Cheltenham - Pertemps Handicap Hurdle (Listed) - 3m - Thursday 13th March 2014

[Smarty72]

Feel that this race deserves its own thread and a number of changes to qualification mean that it will be of more interest. Link to race details and qualifiers..... http://racenews.co.uk/pertemps-renews-sponsorship-of-handicap-hurdle-series-which-culminates-at-the-festival/ There will be 20 qualifying races and only the first eight in each qualifying race are eligible for the final. So in theory a maximum of 160 qualifiers and we only need to find the one winner! Likely to be less qualifiers as some horses will run in more than one race. Can see Trainers wanting to get their horse qualified early on and then work on getting the handicap rating down over the winter months to run off a better mark in the final. 1st qualifier this Friday at Cheltenham. Not sure when anti-post betting on this will be available probably not until the New Year but worth watching these races and analyzing qualifiers to identify any which may be of interest for this Event on St Patricks Day.

[Smarty72]

Re: Cheltenham - Pertemps Handicap Hurdle (Listed) - 3m - Thursday 13th March 2014 Review Of The 1^st Qualifier at Cheltenham After reviewing previous years racing an OR of 135 is probably the minimum needed to make the final field of 24 runners. Going to split the runners into above OR 135 as contenders and below OR 135 as needing further improvement. The following have an OR 135 or higher after been reassessed by the handicapper following this race and could be contenders come race day........ Track Mate - The winner trained by James Evans. Stays the distance with 3 hurdle wins at around 3m. Won of OR 132 in this qualifier and has been raised by the handicapper to OR 137. Looks to be still improving. But all wins on Good ground and has looked to struggle on ground worse than good. One to Watch. On The Bridge - 4^th trained by Jeremy Scott. Stayed on well after been held up the rear. OR 139 for this race and has been raised by 1lb by the handicapper. Very consistent horse but been a summer runner and probably prefers the better ground Cross Kennon - 8^th and trained by Jenny Candlish. Raced of OR 140 and been dropped 1lb by the handicapper. Cheltenham festival regular making appearances at the last 4 festivals. Was 4^th in the final of this in 2010 and has competed in the Grade 1 World Hurdle the last 3 years coming 4^th, 7^th and 7^th. This could be the target this year and will be an interesting contender. Worth keeping an eye on. The following have an OR below 135 after this qualifier and currently probably not good enough to get into the final field and would need to improve again with a win or a series of good placings to get a higher OR...... Benbane Head -2^nd by a head trained by Martin Keighley at a career high for this with OR 130 and has been raised by handicapper to OR 134. Would need to improve more and at 9yo that’s unlikely as looks fully exposed by now. So Fine - 3^rd just over 2l behind the winner and trained by Philip Hobbs. OR 130 and has been raised to OR 132 by the handicapper. May go back novice chasing this season or if trainer sticks to hurdles could still improve to be a contender. However seems to prefer better ground. Up For An Oscar – 5^th and raced prominently throughout of an official OR 123. and has been left on that mark. Trainer Kim Bailey described this as career best performance but will probably need to improve more to be a contender. Act Of Kalanski – OR 128 and has been dropped by 1lb by the handicapper. Finished 6^th and was stepped up to 3m for the 1^st time. Has had 2 previous festival runs when 9^th in 2013 of an OR 135 in the Conditionals Handicap Hurdle over 2m 5f and in the Coral Cup in 2012 when 13^th of an OR 135 again over 2m 5f. Could turn up at the Festival for 2014 but more likely in a shorter length race. Rare Bob – 7^th and Irish trained with an OR 126 and left on the same mark. Will be a 12yo come the festival in 2014 and unlikely to be a contender. Primarily a staying chaser. Have put all in tracker and will monitor runs. Bet365 have the following betting (EW ¼ – 1,2,3,4)...... Trackmate – 14\1 Benbane Head – 20\1 So Fine – 20\1 On The Bridge – 20\1 Would not advise a bet on any of these Anti-Post. Next Qualifier this Sunday at Aintree.