Pertemps Handicap Hurdle - Cheltenham Festival

Published on: 12/03/2020

Pertemps Handicap Hurdle - Cheltenham Festival

March 12, 2020 14:10pm - Cheltenham

Distance: 2m 7f 213y

Grade: (Grade 3) (Class 1) (5yo+)

Runners: 24

Winner: £56,270

Going: Soft

The Pertemps Handicap Hurdle is the second race of the day and features the best performers from the 21 qualifying race held throughout the jumps season. Previous winners such as Delta Work and Presenting Percy have gone on to enjoy excellent chase careers.

Irish runners have wrestled control of this race in recent years, landing the last four in a row with two of those trained by Gordon Elliott. One of those, Sire Du Berlais is back to defend his 2019 crown which was won off a 7lb lower mark. Now wearing blinkers for the first time, he should be in the mix again.

Another Elliott runner, The Storyteller, has a previous Festival win over fences to his name and has shown enough in recent races at Clonmel and Leopardstown to suggest he has a strong chance here. He is likely to head off as the favourite.

However, we fancy Welsh Saint to break the Irish dominance. He continues to progress and showed real staying power in his win at Haydock last time out. With more room for improvement, this is his big chance to make his mark. Nicely priced at 5/1 too.

Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Winners - past six years:

2014: Fingal Bay (8) - Richard Johnson (Philip Hobbs)

2015: Call the Cops (6) - Andrew Tinkler (Nicky Henderson)

2016: Mall Dini (6) - Davy Russell (Pat Kelley)

2017: Presenting Percy (6) - Davy Russell (Pat Kelly)

2018: Delta Work (5) - Davy Russell (Gordon Elliott)

2019: Sire Du Berlais (7) - B J Geraghty (Gordon Elliott)

Latest Betting odds:

The Storyteller (9/2), Welsh Saint (5/1), Relegate (6/1), Sire Du Berlais (9/1), Skandiburg (10/1), Third Wind (12/1), A Great View (14/1), Tout Est Permis (16/1), Dream Berry (16/1), Kilbricken Storm (20/1), Jatiluwih (20/1), Royal Thief (25/1), Rapper (25/1), Stoney Mountain (33/1), Sunset Showdown (40/1), Kansas City Chief (50/1), Unowhatimeanharry (50/1), Dingo Dollar (50/1), Rocket Lad (50/1), Guitar Pete (66/1), Burrows Park (66/1), Copper Gone West (100/1), Fred The Foot (100/1), Doubly Clever (150/1).

By Neil Morris

Published on: 12/03/2020

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (12/03/2020 10:45:19) but are subject to change.