'20-1 is a price worth taking now' - Cheltenham clues from the weekend

It was a Super Saturday at Newbury where Bravemansgame, Eldorado Allen and Funambule Sivola produced terrific performances, while Glory And Fortune dug deep to land the Betfair Hurdle.

There were others who caught the eye, though, so here are five less obvious Cheltenham clues to have emerged from a wonderful weekend of action.

Deploy The Getaway

He didn't win the Listed novice hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday but Deploy The Getaway travelled through it like the best horse in the race.

He was worn down by Slip Of The Tongue in the closing stages, but there were eight and a half lengths back to the 132-rated Au Fleuron in third. It was a rock-solid effort from a horse who is only going to get better with racing.

Given how easily he won his point at Tallow back in 2019, you would imagine Deploy The Getaway will improve for a step up in trip and the Martin Pipe would look the ideal sort of race for him at the festival. He is 20-1 with bet365 for that and it is a price worth taking now.

Sky Pirate

It might sound bonkers to suggest a horse who finished last and was beaten almost a dozen lengths was an eyecatcher with regard to Cheltenham, but I can't help thinking Sky Pirate is going to put up a big defence of his Grand Annual crown.

He travelled as well as anything to three out in the Game Spirit, but small-field Graded races are not really his cup of tea. He prefers cover in a generously run handicap and that is exactly what he is going to get next month.

There is as big as 20-1 out there for him to win back-to-back Grand Annuals, and that is cracking value. He is rated 157, but may be dropped a few pounds for Saturday and there is every chance he could turn up at Cheltenham off a mark about only 3lb or 4lb higher than the 152 he won off last year.

Choice Of Words

Having made leading Ballymore contender Journey With Me pull out all the stops in the novice hurdle at Naas on Saturday, Choice Of Words looks a big price at 50-1 for the Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle with Unibet. There is plenty of 40-1 available elsewhere.

Her previous effort at Limerick wasn't bad either when chasing home the 157-rated chaser Daly Tiger, and I loved the way she stuck to the task on Saturday.

There were some good horses behind her, the likes of O'Toole and the previously unbeaten Pinkerton, and she seems to be improving nicely for a trainer who takes his time and allows his horses to develop.

Martin Brassil is enjoying a terrific campaign and it will be interesting to see whether he rolls the dice and lets Choice Of Words take her chance at the festival next month.

I Like To Move It

It seems Nigel Twiston-Davies is hell bent on running I Like To Move It in the Supreme, but I'd love him to have a rethink and consider the Coral Cup.

The best part of his races over two miles always seems to be from the second-last to the line, and it was a similar story on Saturday in the Betfair Hurdle where he was closing down Glory And Fortune with every stride and only lost out by a short-head.

Plenty travelled better than him to two out, but nothing finished better. If he were to step up in trip for the Coral Cup he would take a bit of beating off a mark of around 140. He has already won twice on the Old course at Cheltenham as well.

James's Gate

In any normal season James's Gate would probably be disputing favouritism for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper after his stylish eight-length win in the concluding event at Punchestown on Sunday, but this most certainly is no normal season in the bumper division and he can still be backed at 16-1 with Betfair.

Quality abounds on day one of the 2022 Punchestown FestivalCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

It is, of course, foolish to think he might beat Facile Vega, who looked extraordinary at Leopardstown, but this guy has got gears and by all accounts he is held in very high regard at Closutton.

It probably wasn't a deep bumper at Punchestown, but he couldn't have won any easier and he is definitely on the Cheltenham ticket according to Willie Mullins. He is likely to go off single figures on the day.

Read more big-race reports:

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'Electric' Edwardstone now clear Arkle favourite after Warwick win

Tizzard considers Gold Cup as Eldorado Allen shocks in Denman Chase

Williams and Deutsch juggernaut in top gear as Funambule Sivola strikes

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