IT'S never easy finding the Pertemps winner, Graeme Johnston (@GraemeJ_83) is our man to unravel it this year.
Cheltenham 14:10 | Pertemps Final Handicap | ITV1
The Pertemps Final Handicap is not the highest quality race the festival has to offer however it's a fiercely competitive betting heat and plenty of these have chances. There are 24 lining up so I'm going to look at a couple to back against the field.
For Good Measure was second over course and distance in October in his qualifier and repeated that feat in December when he was last seen. He'll relish the ground and handles the track so he was high on my shortlist for this. However it appears I wasn't the only one to notice this and his price has shortened significantly in the past week. I wouldn't put anyone off him here.
Jury Duty is another that's been well supported and this consistent sort represents the meetings top trainer so far. He has big field experience and stays really well however in a field this big I'm not looking to back something at single figure odds.
Stories of the season
Tobefair has been one of the stories of the season and Debra Hamer has worked wonders with this gelding since he arrived in her yard. It's plausible there is more to come as he only seems to do enough and the romantic in me wants to see him win. However this is by far his toughest task to date and despite having no worries regarding the ground I'm willing to chance his winning sequence ends here.
Barney Dwan was a very good hurdler last season and after a luckless start to his chasing career (terrible mistake when race at mercy and brought down when travelling well) he was switched back to hurdles.
His bad luck continued however and he unseated late on when looking a huge threat to Tobefair (it's also worth noting he's now 12 lbs better off with that rival too). I have a feeling his last race was to qualify for the race rather than to win that day and he is a huge threat here at a big price. He forms half of my bet.
Golden Doyen seems at his best on a good surface and after a busy summer campaign which culminated in him qualifying for this he was given a well deserved break. Connections will be delighted that the rain has stayed away from Prestbury Park and conditions look perfect for Golden Doyen to run a huge race at double figure odds.
Best Bets
Pertemps Final Handicap – Barney Dwan each-way (18/1 10BET)
Pertemps Final Handicap – Golden Doyen each-way (18/1 10BET)
