Six Cheltenham Festival outsiders who could shock us at 20-1 or bigger

Six Racing Post tipsters select their big-priced fancies for the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, which gets under way on Tuesday, March 15.

Whatdeawant

Ballymore Novices' Hurdle

Odds: 25-1 generally

By David Jennings

Not seen since finishing fifth behind Ginto in the Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle in January, Whatdeawant is the forgotten horse in the Closutton clan and is much too big for the Ballymore.

Don't forget he beat Ginto in a Fairyhouse bumper and the weight of support behind him at Naas suggested big things were expected. Nothing went his way there, especially on the home turn where he was forced to switch very wide, and I thought he ran much better than the bare result.

He's owned by the sponsors of the Ballymore so you would imagine he will head there rather than the Albert Bartlett and I could see him going off about 14-1 or 16-1 on the day.

Cloudy Glen

Ultima Handicap Chase

Odds: 33-1 each-way with Ladbrokes (NRNB), 20-1 generally

By Sam Hendry

I was surprised to see last year's Kim Muir runner-up and winner of this season's Ladbrokes Trophy available at odds stretching as high as 33-1. He was beaten only by the high-class Mount Ida last year and, although things haven't gone to plan in two starts following his career-best effort at Newbury, there are reasons to be positive.

He came into the festival last season off the back of a lengthy defeat in the Welsh National and was not travelling smoothly when unseating in the Swinley, but that did not stop him running a mighty race at Cheltenham at the same odds he is available at now. He is 6lb higher than last year but must have a strong each-way chance at the least.

Hitman

Ryanair Chase

Odds: 28-1 each-way with bet365 (NRNB), 20-1 generally

By Robbie Wilders

Allaho is going to be tough to beat in the Ryanair Chase but there is value in opposing him each-way before the field cuts up. Plenty of those prominent in the betting either won't run or must back up quickly after contesting a gruelling heavy-ground Ascot Chase recently, which hardly rates an ideal preparation.

Hitman has been crying out for a step up in trip this season and shaped well at Newbury in the Game Spirit, when his stable was underperforming, after running a stormer to rally for second in the Tingle Creek. He is only six, has his best days ahead of him and I anticipate him going off much shorter on the day.

The Wolf

Ultima Handicap Chase

Odds: 25-1 generally

By James Hill

If this horse's jumping was better, I reckon he'd have won all his starts this term. He's still been able to achieve three RPRs in the 140s in spite of his sketchy fencing, and if trainer Olly Murphy is able to sort out that side of his game then he's not badly handicapped off a mark of 139.

He has a Scottish National option but ran well at Cheltenham in January and is owned by the race sponsors.

Teddy Blue

JCB Triumph Hurdle

Odds: 20-1 with bet365, 16-1 generally

By Owen Goulding

The front two in the market will be difficult to beat, but Teddy Blue has shaped with significant promise and the Triumph should be run in a way that suits him.

He has pulled far too hard in two starts for Gary Moore, but in spite of that he was drawing alongside Knight Salute in the Adonis before a dreadful blunder at the last. The Triumph is usually run at a frantic pace and if that helps him settle, especially on spring ground, he should be bang there for a yard in scintillating form.

Ballygrifincottage

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle

Odds: 22-1 with bet365 and Sky Bet (NRNB), 16-1 generally

By Matt Rennie

The Albert Bartlett is a haven for shocks with only three single-priced winners in the last decade and the deeply unexposed Ballygrifincottage could continue that trend.

A three-time Irish point-to-point winner last spring, he ran superbly when third behind Blazing Khal, who was a leading candidate in this until his injury, on his rules debut in a course-and-distance Grade 2 before easing to success at Lingfield in January.

We are nowhere near the bottom of what he could achieve and given his wins range on heavy, to good to yielding, there will be no ground worries with him whatever he faces on the festival's final day.

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