Pertemps Final insight: punting pointers as Elliott aims for back-to-back wins

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

No Russell but Elliott could have an edge

It was supposed to be so simple, just back whatever Davy Russell is riding. In the shape of Mall Dini, Presenting Percy and Delta Work, the jockey has ridden the winner of this race in each of the last three seasons but has not been booked to ride anything this year. Plan B must now come into effect.

Perhaps Gordon Elliott is your man now. He sent out the first and second last year, when Delta Work and Glenloe fought out a thrilling finish. In the previous renewal, the Elliott-trained Jury Duty was third, while Taglietelle took fourth in 2016.

Elliott knows what he is doing when it come to the Pertemps and is this year responsible for long-time ante-post favourite Sire Du Berlais. The seven-year-old has long been something of a talking horse but has yet to yell loudly on the track – form figures of 4886 coming here suggest he does have questions to answer.

Stablemate A Toi Phi is your other Elliott-trained option. His hurdle mark of 146 in Britain is still 5lb lower than his chase rating in Ireland, so it would come as no surprise to see him sneak into the placings.

Assignment form strong

Fancy First Assignment? It's easy to understand why, especially if you take his third at Haydock in November literally.

He was beaten a length and three-quarters there behind Paisley Park after trading at a low of 1.11.

On that day, the Stayers' Hurdle favourite ran off a mark of just 147 and is now rated 168, whereas First Assignment, at 142, is only 7lb higher than he was on that occasion.

Tom O'Brien looks round for dangers as First Assignment hacks up at CheltenhamCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

To make matters even more interesting, the horse who split them at Haydock – Shades Of Midnight – has gone on to win his next two starts by a combined distance of 18 lengths, with the second of those being a Grade 2 at Haydock.

Trainer Ian Williams said: "First Assignment should be suited by the stamina-sapping track. He's in great form, likes Cheltenham and has run some cracking races here. What's not to like? I'd be hopeful of a big run in a very competitive race."

Punting minefield

This has not been a profitable race for punters. In the last decade only Fingal Bay in 2014 has managed to justify favouritism at odds of 9-2.

There has been a 25-1 winner, a 20-1 winner and two 16-1 winners since 2009.

What they say

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Walk To Freedom and Not Many Left
Walk To Freedom is very well. It's not going to be easy for him off top weight, but he's in very good form and should have a big chance with the ground to suit. Not Many Left won the qualifier at Huntingdon and should have his chance as well.

Tom George, trainer of Boyhood
This is probably the first time we’ve had a clear run off the back of a race and he'll have come on a lot for his qualifying run at Exeter. He likes soft ground and the track.

Colin Tizzard, trainer of Padleyourowncanoe
You can forgive any horse a poor run and the time before he won at Wincanton. Nothing came to light after Sandown last time so we'll see how he gets on. He'd been having a good season and has Festival form from last year, when he was fourth in the Fred Winter. Some of his form is in and out, but they're not machines.

Lizzie Kelly, rider of Culture De Sivola
She deserves her place in the field and is as tough as they come. She’s a real favourite at the yard and you know she’s going to give her all.

Culture De Sivola: will be ridden by Lizzie KellyCredit: Edward Whitaker

Harry Fry, trainer of Black Mischief
He qualified on Boxing Day at Wincanton and this has been the plan since. He's had some good form this season, he won at Haydock earlier this year. It's his first try at three miles but I think he should get the trip. I hope the ground dries up a bit and hopefully he can carry on progressing.

Stuart Edmunds, trainer of Theclockisticking
On all known form the ground will be a fraction soft for him, but it's the first hurdle race on fresh ground so hopefully we'll get away with it. He's in great form.

Emma Lavelle, trainer of Flemcara
He’s flying. He ran a blinder in the Coral Cup last year over an inadequate trip and all he was doing was staying on. He’s on the right mark and goes there with a chance.

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Cuneo
He dug deep to win his first handicap at Leopardstown over Christmas and I thought he ran well back there last month. He's in great form and has a chance in an open race.

Cuneo: won a Pertemps qualifier at Leopardstown in DecemberCredit: Patrick McCann

Philip Hobbs, trainer of Wait For Me and Samburu Shujaa
Wait For Me probably prefers better ground, but on his best form he'd run well. Samburu Shujaa would be suited by soft but the only issue with him now is he's pretty exposed. He's got to have a go though.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Notwhatiam
He's been the talk of quite a few preview nights but I'm not sure he's got that much in hand on the handicapper. He'll love the track and the ground and I think he's got an each-way chance.

Spotlight verdict

There are no arguments about the intriguing claims of Sire Du Berlais (nap) with a strikingly similar profile to last year's unlucky runner-up for the same connections, Glenloe, who also entered a thousand notebooks when beaten in the Leopardstown qualifier at Christmas. The last three renewals of this final have gone to Irish horses who were prominent in the betting. Notwhatiam can have a say should this be staged to suit his hold-up style and Champers On Ice, third as a novice hurdler in the Albert Bartlett at this meeting, is temptingly treated if improving for his Haydock run, which seems highly likely.

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