The Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle is a fiercely competitive handicap over 3miles on day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival. This handicap always attracts a decent field size as was the case in last year’s renewal when 22 runners headed to post. With so many selections to choose from, GG’s experts have analysed this Grade 3 handicap in fine detail so that you can find this year’s winner.
Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle Bookmaker Odds – Race 2, Thursday 16th March 2:10
| Horse/Form | Silks | Jockey/Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksforthehelp 22-341 |  | J: Mark Walsh T: David Pipe | 9/2 |
| Maxxum 542110 |  | J: Davy Russell T: Gordon Elliott | 7/1 |
| Walking On Air 1P-341 |  | J: Nico de Boinville T: Nicky Henderson | 9/1 |
| The Bosses Oscar -42143 |  | J: Ben Harvey T: Gordon Elliott | 12/1 |
| Good Time Jonny -P4030 |  | J: Danny McMenamin T: A J Martin | 10/1 |
| Salvador Ziggy -11114 |  | J: Aidan Kelly (7) T: Gordon Elliott | 18/1 |
| An Tailliur 121-23 |  | J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr T: Jonjo O’Neill | 11/1 |
| Captain Morgs 5-2321 |  | J: Sam Twiston-Davies T: Nicky Henderson | 25/1 |
| Hector Javilex 1-5414 |  | J: Lilly Pinchin (3) T: Charlie Longsdon | 16/1 |
| Bear Ghylls 4/3744 |  | J: Jamie Moore T: Nicky Martin | 16/1 |
| Coltor /P01-2 |  | J: Kevin Brogan T: Roger Fell | 16/1 |
| Mill Green U233-3 |  | J: Daryl Jacob T: Nicky Henderson | 20/1 |
| The Changing Man -11222 |  | J: Brendan Powell T: Joe Tizzard | 25/1 |
| Itchy Feet P-4612 |  | J: Sean Bowen T: Olly Murphy | 25/1 |
| Green Book 59-615 |  | J: Charlie Deutsch T: Venetia Williams | 25/1 |
| Level Neverending -13423 | | J: Sam Ewing T: Gordon Elliott | 28/1 |
| Jet Of Magic 01223U |  | J: Harry Cobden T: Paul Nicholls | 28/1 |
| Wakool -17241 |  | J: Conor O’Farrell T: N W Alexander | 33/1 |
| Glimpse Of Gala -32211 |  | J: Gavin Sheehan T: Charlie Longsdon | 33/1 |
| Moka De Vassy 25-P53 |  | J: David Noonan T: Jane Williams | 40/1 |
| Burrows Park -72134 |  | J: Ned Fox (7) T: Venetia Williams | 50/1 |
| Risk And Roll 3-2386 |  | J: Tabitha Worsley (3) T: James Evans | 66/1 |
| Takarengo 472658 |  | J: Danny Mullins T: Thomas Mullins | 66/1 |
| Brandy Mcqueen 222117 |  | J: Edward Austin (5) T: Harriet Graham & Gary Rutherford | 100/1 |
All About the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle in 2023
If the betting is anything to go by, it looks like the Pertemps could be set to go by, with the top five in the betting all Irish-trained. Charles Byrnes’ Shoot First currently heads the betting, having ran out an impressive winner of the qualifier at Cheltenham in October.
He had Salvador Ziggy almost three lengths behind that day, so it will be interesting to see if he can confirm that form in the Final at the Festival. With Gordon Elliott’s fantastic record in the race, it wouldn’t be a shock to see that form reversed!
Gavin Cromwell’s Perceval Legallois was no match for Maxxum in the Leopardstown qualifier over the festive period, but he made amends when comfortably winning over the same C&D in February. The latter reversed form in devastating fashion, beating Gordon Elliott’s Maxxum by over 14 lengths.
The Bosses Oscar is another Gordon Elliott runner fancied for this year’s renewal, having qualified when finishing third on his first run of the season in February. It’s likely that this will have been his target for the season, so he could be one to keep an eye on.
Nicky Henderson’s Walking On Air looks to be the best chance of the British-trained runners, having made light work of his qualifier in February at Exeter. He could give the Seven Barrows trainer a first win in the race since Call The Cops won the 2015 renewal.
Qualifications/Trends
The Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle is open to five-year-olds and upwards. Despite being open to the five-year-old age group, only two horses have been ever been successful at that age, those were Pragada in 1988 and more recently the Gordon Elliot trained Delta Work in 2018.
This Grade 3 handicap was a race that was previously dominated by the British trained runners with trainer Jonjo O’Neil landing the day 3 contest a record 4 times. However, The Cheltenham Festival had been synonymous with Irish trained winners more recently, with six of the last seven contests going the way of the Irish. Hughie Morrison gave the Brits an overdue success in the race in last year’s renewal.
Irish trainer Gordon Elliot has a tremendous record in this event and has won this Grade 3 contest in three of the last five runnings and the majority of his other entries that have contested this event have been placed, including The Bosses Oscar who finished runner-up in 2021 for temporary handler Denise Foster. His runners disappointed last year, finishing 9th, 11th, 12th, 16th, 18th and BD.
The Leopardstown Christmas Festival qualifier rates a big form line for this Handicap contest in most recent seasons. Mall Dini finished fourth in that event before going on to festival glory in 2016 and a similar path was taken for 2021 impressive winner Mrs Milner who also ran in that event Leopardstown prior to tasting festival glory.
This is generally a contest to avoid the market leaders as only three horses have justified favouritism since 2000, those being Inching Closer (2003), Fingal Bay (2014) and Sire Du Berlais (2019). Each-way selections have therefore steered punters in the right direction as six of the last ten winners have returned a double-figure starting price.
Only two previous winners have carried top-weight to victory in this Handicap with Sire Du Berlais putting a strong staying performance in 2020 and Fingal Bay just prevailing by the smallest of margins in 2014 for trainer Philip Hobbs. Whilst Creon in 2004 carried the lowest riding weight to victory for Jonjo O’Neil off just 10st.
2023 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle Prize Money
Over £98,000 was on offer in last year’s Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle, winning connections of Third Wind took home just over £56,000.
The prize pot for the 2023 renewal is £100,000.
Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle History
The race first took place in 1974 and throughout its early history was known as the Coral Golden Hurdle Final. Pertemps started to sponsor the contest from 2002.
The Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle is the final of a series. Horses must finish within the first four positions of any previous eligible qualifiers in order to participate in March at the Festival. Qualifying events are held earlier in the season in Britain, Ireland and France. The final was originally classed as a Listed race before being upgraded to Grade 3 status in 2018.
There has been some past notable star performers that have featured in this contest before going on to future success. Forgive ’n’ Forget landed this contest in 1983 before heading back to the festival in 1985 to win the Gold Cup for connections. In recent times, Pineau De Re lined up in the 2014 renewal to finish a close third before heading to Aintree a month later to land the Grand National for Dr Richard Newland.
Winners since 2000
| Year | Horse | Jockey/Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Rubhahunish | J:Carl Llewellyn T:Nigel Twiston-Davies | 8/1 |
| 2001 | VOID | J:N/A T:N/A | VOID |
| 2002 | Freetown | J:Tony Dobbin T:Len Lungo | 20/1 |
| 2003 | Inching Closer | J:Barry Geraghty T:Jonjo O’Neill | 6/1F |
| 2004 | Creon | J:Timmy Murphy T:Jonjo O’Neill | 50/1 |
| 2005 | Oulart | J:Paul Carberry T:Dessie Hughes | 10/1 |
| 2006 | Kadoun | J:Tom Ryan T:Michael O’Brien | 50/1 |
| 2007 | Oscar Park | J:Tom Doyle T:David Arbuthnot | 14/1 |
| 2008 | Ballyfitz | J:Paddy Brennan T:Nigel Twiston-Davies | 18/1 |
| 2009 | Kayf Aramis | J:Aidan Coleman T:Venetia Williams | 16/1 |
| 2010 | Buena Vista | J:Hadden Frost T:David Pipe | 16/1 |
| 2011 | Buena Vista | J:Conor O’Farrell T:David Pipe | 20/1 |
| 2012 | Cape Tribulation | J:Denis O’Regan T:Malcolm Jefferson | 14/1 |
| 2013 | Holywell | J:Richie McLernon T:Jonjo O’Neill | 25/1 |
| 2014 | Fingal Bay | J:Richard Johnson T:Philip Hobbs | 9/2F |
| 2015 | Call The Cops | J:Andrew Tinkler T:Nicky Henderson | 9/1 |
| 2016 | Mall Dini | J:Davy Russell T:Pat Kelly | 14/1 |
| 2017 | Presenting Percy | J:Davy Russell T:Pat Kelly | 11/1 |
| 2018 | Delta Work | J:Davy Russell T:Gordon Elliott | 6/1 |
| 2019 | Sire Du Berlais | J:Barry Geraghty T:Gordon Elliott | 4/1F |
| 2020 | Sire Du Berlais | J:Barry Geraghty T:Gordon Elliott | 10/1 |
| 2021 | Mrs Milner | J:Bryan Cooper T:Paul Nolan | 12/1 |
| 2022 | Third Wind | J:Tom O’Brien T:Hughie Morrison | 25/1 |