Five of our expert tipsters give their best Cheltenham Festival handicap bets

With the handicap weights now revealed for the Cheltenham Festival later this month, our team of tipping experts have picked out their best bets for the week.

2022 Cheltenham Festival: big-race entries and weights

Balco Coastal

20-1, McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle

By Maddy Playle

The dual-winning novice hurdler came unstuck over 2m4½f on Trials Day but travelled supremely and was just done for stamina in the closing stages.

I think he's most likely to run here given connections think he's a two-miler and a mark of 134 looks well worth exploiting if he can squeeze in – and he would have done in the last four years. I can see him being backed into much shorter odds, particularly as Nicky Henderson may have the Morebattle Hurdle (3.15) bonus in mind.

Deploy The Getaway

10-1, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

By Paul Kealy

It's always hard to guess which of Willie Mullins' entries will be the pick for this race, but Deploy The Getaway certainly looks a likely type.

A 20-length winner of his sole point, he has run only at 2m since, and his dam is a half-sister to a 3m6f winner. He ran comfortably his best race in stamina-sapping conditions at Punchestown last time, and is clearly going to improve in a big way for a step up in trip.

Saint Felicien

10-1, Coral Cup

By Robbie Wilders

Saint Felicien: The handicapper could have been harsherCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

I feel the handicapper could have been harsher on Saint Felicien, who could yet develop into a Grade 1 operator and is poised to run off a mark of 149 in the Coral Cup.

The Gordon Elliott-trained five-year-old is held in the highest regard and there was no shame in finishing second to the seasoned Darasso on just his second start for the yard in the Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas.

He recorded a Racing Post Rating of 153 in a race where the ground was quicker than anything he'd encountered, and it was a fair effort for such an inexperienced hurdler.

Saint Felicien is open to plenty of improvement upped in trip and is one of the most intriguing handicap entries at the festival.

The Big Galloper

14-1, Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle

By Graeme Rodway

Bounced back to form out of nowhere to leave a sour taste for backers of runner-up Wakool when heavily gambled for a qualifier for this race at Musselburgh last month and a 9lb rise in the weights might not get to the bottom of him.

The Charles Byrnes-trained runner had dropped nicely down the handicap before that victory and it's hard to believe that he isn't capable of rating a lot higher than his current mark of 131 now connections have found the key to him.

The only worry could be whether he gets a run, because he needs 15 to come out. But there are plenty in here with multiple entries and that might help his cause.

Honest Vic

33-1, Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle

By James Hill

I think this horse might have sneaked under the radar a bit, but this race is the target and he's a definite contender. He's back down to his winning mark from Cheltenham last season when he hosed up and subsequently rose to a rating of 150.

He hasn't really taken to chasing this season, he doesn't quite have the scope for that game, but trainer Henry Daly got him qualified at Huntingdon in January and, if he can find a decent claimer, Honest Vic would be of interest.

2022 Cheltenham Festival free bet offers

• Paddy Power are giving away free bets and all you need is an account. Sign up here
• Sky Bet are giving away free bets to new customers. Sign up here
• To get a free bet from Ladbrokes, sign up to a new account here
• Don't have a Coral account? They have an offer for new customers here
• bet365 have a new customer offer available. Sign up here
• New William Hill customers can claim free bets as well as benefit from their money back offers here
• 888 Sport have free bets for all new customers. Sign up here
• If you're a new customer, Tote are offering you a free bet. Sign up here

Read more on the Cheltenham Festival weights reveal:

Cheltenham Festival weights: 2021 cut-off points plus eyecatching entries

'It baffles me' – Elliott questions handicapping system and names best hope

2022 Cheltenham Festival handicaps: big-race weights plus a long-range shout

New Sky Bet customers can get £20 in free bets. New customers only. First single & e/w bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 2 x £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets exclude virtuals. Free bets are non-withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions. Further T&Cs apply. 18+. begambleaware.org.