FORGET Sprinter Sacre, Simonsig and Quevega for a moment. The hunt for a big-priced winner at the Cheltenham Festival has begun in earnest. So
here are five horses who may have slipped under the radar of punters…

STONEMASTER: Watch a re-run of last year’s Coral Cup. Stonemaster flew up the hill to be sixth after being given an impossible task. He is entered in this year’s race and the Pertemps over the longer trip. He is 11lb lower than a year ago and ran a solid race at Cheltenham at the Paddy Power meeting. Any juice in the ground would help. He is 25/1 for the Pertemps. Each-way value?

CREEVYTENNANT: Bolted up at Musselburgh in a hunter chase last month and is on course for the Foxhunters. Fergal O’Brien knows how to train hunter chasers and this chap also has winning form around Cheltenham. Also, he won’t mind if the ground quickens up by the Friday. Best priced 25/1.

TANKS FOR THAT: Not so much a dark horse but an overpriced horse. Mugged by Bellvano in the Grand Annual last year, he runs off a similar mark this time. Needs good ground but if he gets it then he is good each-way value at around the 20/1 mark.

KING OF DUDES: Looks well handicapped in the Fred Winter and also has the stamina needed to get up the hill. So many Fred Winter runners run out of steam. Bordoni also appeals in this race but King of Dudes should run a solid race and has each-way credentials at the silly price of 33/1

FIVEFORTHREE: Now aged 11 and hasn’t raced since the 2011 World Hurdle where he was nine lengths behind Big Buck’s. He has won first time out after a long lay-off before and will have been well prepared by Willie Mullins. A huge task but 33/1 is too big for such a classy horse.

Who is your Cheltenham Festival dark horse? Comments welcome below…