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I've mentioned over the last couple of days which races people don't like, this is probably up there for the one I dislike the most, it's the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle.
They've changed the qualifying format for this race this year.
In the past, to get into this race horses would have to run in qualifiers in Ireland or the UK and they would have to finish in the top 6, which would cement you a place in this race, as long as you are high enough in the handicap. This year they have opted for only the top 4 will qualify. This has made it a little bit tougher for horses to get into the race, as in the past a good way of picking out the winner would be to look at the Irish qualifier, normally at the DRF and see what finishes 6th or 5th, as they would often be targetted those positions, so they could get in the race, and not get put up by the handicapper if anything dropped a few pounds.
🏇 Boylesports – Paying 6 places instead of 4 in the Pertemps Final Chase. Click here for details
Cheltenham 2:10 – Maxxum 6/1 (1pt EW)
Gordon Elliott has been the go-to trainer for this race in recent years, and he sends over a fair few to grab his fourth win in the Pertemps.
He has The Bosses Oscar, who finished 2nd in this race in 2021, and he was fifth in the Martin Pipe the year before, so has good course/festival form. He did run well in his qualifier at Musselburgh last month under a 7lb claimer, Gordon has opted for a change in jockey, this time going for Ben Harvey who claims 5 lbs. He is running off a 4lb lower mark this year than when he finished 2nd (taking the rider's claim into consideration from 2021 and this year), so based on that he comes into this with a good chance, with this being his target for the season.
Gordon also saddles, Salvador Ziggy, who would carry top weight if it wasn't for the 7lb claimer. As well as Level Neverending who is towards the bottom of the weights. He did his qualifying at Warwick, in the same race that Sire Du Berlais ran in when he won it for the first time, so there might be something to that. However, the one Elliott horse I like is Maxxum. I think people will be put off by his last run at Leopardstown as he finished 12th/17 and was put up 18 lbs for his monster win the time before, so people will probably think he is in the grips of the handicapper. I totally understand that point, as he was ridden by a 7lb claimer that day and the British handicapper has slapped another 7 lbs on top of his Irish rating, so this does look like a very tough ask. But, the race lto didn't go to plan, he was travelling well but the horse in front of him started to fall back through the field and that cause a big inconvenience for Maxxum, which left him with no chance. Though he won his qualifier by 16L off a mark of 120, which is 25 lbs less than what he runs off today, I thought he looked like a Graded horse. The weight he carries today will be tough, but I think you've got to go for the Graded horse in a handicap in a race like this, and that's what I think he might be. Horses like Sire Du Berlais and Presenting Percy went on to win Grade 1s after landing this race, so the class edge is kind of needed for this race these days. Davy Russell rides, he will like the ground and I think he might be slightly overlooked because of last time.
Similar to all the big race handicaps, it's hard to mention the majority of them, so others which caught the eye were An Tailliur. I've always really liked this horse, he has been a winning tip for me and has always been a horse who would be suited by a race like this. The ground is a concern for me and the form of the yard is an even bigger concern. This has been the target all season, so I think he could run well.
Walking On Air has been a hype horse over the last season or so, but he managed to get his act together at Exeter in the qualifier. He won nicely that day, showing that he stayed 3m and the handicapper only put him up 5 lbs for that run, which puts him on a handicap mark of 138. That mark is definitely workable, but the fact he has been kept to good ground would be a worry.
The horse that will attract plenty of support is Thanksforthehelp. I watched this horse canter up in his qualifier at Chepstow and it was impressive. He was clearly a well-handicapped horse off a mark of 117 and it doesn't bother me that he has gone up 11 lbs for that run, as I think David Pipe would've been happy with that as he would've wanted to ensure he got in this race. In hindsight, he could've gotten in off a little lower in the weights, but he wasn't to know that, but he won with so much in hand that day it was scary. He was well-fancied that day, so they knew what type of horse they had in the yard, and though this race will be tougher, I think if you're looking at a horse at the bottom of the weights who is well-handicapped, this is your horse. But at 7/2 in this type of race, it's a bit on the slim side.
This is a wide-open race, so I'll be having a go on two horses in this.
