Race number two on day three of the Cheltenham Festival is the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle. This is a three-mile contest with 24 runners heading to post and as you’d expect, it is very competitive.
For Good Measure is the horse leading the way in the betting right now for Richard Johnson and Phillip Hobbs.
This horse has been second in three of his last four runs and beaten by narrow margins in those encounters.
He is likely to have been trained with this race in mind and Richard Johnson grabbed a winner on Wednesday so will be full of confidence. He’s at 7/1.
At 8/1 you have Jury Duty for Gordon Elliot and Jack Kennedy.
This horse was a winner at Navan back in November and then went to Chepstow to get qualified for this race last month and was a decent second.
He’ll have been left with a bit to work on from that day and Elliot will have him primed for this occasion. He is towards the top of the weights.
You can back Impulsive Star at 9/1 and this horse looks to be really competitive for Sam Waley-Cohen and Neil Mulholland.
He has won his last two and I was really impressed with his Exeter run when last seen. The handicap has put him up ten pounds but the horse is still very unexposed and could be a massive player in this.
Presenting Percy won with any amount in hand at Fairyhouse last time out and the handicapper has certainly had his say, raising the horse 16 pounds.
He’s carrying a big weight here but is one of the classy horses in the contest and is another who could still improve for the Patrick Keily team.
Tobefair goes for small trainer Debra Hamer and won his last seven races, including four this season.
The handicapper does look to be having his say on this horse, but at 10/1 he could be a big price especially as he has been half that in some of the ante-post markets.
Isleofhopeandreams can be backed at 12/1 with El Bandit at 14/1.
Barney Dwan is at 20/1 and potentially quite interesting.
He unseated his rider a couple of starts ago but may have got very close to Tobefair and is a much bigger price than him in this.
The fourth at Exeter last time was perfect to get the horse qualified but no higher in the weights.
Golden Doyen and Electric Concorde are lively outsiders at around 20/1 and there are a number that can win this.
Joe's tip(s) for this race: [mepr-show if=”rule: 75342″] For us, BARNEY DWAN can go close and we will side with another big priced horse in the shape of CLONDAW CIAN, who has good form in the book and could be well treated. [/mepr-show] [mepr-active rule=”75342″ ifallowed=”hide”] Joe's tips are only available to Premium Tip members and above – You can join one of our services (including the FREE Premium Tip) here… [/mepr-active]
