Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle Tips - 2.10pm Cheltenham

2019 PREVIEW DUE by MARCH 5th-10th


Leading Contenders

The Irish trainers were on a losing run of nine before Pat Kelly landed the spoils with Mall Dini in 2016, and just like double-decker busses, the trainer repeated the fete with Presenting Percy twelve months ago.

Gordon Elliott has a couple of fancied runners and the main one looks to be Glenloe who is owned by JP McManus. The green and gold colours have not won this prize since 2005 despite having plenty of runners each year.

Glenloe has been placed in each of his three starts this season including in the qualifier at Leopardstown last time out at the Christmas meeting. He was patiently ridden that day at the back and made enough ground in the straight to get into the qualifying spots.

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One place in front of Glenloe that day was the owner other runner A Great View who is trained by Dennis Cullen. He has since ran again at Leopardstown and was a very good 5^th in the valuable William Fry Handicap won by Total Recall.

A third JP runner is Sort It Out, the 9yo had been chasing this season without any success, in fact he had been beaten miles in every race. He had been running over two miles and as a last resort they tried him back over hurdles and stepped him up a mile in trip. Barry Geraghty took the ride and despite going off at 40/1 he came home a decent third, the first time he had finished in the first three since 2015. One swallow doesn’t make a summer but all of a sudden he looks interesting off his current mark.

Gigginstown had a few entries but rely on Delta Work to fly their flag. Only a 5yo and just seven starts over hurdles so lacks a bit of experience. He was a good fourth behind Total Recall last month and backed that up with another placed effort at Punchestown three weeks ago. He looks to be the Elliott second string but could surprise a few people.

Trainer Philip Hobbs won this with Fingal Bay in 2014 and has a good chance here with Louis’ Vac Pouch. The 6yo steadily improved at the back end of last season and won three of his last four starts. He started off with a fair 6^th at Chepstow on his seasonal bow and then was stepped up to three miles for the first time at Aintree in November.

He was well backed that day which was a qualifier for this and ran out a comfortable winner, he has been put away since to protect his mark and dodge the really bad ground and now should be a fresh horse and has a leading chance.

Back in second that day at Aintree was Forza Milan trained by Jonjo O’Neill. The yard have won this race four times so know exactly what’s required. The 6yo was beaten 2 ¼ lengths and ran like a horse with a bit more to offer. He then went to Newbury in December and came second again, this time behind The Organist. Again he ran well in defeat and was raised another 4lbs which meant he would definitely get a run here and could be put away.

Wait For Me is the second runner from the Hobbs yard, he has been novice chasing this season but reverted back to hurdles last time out at Wincanton. He was third that day behind Protek Des Flos and has always threatened to win a decent prize. He travels well in his races but the trip is still a slight concern here as last year he ran in the County Hurdle over two miles.

Alan King has opted to run Who Dares Wins here instead of the Coral Cup, he was a good third at Kempton in the Pertemps qualifier behind Bags Groove and that was his first run over hurdles since filling the same spot here at the Festival twelve months ago. This will be his first run over this trip so will have his supporters.

Thomas Campbell will carry top weight for Nicky Henderson, he was entered in the Stayers Hurdle originally and when he won his first two starts over this trip things were looking very rosey. Two defeats later including one behind Sam Spinner and he has had his sights lowered somewhat. If he came back to top form he could still be a danger in this company so he could be a live outsider.

Punters Lounge Tip: Delta Work EW 14/1 at Bet365 - Click Here To Bet
 

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