This race is scheduled as the 2^nd event of the Thursday meeting and is the first of three handicaps on a tricky old day for punters. The race often throws up an unfancied type at decent odds and there is certainly value to be found in this race. It is a hurdles race over 3m and has Listed status. Those taking part must have finished in the top sixin any of the 17qualifying Pertemps sponsored races in the five preceeding months leading to the Cheltenham Festival and the event is open to horses aged 5 and above.

In the last 12 years only threeof the winners have returned at single figure odds. 2004 and 2006 were two particularly good years for the bookies as the race was won by 50-1 chances on both those occasions and both horses were 9 years old. Nigel Twiston Davies has won this race twice in the last eleven years (2000 and 2008) and Jonjo O’Neill took the race twice in consecutive years (2003 and 2004) and Buena Vista gave David Pipe splendid back to back victories in the 2010 and 2011 races. Jonjo O'Neill won this race for a third time in 2013 with Holywell.

In 2014 Fingal Bay became only the second favourite to oblige in the last 18 years and was also the first horse to carry top weight to victory over that same period. In 2016 the Irish won the race with Mall Dini, ending a losing run which stretchedback to 2006 when Kadoun was successful. Presenting Percy landed the 11/1 odds in 2017 and very comfortably too.