Pertemps Final Hurdle Tips - 1:55pm Cheltenham

To be run over just short of 3 miles of the new course this is the final of an ongoing series of qualifiers run throughout the season. Qualification comes with a top 6 finish in one of the many contests. Gordon Elliott, in the news for all the wrong reasons recently has won the last three renewals with Delta Work in 2018 and Sire De Berlais the last two runnings. Ireland have a good record in this handicap and have won the last five renewals. With 6 of the last 7 winners starting at 11/1 or shorter it’s worth monitoring the market close to the race. Expect a maximum field of 24.

The first place to start here is has to be with trainer Gordon Elliott who has won the last three renewals and has two entered in Dallas Des Pictons (number 40 and unlikely to get a run) and The Bosses Oscar who was runner up in the Leopardstown qualifier over Christmas. 5th in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle at last years meeting he now has to race off of a 5lb higher mark and I feel his short price is more driven by who trains him than his actual chance.

Surprisingly Fergal O’Brien has yet to have a winner at the Festival but has a solid chance here with his Imperial Alcazar who was impressive when winning a qualifier at Warwick in January. He’s been raised 8lb for that but is progressive and should go well although he does seem best on soft ground so wouldn’t want it to dry out too much.

Back in third in the Warwick qualifier was Tom Georges’s Come On Teddy. Beaten only 5 lengths by Imperial Alcazar he now re-opposes on 8lb better terms and with previous course form should run well.

Also ground dependent maybe David Pipe’s Brinkley who’s on a hat trick of wins but has yet to race on anything better than soft ground.

Leading owner JP McManus has won 5 Pertemps Finals and is represented by 4 horses this time. Rhinestone is unlikely to make the cut whilst No Comment doesn’t appear to be good enough, Unowhatimeanharry has had his day and the best chance of a 6th win in this race surely lies with the Nicky Henderson trained Champagne Platinum who was a big eye catcher at Haydock last time and off of only a 1lb higher mark can be competitive.

Hughie Morrison’s Third Wind heads the weights and was 4th last year. He’s now 12lb higher though and although in terrific form he maybe weighted out of it.

Paul Nicholls has two consistent sorts in Storm Arising and Southfield Harvest entered with preference for the latter who ran well at Newbury last time when third to Polish.

An Irish challenger who has attracted support in the least week is Jessica Harrington’s Lynwood Gold who finished 6th in the Punchestown qualifier and will creep in to the bottom of the weights.

Bushypark has been a revelation this season winning 5 of his 6 starts rising some 49lb in the process. He’s up 12lb for his latest romp in the Haydock qualifier in February which should near enough get him into the race (he needs three to come out). He is ground dependent mind as he loves the mud.

A open and competitive contest with Imperial Alcazar sure to run a big race but at the prices it may be worth backing Come On Teddy who has a fair pull with Imperial Alcazar on their running together at Warwick.