Last call for Cheltenham as six line up for Pertemps qualifier at Chepstow

Pertemps Network Opportunity Around The Corner Handicap Hurdle 2m7½f | 5yo+ | Sky

Pertemps qualifiers like this are often associated with unexposed sorts building up to the Cheltenham Festival, but this one is just three weeks from the final itself and with only six runners, all finishers will qualify.

Five of the six have been seen over fences this season and the exception, Poker Play, ran in last year's Marsh Novices' Chase. He runs off a mark 7lb lower than when he started this season and looked to be coming back to form at Plumpton last time. A more galloping track will suit, as will the likely testing conditions. All of Poker Play's best runs, from his chase win at Ffos Las in October 2019 to a convincing handicap hurdle win off 2lb lower Uttoxeter that March, have been in the mud.

The reversion to hurdles is also significant in the case of Blackjack Kentucky. He is a chaser on looks and took to that discipline in the autumn, but he was one of several to blunder away his chance behind Lieutenant Rocco at Ffos Las last time. He was sent off short for his sole handicap hurdle, which was almost exactly a year ago on heavy ground when his BHA mark was 130. He is just 2lb higher now and cheekpieces go on.

Spiritofthegames and Copperhead are both established chasers. While the latter might reasonably be on a recovery mission following a wretched season, the former is almost certainly on his way back to Cheltenham. It might even be for the Pertemps Final, as his hurdles mark is much lower than his chase figure. He is known to do his best work on the bridle, so his backers might well get the chance to have an in-running lay matched at short odds.
Keith Melrose, betting editor

What they say

Dan Skelton, trainer of Spiritofthegames
He's back over hurdles and was a decent hurdler before he went chasing. He's been running well over fences and was second in the Paddy Power Gold Cup this season, but we just thought it was worth trying him over hurdles. He's been over fences a long time and it might be worth mixing things up a little.

David Pipe, trainer of Poker Play
It was nice to get him running a race at Plumpton last time. Fergus Gillard rides and claims 5lb again, which will help and he'll like conditions. Hopefully he can put two decent runs together.

Charlie Longsdon, trainer of Diger Daudaie
I always thought he was a chaser, but he hasn't taken to fences like he did hurdles. It took him about three miles to get going over fences and only then at the end, but that was his first proper run in a long time at Haydock in January and I'd hope there's good improvement off a light weight.
Reporting by James Burn

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