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17:30Champion Bumper
Pertemps Handicap Hurdle
14:10 Cheltenham Festival
2023-03-16
Winner: £56,270
Runners: 23
Going: Soft
No. of hurdles: 12
Distance: 2m7f213y
The Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle takes place at 2.10pm on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival and serves as the final for the 21 long-distance qualifying races that are run throughout the jumps season prior to the festival. The race has been something of a stepping stone for younger horses who go on to greater achievements over fences. In recent years the likes of Presenting Percy and Delta Work won the race en route to excellent novice chase campaigns the following season. Check the Pertemps Hurdle runners and riders ahead of the race and place your bets by clicking the odds buttons.
NO.DRAW
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20(0)
-72134
Burrows Park
-
J: Ned Fox
T: Venetia Williams
11
10-7
126
151
Series of good staying efforts over the last 12 months, winning twice with different tactics (on good/heavy) but he was no match for Walking On Air at Exeter last month and this looks too demanding.
21(0)
3-2386
Risk And Roll
-
J: Tabitha Worsley
T: James Evans
9
10-6
125
153
Latest hurdle win came over 3m1f at Huntingdon last January but he is still 5lb higher so has plenty on his plate in much better company than he's used to; cheekpieces (last used in April 2021) are refitted.
11(0)
U233-3
Mill Green
-
J: Daryl Jacob
T: Nicky Henderson
11
11-5
138
152
Latest hurdle win was over three years ago but he has twice run excellent races at the Festival, particularly when a close third in this race 12 months ago (soft; off this mark); made satisfactory return from a layoff at Haydock last month and he could go well at a price.
4(0)
P-4612
Itchy Feet
-
J: Sean Bowen
T: Olly Murphy
9
11-10
143
148
Won Grade 1 novice chase in 2020 but became hard to place over fences; exploited a lower hurdle mark at Huntingdon in January (3m1f, good to soft) but it was Wakool who found the stronger finish of the two to win a Grade 2 at Haydock since (3m, good to soft); no good thing to reverse the places on this stiffer finish and he is up against it.
23(0)
472658
Takarengo
-
J: Danny Mullins
T: Thomas Mullins
7
10-5
124
147
Came from off the pace to take sixth over 3m at Leopardstown in February but his sole hurdle win came in a maiden two years ago and it's hard to see him winning his first handicap in a race like this.
2(0)
-42143
The Bosses Oscar
-
J: Ben Harvey
T: Gordon Elliott
8
11-12
145
147
Two strong Festival runs, fifth in the Martin Pipe in 2020 (soft) and finding just one too good in this race one year later (good to soft); went through a bad patch last winter and has had sinus problems but a close third at Musselburgh (3m, good) last month when back from a break shows he is ready to do himself justice off 6lb lower than in 2021; yard has won three of the last five runnings.
6(0)
-17241
Wakool
-
J: Conor O'Farrell
T: N W Alexander
7
11-9
142
150
Multiple 3m winner on good to soft/soft, most recently when looking beaten from some way out in Grade 2 at Haydock last month but buckling down in great style to deny Itchy Feet; looks vulnerable returned to career-high mark.
9(0)
59-615
Green Book
-
J: Charlie Deutsch
T: Venetia Williams
6
11-6
139
148
Creditable fifth in the Albert Bartlett here last March; has a fine record in handicaps, making it four wins out of five completions in a useful 2m7f Sandown event in February (good to soft) but the bar is higher today and he failed to shine in a Grade 2 at Haydock last month.
8(0)
/P01-2
Coltor
-
J: Kevin Brogan
T: Roger Fell
6
11-6
139
147
Looked as if no trip could be too far when winning valuable 2m1f Flat handicap in 2021 (yielding/soft); form see-sawed since but he has looked on good terms with himself for new yard, especially when a close second, just ahead of The Bosses Oscar, at Musselburgh last month (good) in only his second 3m hurdle race; up 4lb but this thorough test should suit; can go well.
14(0)
4/3744
Bear Ghylls
-
J: Jamie Moore
T: Nicky Martin
8
11-3
136
150
Very promising two winters ago, finishing fourth in the Ballymore at this meeting, but he was off for 19 months and didn't go on over fences this season; made low-key return to hurdles when fourth to Thanksforthehelp at Chepstow recently (2m7f, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces, retained today) and has it to prove for now.
5(0)
-P4030
Good Time Jonny
-
J: Liam McKenna
T: A J Martin
8
11-9
142
152
Came through takingly to win a competitive 3m handicap at Leopardstown last February (yielding); has yo-yo'd between different trips and disciplines this winter; third to impressive Maxxum at Leopardstown in December and although the altered weights should go some way to evening things up with that rival, overall this is still a tough assignment.
7(0)
5-2321
Captain Morgs
-
J: Sam Twiston-Davies
T: Nicky Henderson
7
11-8
141
149
Useful effort when runner-up at Kempton two starts ago (2m5f, good to soft; has won on soft); has looked as if he has a mind of his own but there was no sign of that when upped to 3m in first-time cheekpieces here in December, where he put on a convincing spurt to go clear; raised 7lb but he could continue to go well at this trip.
13(0)
-32211
Glimpse Of Gala
-
J: Gavin Sheehan
T: Charlie Longsdon
7
11-4
137
146
Recent wins have been terrier-like rather than impressive, over 3m at Kempton (soft) and in a qualifier at Warwick (3m1f, heavy) where she looked a sitting duck before her fighting spirit came into play; first-time headgear of unknown benefit but recent rain will help her more than some.
1(0)
-11114
Salvador Ziggy
-
J: Aidan Kelly
T: Gordon Elliott
7
12-0
147
153
Had minor bumper form on soft; won first four starts for Gordon Elliott, all on good ground, the latest of them when upped to 3m; ran well in defeat when fourth in a C&D qualifier in October, even if unable to sustain his effort in the closing stages; should still have some improvement in him but has more to prove than some on this slower ground.
17(0)
-11222
The Changing Man
-
J: Brendan Powell
T: Joe Tizzard
6
10-9
128
147
Had an excellent time of it in the last 12 months, completing a hat-trick at Uttoxeter in November (2m7f, soft); has held his form well in the face of an ever-climbing mark but this looks a step too far.
10(0)
121-23
An Tailliur
-
J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr
T: Jonjo O'Neill
7
11-6
139
147
Crept through the ranks over hurdles without doing lasting damage to his mark and his third in C&D qualifier in October (good), when picking up late on the run to the line, suggested there was still some better to come; all wins on good but he has run to form on soft; yard has won this four times.
NR(0)
01223U
Jet Of Magic
-
T: Paul Nicholls
7
10-10
129
151
All wins at up to 2m5f and he lacked Hector Javilex's finishing punch over C&D in January (soft); good third in another useful handicap at Sandown since but was back at 2m5f when unseating last month and he needs to prove his stamina and handicap mark are up to this job; tongue-tie added.
12(0)
1P-341
Walking On Air
-
J: Nico de Boinville
T: Nicky Henderson
6
11-5
138
149
Looked a very bright prospect on hurdle debut at Newbury (good to soft) but was pulled up in a Grade 1 novice at Aintree last April; had back surgery after and stepped up on first two handicap defeats when, after travelling kindly, he won with authority at Exeter last month (2m7f, good); this is a much taller order but it can now be onwards and upwards.
24(0)
222117
Brandy McQueen
-
J: Edward Austin
T: Harriet Graham & Gary Rutherford
6
10-2
121
147
Made very good progress since upped to 3m+ last May, doing well to hold off Coltor and The Bosses Oscar at Musselburgh last month (3m, good); rare off day at Haydock since, though, and a major revival is needed.
15(0)
1-5414
Hector Javilex
-
J: Lilly Pinchin
T: Charlie Longsdon
6
11-1
134
149
Made great strides over the last year and the step up to 3m was a help when coming clear of Jet Of Magic over C&D on New Year's Day (soft); went up 8lb and might have found the sharper test not quite as helpful at Huntingdon since (good to soft); further improvement on the cards back here.
18(0)
22-341
Thanksforthehelp
-
J: Mark Walsh
T: David Pipe
6
10-9
128
154
Close up in a big-field handicap at Punchestown last April (2m4f, good to yielding); seemingly had a transformation for wind surgery and the step up to 2m7f in cheekpieces at Chepstow 19 days ago (good to soft) where he breezed through the race without a care in the world; raised 11lb in a far more competitive race but the winning impression was vivid.
19(0)
-13423
Level Neverending
-
J: Sam Ewing
T: Gordon Elliott
6
10-7
126
145
Time is still on his side and he ran a fair third from out of the weights on handicap debut behind Glimpse Of Gala at Warwick in January (3m1f, heavy); replacing cheekpieces with first-time blinkers probably needs to make a difference, though.
22(0)
25-P53
Moka De Vassy
-
J: David Noonan
T: Jane Williams
5
10-6
125
148
Lightly raced maiden; has had some difficult assignments but was no real threat when third to Walking On Air on handicap debut at Exeter last month (2m7f, good; first-time cheekpieces, retained); this asks a lot, too.
3(0)
542110
Maxxum
-
J: Davy Russell
T: Gordon Elliott
6
11-12
145
154
Hardly had to get out of bed to win handicaps at Navan (2m6f, yielding) and Leopardstown (3m, soft) on second and third starts for this yard; had to shoulder another huge rise at the latter track on latest start and, while he could have had a clearer run before finishing nearly 15l behind Perceval Legallois, his run there questioned whether he is still ahead of the handicapper.
RACING POST TIP
The Bosses Oscar
Evergreen The Bosses Oscar has been given a handicapping lifeline and a very good show is on the cards for the runner-up in 2021. A few up-and-coming rivals have been able to guard their handicap marks, though, and it is hard to get away from the scintillating show put up by THANKSFORTHEHELP at Chepstow, when ridden with a lot of confidence over the new trip with his rider doing well to keep the winning distance to less than 7l. This is a lot more competitive but the same can be said for Walking On Air's win at Exeter and that of stablemate Captain Morgs's success here in December. These two are still respected, along with Maxxum who ran a shade flat at Leopardstown after two spreadeagling wins previously, and An Tailliur if the ground doesn't prove too soft for the latter. Of those at bigger prices Coltor, who won't mind what the weather does, and last year's third Mill Green are other contenders.
Verdict
PERTEMPS HANDICAP PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2022 | Third Wind | 1P-733 | 8 | 25-1 | Hughie Morrison | Tom O’Brien |
| 2021 | Mrs Milner | 1324F | 6 | 12-1 | Paul Nolan | Bryan Cooper |
| 2020 | Sire Du Berlais | 18-494 | 8 | 10-1 | Gordon Elliott |
Barry Geraghty
|
| 2019 | Sire Du Berlais | 248-86 | 7 | 4-1 | Gordon Elliott |
Barry Geraghty
|
| 2018 | Delta Work | 33243 | 5 | 6-1 | Gordon Elliott | Davy Russell |
| 2017 | Presenting Percy | 11541 | 6 | 11-1 | Pat Kelly | Davy Russell |
| 2016 | Mall Dini | 31433 | 6 | 14-1 | Pat Kelly | Davy Russell |
| 2015 | Call The Cops | 421-41 | 6 | 9-1 | Nicky Henderson |
Andrew Tinkler
|
| 2014 | Fingal Bay | 2-12O-1 | 8 | 9-2F | Philip Hobbs |
Richard Johnson
|
| 2013 | Holywell | 1-2222 | 6 | 25-1 | Jonjo O’Neill |
Richie McLernon
|
PERTEMPS HANDICAP KEY TRENDS AND STATS
- Aged six to eight, 9/10
- Top-four finish last completed start, 9/10
- Six to ten runs over hurdles, 8/10
- Winning form between 2m4f and 2m6f, 8/10
- Officially rated 138-148, 8/10
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - PERTEMPS HANDICAP 2022
Hughie Morrison broke new ground in the second race of day three as Third Wind caused a shock in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle, winning at odds of 25-1 and handing the trainer a maiden victory at the Cheltenham Festival. On approach to the final flight, it was Honest Vic who had the edge over his rivals as Third Wind was running further in behind. However, the lead was changed after the last as Hughie Morrison’s charge and Alaphilippe battled it out for the lead on the run to the winning post. They both rallied until the line but it was Third Wind who held on at the end to win by a neck. Honest Vic, who had control of proceedings, finished fifth after a mistake at the last as the Nicky Henderson-trained Mill Green took advantage to stay on for third.