'He's now definitely my idea of the Champion Bumper winner' - five Cheltenham clues from last week

The countdown to the Cheltenham Festival is ticking towards the final three weeks and there were some late clues on offer over the last week, with the five below in particular catching the eye of deputy Ireland editor David Jennings.

Oscar Elite

He is unpredictable and had form figures of 50P this season prior to his victory in the Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Ascot on Saturday, but Oscar Elite is now once again a force to be reckoned with in the Ultima.

He was third in the race last year from 4lb out of the handicap. Indeed, he traded at a low of 1.34 in-running on Betfair before being gunned down late by Corach Rambler. It was some effort given he lost his pitch at halfway and covered a lot of ground around the outside.

With Adrian Heskin likely to be on Threeunderthrufive, Harry Cobden could once again be on board in the Ultima and that is a monumental bonus in a race like that. He's a definite runner so I wouldn't put anybody off having a few quid on him at 12-1. He is likely to be running off his correct mark this time with no Frodon likely to be in the line-up.

Hiddenvalley Lake: Clonmel effort can be upgraded significantlyCredit: David Keane

Hiddenvalley Lake

When an odds-on favourite is beaten, your immediate reaction is one of bitter disappointment. We need to make an exception for Hiddenvalley Lake.

He was giving 6lb away to stablemate Monty's Star and Search For Glory in the Grade 3 Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel on Thursday and had to do his own donkey work up front too. That effort can be upgraded significantly.

It would be surprising if he didn't reverse form with his stablemate in the Albert Bartlett and there are certainly worse 10-1 shots than him with BoyleSports. Better ground with different tactics could make him a major player.

Ballyburn

Nobody really knows who is the best of the Willie Mullins bumper brigade but I have a feeling Ballyburn is after what he did at Punchestown on Sunday.

It looked a potentially hot affair beforehand and the fact the top three in the market pulled clear up the home straight suggests it was.

Ballyburn made rapid progress coming down to the last when winning his point for Colin McKeever at Loughanmore and he was similarly impressive when the turbo kicked in at Punchestown.

The Flemensfirth gelding is a brother to some smart sorts, including Noble Endeavor, and he looks to me like a class act, even though it is still very early days.

Bet365 went 12-1 immediately after the race for the Champion Bumper and that was huge. He is definitely my idea of the winner at this stage.

Secret Investor

Paul Nicholls' festival team is really starting to take shape, with Secret Investor adding his name to the list of contenders after qualifying for the hunter chase at the festival at Kelso on Friday.

His 13-length win there came just a week after he scored at Bangor but Nicholls now has plenty of time to get him ready for a race he has a great chance of winning and there is no better man to have him in peak condition for the big day.

Secret Investor (right): beat Clan Des Obeaux in the Denman Chase in 2021Credit: Mark Cranham

Secret Investor was rated 162 in his prime, just two years ago, and he beat Clan Des Obeaux in the Denman Chase in 2021.

He guessed at three out with Charlie Sprake at Kelso but it didn't halt his momentum and he won very easily indeed. Given his back class, he probably deserves to be a bit shorter than 10-1.

Mill Green

Nicky Henderson is going to have a huge hand in the Pertemps Final and, while Walking On Air might be his number one for the race, it wouldn't surprise me to see Mill Green go well again from what I saw from him at Haydock on Saturday.

He travelled really nicely to three out but just got tired after being untidy over two out. That was only to be expected given it was his first run since last April and it ought to leave him cherry ripe for the final.

He was headed only on the run-in last year off a mark of 138 and he looks set to get in off the same mark this time around, if not 1lb or 2lb lower.

Mill Green is 11 now and might be too exposed to win a Pertemps Final against the likes of Shoot First, Maxxum and Walking On Air, but he appeals each-way at 33-1.

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