Key punting pointers and trainer quotes to solve the day's big betting puzzle

Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 3m | 5yo+ | ITV/RUK

Youth has conquered experience in this competitive handicap hurdle in recent times, with no horse older than eight winning in the past six years and four of the past five winners having been aged just six.

No fewer than seven of the 24-runner field on Thursday are six-year-olds, with the shortest priced from that age group likely to be the Philip Hobbs-trained Louis’ Vac Pouch, who has not been seen since winning a qualifier for this race at Aintree in November.

Hobbs’ yard has not been firing on all cylinders for the majority of the season but the stable has been in far better form this month and Louis’ Vac Pouch is the shortest-priced runner of the week at Cheltenham for a trainer who took this race with Fingal Bay in 2014.

Louis’ Vac Pouch beat another leading contender, Forza Milan, at Aintree and although up 13lb in the weights for that win is open to further progress with so few miles on the clock.

Irish eyes

Stablemates Presenting Percy and Mall Dini have ensured this prize has headed back to Ireland for the past two years and, while their trainer Pat Kelly is without a runner this year Ireland is likely to be responsible for the favourite, courtesy of Glenloe, trained by Gordon Elliott.

One of four runners in the race for owner JP McManus, Glenloe caught the eye when staying on from out of the pack to take third in the closing stages of a qualifier at Leopardstown over Christmas and is just 4lb higher in the weights now.

Elliott also runs Gigginstown’s Delta Work, another to qualify in third spot under a claimer at Punchestown last month and who now has the assistance of Davy Russell, chasing a third straight win in the race.

Record breaker

Jonjo O’Neill is the most successful trainer in the Pertemps Final and bids for a fifth win with Forza Milan.

Having just his eighth career start and third of the season, Forza Milan wears a tongue-tie for the first time and is partnered by regular rider Killian Moore, who takes off a handy 3lb.

David Pipe, who saddled Buena Vista to win back-to-back runnings of the Pertemps in 2010 and 2011, bids for a third win with Dell’ Arca and Taj Badalandabad.

What they say

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Thomas Campbell and Protek Des Flos
Thomas Campbell has plenty of weight but seems in good form. He's below the level of a Grade 1 horse but at the top of handicaps, so he's in a very difficult place. Protek Des Flos loves soft ground and he'll stay.

Alan King, trainer of Who Dares Wins
I doubt he wants the ground quite so testing but it'll be fresh ground as it's the first hurdle race on the New course so he'll have the best of it. He's back in excellent form after a winter break and he's delighted me with his work. Having been third in the Coral Cup last year he should be well suited by this longer trip – he gets two miles-plus very well on the Flat.

Warren Greatrex, trainer of Boite, Shantou Bob and Lovenormoney
Boite has been in good form this season and was going very well when he fell in a Grade 2 at Haydock. He seems fine and the step up in trip should help. Shantou Bob always runs well and will do himself justice. Lovenormoney has won two well this season and the more rain the better. He’s got a visor on for the first time, which should help him early in the race, and he’s a dour stayer. On form Boite would be the best.

Peter Fahey, trainer of Mine Now
He travelled over great and the one thing he does love is these big-field handicaps, he always seems to run well in them. I’m hoping he’ll be bang there coming down to the last.

David Pipe, trainer of Dell' Arca and Taj Badalandabad
They're both handicapped high enough but we're claiming off Dell' Arca, and that will help. In their favour is that both stay well and should cope with the ground, so they're sporting outsiders.

Philip Hobbs, trainer of Louis’ Vac Pouch and Wait For Me
Louis’ Vac Pouch hasn’t run again since Aintree with this race in mind. He does go on soft ground and hopefully should go well. Wait For Me could do with better ground but we’ll have a go anyway.

Evan Williams, trainer of Prime Venture
He went up 12lb for winning a bad race at Ffos Las and, as a relatively exposed handicapper, there was no way he'd improved by that much. There's nowhere else to go though, so he's at Cheltenham for a day out.

Eddie Harty, trainer of Sort It Out
He ran a nice race in the qualifier at Punchestown when reverting from fences and has good form over the course, having run second in the County Hurdle three years ago. He's in good form and has his chance, although you always fear younger, improving horses.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Delta Works and Glenloe
Delta Works ran well in the recent qualifier at Punchestown. He's in good order and should run well, although the ground won't be ideal. Glenloe will like the ground and is back from a break having run third in the Leopardstown qualifier at Christmas. He's very well and should run a good race.

Harry Fry, trainer of Whataknight
He's dropped to a mark he can be competitive off but does prefer better ground. It's been two years since he last won over hurdles.

Neil Mulholland, trainer of Kansas City Chief
He’s consistent and fingers crossed can put up another good show. He’ll be fine on the ground and any rain wouldn’t bother him.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Connetable
He ran really well at Musselburgh and then not so good the other day at Chepstow – I've no idea why, he had a complete off day. If he runs like he did at Musselburgh he'd run well. He's run on all sorts of ground so that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

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