of horse that Skelton can continue to improve.

Race: Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase. Odds: 8-1

Hopefully, the bug that has hit the Venetia Williams yard hasn't affected this horse as I think is very well handicapped off a mark 146.

He couldn't quite live with Edwardstone last time out at Warwick in the Kingmaker but still produced a pretty good performance to be beaten under six lengths. Back in handicap company, down in grade, I think he’s just the type for this. Having had only five races over fences (and nine races under Rules in all) he should have plenty of progression left in him.

Race: Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle. Odds: 8-1

I think he’s been laid out for this by Gordon Elliott, who has scooped three of the past four renewals of this race. His mark in Ireland is 6lb lower than in Britain but that’s par for the course and I think is going to be absolutely fine.

He’s had excuses on his past two starts, when hitting a few hurdles and not really finishing off his race properly, but I think better ground and this kind of helter-skelter event is going to really suit him. He looks another Elliott plot job to me!