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13:20Supreme Novices' Hurdle
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17:20Champion Bumper
Pertemps Handicap Hurdle
16:40 Cheltenham Festival
2026-03-12
Winner: £61,897
Runners: 24
Going: Good
No. of hurdles: 12
Distance:
The Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle takes place at 4.40pm on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival and serves as the final for the 21 long-distance qualifying races that are run throughout the jumps season. Starting in 2025, winners of those qualifiers are now guaranteed a place in this race, as long as they are within the required weight range come the festival. The race has been something of a stepping stone for younger horses who go on to greater achievements over fences. In recent years the likes of Presenting Percy and Delta Work won the race before excellent novice chase campaigns the following season. Check the Pertemps Hurdle runners and riders ahead of the race and place your bets by clicking the odds buttons.
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21(0)
07PP-3
Bold Endeavour
-
J: James Bowen
T: Nicky Henderson
10
10-6
130
149
Back with Nicky Henderson after last season with Laura Morgan; third of six to Ace Of Spades at Huntingdon in January came after a year off and was a partial revival; potentially thrown in if he builds on that, as he was fourth in the 2024 Pertemps Final off 13lb higher; stable going well.
2(0)
037442
Gowel Road
-
J: Toby McCain-Mitchell
T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
10
11-10
148
154
Can front-run; Cheltenham regular, where he won a 3m Grade 2 last January; sixth in this in 2024 and ran creditably here on three of his first five starts this season, before a big run under Toby McCain-Mitchell at Chepstow 19 days ago; back up 2lb to his career-high mark but probably not far away.
23(0)
0-2582
Idem
-
J: Patrick Wadge
T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore
8
10-4
128
152
Never-dangerous tenth in this race last year; ran creditably on three of his four starts this season, second in the Musselburgh qualifier last time, but he's an exposed 8yo who needs to show something new.
12(0)
52-131
Ikarak
-
J: Sean Bowen
T: Olly Murphy
8
10-9
133
151
Below form on his only run at this track, albeit two years ago; regular winner, including at Lingfield (2m7f, good to soft) and Ayr (3m, soft) in two of three starts this season, with a creditable third to Kikijo at Sandown in between; up another 6lb but if he's in contention he will be staying on.
9(0)
11P-P4
Red Dirt Road
-
J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr
T: Jonjo & A J O'Neill
9
10-10
134
154
Two wins last winter, latterly at Sandown (extended 2m7f, heavy; by 8l making all); pulled up on next two starts, with 322 days off in between, but fourth in the Haydock qualifier last month was a big step back in the right direction; now needs to make another but he's only 1lb higher than at Sandown.
14(0)
9622P6
Yeah Man
-
J: Conor Stone-Walsh
T: Gavin Cromwell
9
10-9
133
145
No ground worries; best winning day in the 2024 Grand National Trial at Haydock and he's been placed in last two editions of the Troytown in November; those were over fences but he has a much lower hurdles mark and was a close second to Duke Silver in the Leopardstown qualifier; good chance he'll be outspeeded in this but dangerous if he turns for home in contention.
7(0)
3-3546
Supremely West
-
J: Harry Skelton
T: Dan Skelton
8
10-11
135
155
No ground issues; promising late gains when third of 17 on stable debut in the Cheltenham qualifier in October; not so hot since but those runs aren't hard to forgive (the latest was over just 2m4f) and he's now 2lb lower than on that eye-catching reappearance; trainer is a dab hand in these Festival handicaps and this 8yo has been favourite for this race for some time.
16(0)
1-1410
Idy Wood
-
J: Gavin Sheehan
T: Jamie Snowden
8
10-8
132
150
Won two chases last season and 2-4 back hurdling this term, with all those wins on good ground but he also scored on soft in his novice days; however, tailed off at Windsor on New Year's Day, unraced beyond 2m5f under rules and needs to resume his improvement.
24(0)
205266
Ike Sport
-
J: Conor O'Farrell
T: Neil Mulholland
8
10-3
127
153
Last won in April 2024; well beaten in the 2m5f handicap here last March; second to Absolutely Doyen at Wincanton (3m, good to soft) at Christmas was best effort this term; ran creditably in the Lanzarote at Kempton (2m5f) next time, before a modest show at Plumpton latest; others look more solid.
10(0)
32-464
Classic King
-
J: Ben Jones
T: Emma Lavelle
8
10-10
134
154
Did well at 2m3f-2m5f when reverting to hurdles for his last three starts last season; not quite so good this term and he did not shout stamina when upped to 3m for last two outings; others have more compelling claims.
1(0)
-31121
Staffordshire Knot
-
J: Jack Kennedy
T: Gordon Elliott
8
12-0
152
153
Never got seriously involved when ninth in the 2m5f handicap at last year's Festival; 2m6f-3m has proved just the ticket this winter with three wins (including the Punchestown qualifier) and a second, with last two outings in Grade 2; they were all in the mud but good to soft was fine earlier in career; tough customer and Gordon Elliott won this three times in a row not so long ago, twice with Sire Du Berlais among the topweights.
3(0)
107-21
Electric Mason
-
J: Freddie Gordon
T: Chris Gordon
7
11-1
139
153
Soundly beaten here in the Martin Pipe 12 months ago but second of 17 to today's Grade 1 Stayers' hopeful Ma Shantou back here (3m, good) in October; improved to win valuable race in another big field at Haydock (3m, good to soft) in November and should be raring to go today, with major chance.
22(0)
2-11F2
Onewaywest
-
J: Elliott England
T: Ben Pauling
7
10-5
129
151
Won from the front in 2m3f/2m4f, soft-ground handicaps at Warwick and Wetherby despite jumping out to his right; in contention when falling next time and second to Ace Of Spades at Huntingdon (upped markedly to 3m1f, soft) was creditable, but he keeps going up the weights and this return to a left-handed track is a concern.
11(0)
-34143
Lavida Adiva
-
J: Brian Hughes
T: Ruth Jefferson
7
10-9
133
153
Never better than on her last three starts, winning a Listed mares' hurdle at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) on first occasion; minor honours in Grade 2 events since (hooded last time, not today); reliable and basically progressive but she needs to resume improvement in this hot handicap.
17(0)
2-2120
Letos
-
J: Danny Mullins
T: Anthony Mullins
6
10-8
132
150
Placed over hurdles/fences in France; six races for Tony Mullins, steadily progressive until tailing off at 22-1 in 2m4f Grade 1 novice on soft going two months ago; 2m4f win in November was sandwiched by seconds over 2m and 3m1f, latterly in a six-runner Carlisle qualifier, and while it would be no shock if he remains capable of better, there is a question over his ideal trip.
15(0)
P-4241
Melbourne Shamrock
-
J: Donagh Meyler
T: Emmet Mullins
7
10-8
132
146
Lightly raced 7yo; fifth race over hurdles when justifying favouritism in the nine-runner Naas qualifier (2m7f, heavy) 18 days ago with cheekpieces fitted for handicap debut, helping to set the pace and holding on by a neck from Minella Sixo; tries blinkers this time; relatively unexposed and probably a thorough stayer, so he should figure in calculations.
4(0)
2-1421
Ace Of Spades
-
J: Kielan Woods
T: Dan Skelton
7
11-1
139
149
Won two of his four starts this term and stayed on well for second to today's Grade 1 Stayers' candidate Ma Shantou here (3m, good) on New Year's Day on penultimate start; latest was a Huntingdon win (3m1f, soft) and he's now 5lb higher but this progressive 7yo has to be taken seriously.
13(0)
241017
Duke Silver
-
J: Hugh Horgan
T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien
6
10-9
133
147
Hugely hit and miss on his last four starts, the good days when winning over about this trip at Listowel with cheekpieces and at Leopardstown (18-runner qualifier from Yeah Man) without them; heavy ground may excuse latest start; needs to find more but he's just a 6yo, so it may be possible.
8(0)
-11111
Absolutely Doyen
-
J: Harry Cobden
T: Paul Nicholls
6
10-11
135
153
5-5 for Paul Nicholls (good/good to soft) and the last three of those races were over 3m, including in the Wincanton qualifier; racking up the wins would be a highly unusual profile for a Pertemps Final winner but he keeps finishing off the opposition in storming fashion and could easily still have more to give; on the shortlist.
20(0)
1P4322
Minella Emperor
-
J: Mr M J O'Neill
T: Emmet Mullins
7
10-6
130
152
Won two bumpers on good ground last year; 0-5 over hurdles but minor honours on last four occasions; 6-1, second of 13 to Champagne Chic when upped to 3m for Haydock qualifier (good to soft) on handicap debut last time, renewing his effort but not nearly as strongly as the winner on run-in; not that straightforward but there's time for him to get his act together and cheekpieces (worn in two of his bumpers, not the wins) return.
6(0)
12-411
Kikijo
-
J: Callum Pritchard
T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White
6
10-11
135
155
Lightly raced 6yo who has made a big splash on his switch back to hurdling this season, ridden prominently when winning over about 3m at Cheltenham and Sandown (under Callum Pritchard last time); up another 8lb today; those wins were on soft ground, which probably helped him, but he keeps finding more and probably has deeper reserves, so cannot be passed over at all lightly.
19(0)
711-11
C'Est Different
-
J: Dylan Johnston
T: Sam Thomas
6
10-7
131
154
4-4 in handicaps (soft/good to soft) and strode clear for emphatic wins at Market Rasen and Newbury when stepped up to about 3m on his two runs this season; up another 10lb but he's been seeing out those races in grand style and, after just eight starts, still possesses serious potential.
18(0)
0-6211
Champagne Chic
-
J: Lorcan Williams
T: Jeremy Scott
6
10-7
131
151
Made debut in January last year and has won three of eight starts, including over about 3m at Wincanton (heavy) and Haydock (good to soft) on last two; 7lb rise since latest demands better still but he keeps finding for pressure and ended up just over 5l ahead last time, stretching on further from Minella Emperor on the run-in; better still could easily be on its way.
5(0)
0-9762
Minella Sixo
-
J: Danny Gilligan
T: Gordon Elliott
7
10-13
137
148
Second here (on good) early as novice but tailed off in the Martin Pipe last March; better over this sort of trip and surged back to form when a close second to Melbourne Shamrock in the Naas qualifier (2m7f, heavy) 18 days ago in a second-time visor, staying on strongly from off pace; requires better to justify this British mark but needs a second look for trainer who's done well in this race.
RACING POST TIP
C'Est Different
Supremely West is a hot favourite for Dan Skelton who's been something of a maestro in the handicap hurdles at this meeting. He's of major interest, of course, but is far from alone in that and preference is for C'EST DIFFERENT, who is one of the youngest and most lightly raced in the field, yet is unbeaten in four handicaps and swotted the opposition aside on his two attempts at this sort of trip. Absolutely Doyen has been doing something similar and has racked up an even longer winning sequence, and he is second on the list, ahead of the immensely likeable Electric Mason and topweight Staffordshire Knot, the latter for Gordon Elliott who also has a shout with Minella Sixo. Hat-trick seeker Champagne Chic may be best of the rest.
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Cheltenham Festival Tips
2026 Cheltenham Festival tips from Racing Post Experts
PERTEMPS HANDICAP PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2025 | Doddiethegreat | 7-5PP2 | 9 | 25-1 | Nicky Henderson | Brian Hughes |
| 2024 | Monmiral | 47-744 | 7 | 25-1 | Paul Nicholls | Harry Cobden |
| 2023 | Good Time Jonny | 4030 | 8 | 9-1 | A J Martin | Liam McKenna (5) |
| 2022 | Third Wind | 1P-733 | 8 | 25-1 | Hughie Morrison | Tom O’Brien |
| 2021 | Mrs Milner | 1324F | 6 | 12-1 | Paul Nolan | Bryan Cooper |
| 2020 | Sire Du Berlais | 18-494 | 8 | 10-1 | Gordon Elliott | Barry Geraghty |
| 2019 | Sire Du Berlais | 248-86 | 7 | 4-1 | Gordon Elliott | Barry Geraghty |
| 2018 | Delta Work | 33243 | 5 | 6-1 | Gordon Elliott | Davy Russell |
| 2017 | Presenting Percy | 11541 | 6 | 11-1 | Pat Kelly | Davy Russell |
| 2016 | Mall Dini | 31433 | 6 | 14-1 | Pat Kelly | Davy Russell |
| 2015 | Call The Cops | 421-41 | 6 | 9-1 | Nicky Henderson | Andrew Tinkler |
PERTEMPS HANDICAP KEY TRENDS AND STATS
Key trends
- Aged six to eight, 8/10
- Top-four finish last completed start, 8/10
- Officially rated 138-148, 7/10
- Winning form between 2m4f and 2m6f, 7/10
- Six to ten runs over hurdles, 8/10
Other factors
- Six winners had yet to win over 3m and the same number had run at the festival before.
- In 2018, Delta Work became the first successful five-year-old since Pragada in 1988, while Buena Vista in 2011 was the first aged older than nine to oblige since 1981.
- Four winners carried at least 11st 9lb.
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WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - PERTEMPS HANDICAP 2026
Nicky Henderson saddled a 1-2 in the Pertemps Final with 25-1 shot Doddiethegreat beating the 11-2 favourite Jeriko Du Reponet. Brian Hughes’s mount pounced late to deny the market leader by a length and three-quarters. It was Henderson’s first victory in the race since Call The Cops in 2015.