Pertemps Network Final Tips: Monmiral to shine

The second race off on Day Three of the Cheltenham Festival is the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle, a fiercely competitive three-mile test won in recent times by stellar names like Presenting Percy, Sire Du Berlais and Delta Work.

This is a Super Extra Place Race, so we are paying 6 places instead of 4 at 1/5 the odds for all each-way bets.

Runners

Farouk D'alene (Gordon Elliott/ Rob James) 16/1

Qualified for this with a good second to Gaoth Chuil at Leopardstown over Christmas and kept fresh since. Handicapper has taken zero chances.

Springwell Bay (Jonjo O'Neill/Jonjo O'Neill Jr) 16/1

Hasn't quite fulfilled his early potential but still has scope to improve over this trip having gone close at Musselburgh last time. Raised 2lb for that effort.

Flight Deck (Deborah Cole/Chris Ward) 40/1

Ex-Jonjo O'Neill inmate is exposed to a degree but ran well in a qualifier for this here in October and is just 2lb higher now having contested a couple of Grade 2s since, going close in one of them.

Chantry House (Nicky Henderson/James Bowen) 10/1

Festival winner over fences in 2021 and also a Grade 2 victor at this venue in that sphere. Has lost his way and while earning his spot here with a fourth-place finish at Huntingdon in January, he's going to have to do more in first-time blinkers.

Bold Endeavour (Nicky Henderson/Daryl Jacob) 40/1

Started well for this handler over fences but has become something of a nearly-horse back over timber. Ran well in defeat prior to Lingfield last time but still handicapped to his very best.

Le Milos (Dan Skelton/Harry Skelton) 12/1

Toiled in one run here back in 2019 and returns off the back of a poor effort at Ascot last month.

Icare Allen (Willie Mullins/ Mark Walsh) 10/1

Put up some notable performances in defeat in strong handicaps in Ireland through  the summer and was then third in an Aintree qualifier for this off 142. Can run off the same mark now.

Gowel Road (Nigel Twiston-Davies/Tom Bellamy) 22/1

Won over 2m5f here in November 2021 but twice beaten more than 20-lengths in County Hurdle/Coral Cup. Qualified with a sound run at Exeter last month in fourth.

Anna Bunina (John McConnell/Freddie Gingell) 33/1

Back on form when securing a place in this by finishing fourth at Musselburgh last month on soft ground and has twice run well over shorter in handicaps at this meeting. First-time hood adds a layer of intrigue.

Mill Green (Nicky Henderson/Freddie Gordon) 25/1

Often runs well but strike-rate of 3-18 over hurdles is a worry. He was a fair third at Exeter last month on heavy ground to earn a spot in this but now a 12-year-old.

Cleatus Poolaw (Gordon Elliott/Jack Kennedy) 6/1

Just four starts over hurdles, winning a Naas maiden (2m2½f, soft) in January and then clear second at the same venue upped in trip on handicap bow. Rated 9lb higher now but top connections and has to be respected with scope for better.

Cuthbert Dibble (Nigel Twiston-Davies/Sam Twiston-Davies) 8/1

Progressive 6YO has four wins in his last five, the defeat being in a hot Sandown race won by subsequent Grade 1 Long Walk winner Crambo. Handles testing ground and his latest 6lb looks fair for Haydock win.

Prairie Dancer (Joseph O'Brien/JJ Slevin) 33/1

More exposed than plenty of these and was unable to sustain from the front when third in an eight-runner Carlisle qualifier for this in December. Off since, but the assessor has given him a chance.

Monmiral (Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden) 25/1

Winner of 5-10 over hurdles and second in an Aintree Grade 1 over 2m4f in 2022. Has mixed hurdles and chasing since and was fourth last month at Chepstow shipping weight to those ahead. First-time blinkers tried here and he's no forlorn hope for a top team.

Emitom (Alan King/Tom Cannon) 25/1

Excellent strike-rate over timber (6-19) and a Grade 2 winner over this sort of trip at his best. He's 5lb higher than for his Newbury win last month but could have a say again.

Gaoth Chuil (Ted Walsh/Shane O'Callaghan) 9/1

Mare has been better than ever of late, winning a qualifier for this race at Leopardstown over Christmas and only denied by Maxxum over the same C&D at last month's Dublin Racing Festival from 6lb higher. She is 7lb higher again now.

Hyland (Nicky Henderson/Nico de Boinville) 20/1

Landed a qualifier for this at this venue in October and went well off a mark of 135 at Newbury next time. Had a quiet run since at Ascot over shorter to get him right and looks to be on a very fair mark.

Hector Javilex (Charlie Longsdon/Lily Pinchin) 20/1

Three-time winner from nine over timber, including C&D success in January 2023. Disappointed in this contest last season off 1lb higher mark but seemingly in decent nick returning here.

Gabbys Cross (Henry de Bromhead/Darragh O'Keeffe) 10/1

Rated much higher over fences and finished second in a couple of hurdles races at Galway and Punchestown in October/November, latterly booking his place in this. Form is solid, albeit the handicapper has had a little nibble since.

Judicial Law (Jonjo O'Neill/Richie McLernon) 33/1

Behind Hyland in second over C&D in October and last spotted in fifth behind the reopposing Emitom at Newbury in February. A seven-year-old with a fair strike-rate and seems to be on a decent mark.

Popova (Henry de Bromhead/Rachael Blackmore) 16/1

Has 2-10 hurdles record but last-time-out fourth at Punchestown in a November qualifier for this was her first attempt at this new trip. Handicapper has put the mare up 7lb for that.

Kyntara (Mel Rowley/Charlie Deutsch) 20/1

Ex-Kim Bailey inmate bagged wins at Lingfield and Aintree early in the winter after joining this team. Second in a Warwick qualifier for this and then second to Emitom since at Newbury. Handles testing ground.

Alpesh Amin (Emmet McNamara/ Mark McDonagh) 25/1

Has shown improved form in Ireland this season, qualifying for this at Punchestown in November and showed his well-being in last month's Gowran Park win over 2m4f. Handicap mark is 12lb higher today.

Noble Birth (Emmet McNamara/Conor McNamara) 18/1

Won a qualifier at Naas (2m6½f, soft) last month for his ticket to this dance but he's 12lb higher now and the Nathaniel gelding shouldn't have any secrets at this point.

J'Ai Froid (LJ Morgan/John Kington) 66/1

Tough veteran who was a big improver in 2021 and got back to winning ways at Leicester and Warwick this term. Fair fourth behind Cuthbert Dibble at Haydock last time out.

White Rhino (Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero/Henry Brooke) 12/1

Much-improved since handicapping and backed up a C&D victory with an excellent third at Huntingdon in January.

Verdict

Monmiral @ 25/1 & Judicial Law @ 33/1

Cuthbert Dibble is progressive this season once more and a big effort for the Twiston-Davies' is more than possible, but he has shortened dramatically in the betting in recent times and is opposable.

This is, by design, a tricky contest to assess and so two against the field is the way to go.

JUDICIAL LAW has just 10st 6lb to carry and is a proven stayer given his Kelso win over further in September. He got himself into this the following month here and is 1lb lower in the ratings after last month's Newbury fifth, where he was coming from the rear to challenge only to stumble at a crucial time.

He compounded that with a mistake at the last but could be well treated and he has a decent strike-rate.

MONMIRAL has been coming to the boil in three runs this season, latterly when switched to hurdles, and if he can get back to his best – which saw him second in an Aintree Grade 1 over 2m4f behind Epatante - he has to have a chance.

First-time blinkers may perk him up with Harry Cobden back in the saddle.

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