GG’s 2021 Cheltenham Festival, ante-post previews continue with the Pertemps Network Final. The race has had some famous winners, including Buena Vista and Presenting Percy, while Sire Du Berlais has won the last two editions of the race. Our top man, Andrew Mount takes a look a the stats and trends for this contest, the leading contenders and his ante-post tip for the race.
.
Pertemps Final – (Cheltenham, Thursday, March 18)
KEY STATS & TRENDS
RECENT FORM
Those who finished seventh or worse in their prep race are just 1-46 in the past ten years.
PREP RACE
Those who ran in a chase (0-19) or a jumpers’ bumper (0-4) failed to provide a winner. Horses who contested a Class 1 contest last time out are 0-47 and those who ran in Class 3 or lower company are 0-31.
RUNNING STYLE
One winner made all, two were prominent (from a sample of 62 runners) and seven (from 162) came from off the pace.
WEIGHT
Those in the top two in the handicap have a good recent record, with the ten who won last time out producing two wins (11-1 and 9-2) as well as four placed efforts (33-1, 14-1, 10-1 and 9-2).
TRAINERS
The last five winners were trained in Ireland, the last three by Gordon Elliott.
AGE
Those aged 9+ are just 1-59 in the past ten years.
KEY CONTENDERS
THIRD WIND
Since switched to hurdles THIRD WIND has done well in the second half of the season, recording form figures from January to March of 21141 (3-5), with the fourth coming in this race last year when best of the British-trained contingent. He’s 12lb higher this time around after winning in Grade 2 company at Haydock on his latest outing but could still reward each-way support if running here instead of in the Stayers’ Hurdle.
BACK THIRD WIND AND CLAIM UP TO £40 IN FREE BETS AT BETFAIR
THE BOSSES OSCAR
THE BOSSES OSCAR finished second to Dandy Mag in the Leopardstown qualifier in December and Gordon Elliott’s six-year-old ran well at the festival last year when fifth in the Martin Pipe.
BACK THE BOSSES OSCAR AND CLAIM UP TO £40 IN FREE BETS AT BETFAIR
HONEST VIC
HONEST VIC kept on well from off the pace to finish a 33-1 fifth in last season’s Coral Cup, doing best of eh British-trained runners (six of the first seven home were trained in Ireland). He followed that with a 3m reappearance win on the Old Course here in November and a switch to forcing tactics was an odd move when fifth in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury next time. His last-of-ten in a Jumpers’ Bumper can be safely ignored and he looks an each-way contender.
BACK HONEST VIC AND CLAIM UP TO £40 IN FREE BETS AT BETFAIR
IMPERIAL ALCAZAR
IMPERIAL ALCAZAR came late to win the Warwick qualifier on heavy ground in January and his record, aside from seasonal debuts, stands at 232111 (3-6). However, 8-1 looks short enough and a dry spell would be a concern.
BACK IMPERIAL ALCAZAR AND CLAIM UP TO £40 IN FREE BETS AT BETFAIR
DALLAS DES PICTONS
DALLAS DES PICTONS finished second of 24 in the Martin Pipe at this meeting in 2019 and was returned to hurdles this term after a largely disappointing chase career. He showed a little more when a 28-1 third of four and will be happier given a big field/strong pace scenario.
BACK DALLAS DES PICTONS AND CLAIM UP TO £40 IN FREE BETS AT BETFAIR
STORM ARISING
STORM ARISING arrives here in good form with figure this season of 121 (2-3) but this is generally not a race for British horses who have shown their hand. The Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old looks short enough at around 14-1.
BACK STORM ARISING AND CLAIM UP TO £40 IN FREE BETS AT BETFAIR
SOUTHFIELD HARVEST
SOUTHFIELD HARVEST, a stablemate of STORM ARISING, has yet to finish out of the first three in his short career and would have place claims.
BACK SOUTHFIELD HARVEST AND CLAIM UP TO £40 IN FREE BETS AT BETFAIR
FLEMCARA
FLEMCARA tends to go off the boil in the spring and was only tenth when a 14-1 shot in this race last year.
BACK FLEMCARA AND CLAIM UP TO £40 IN FREE BETS AT BETFAIR
CHAMPAGNE PLATINUM
CHAMPAGNE PLATINUM was a big eyecatcher in the Haydock qualifier where he kept on into second place behind all-the-way winner Bushypark. He has Cheltenham festival experience, finishing just over 11 lengths behind the winner when seventh of 23 in last season’s Kim Muir. His hurdling is far from foot-perfect but he enters calculations.
BACK CHAMPAGNE PLATINUM AND CLAIM UP TO £40 IN FREE BETS AT BETFAIR
PERTEMPS FINAL – BIG RACE VERDICT
Champagne Platinum was well supported just after the entries were published and he should go well of his jumping holds up. Honest Vic looks an interesting each-way angle but Gordon Elliott can make it four wins in a row in this race courtesy of THE BOSSES OSCAR.
Join Betfair And Claim A Bet £10 – Get £40 In Free Bets
Join Betfair here:
Open your new account using promo code ZSKAGV.
Place a minimum £10 bet on sportsbook
After your qualifying bet has settled, you’ll get a £20 free bet. On the 15th March, we’ll drop another £20 free bet into your account.
Open a new account using promo code ZSKAGV. Deposit a minimum of £10 via Card or ApplePay. Place a single Sports (Fixed Odds) bet, minimum stake £10, at minimum odds of 2.0 (Evs) on the Sportsbook. Exchange bets do not count for the promotion.
After the qualifying bet has settled, you’ll receive £20 in free bets. The additional £20 free bet will be awarded at 10am, 15th March. You’ll be able to see details of your free bets in the ‘My Bonuses’ tab which can be accessed at the top of the website. To use your free bets, add a selection to your betslip that meets the terms and conditions of this offer.
Join Betfair And Claim This Bet £10 – Get £40 In Free Bets Bonus
Min stake £10, min odds 2.0 (Evs). Only deposits made using Cards or ApplePay will qualify. Free bets valid for 30 days, x1 £20 free bet awarded at bet settlement, x1 £20 awarded at 10am Mon 15th March. T&Cs apply.