Cheltenham Festival tips: Mark Howard Portfolio February 15

Cheltenham Festival tips: Mark Howard Portfolio

Southfield Harvest in Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle at 25/1

Already advised

• Mark Howard Portfolio (Feb 8) - Gentlemansgame in Albert Bartlett at 14/1
• Mark Howard Portfolio (Feb 1) - Brandy Love in Champion Bumper at 16/1
• Mark Howard Portfolio (Jan 18) - Dickie Diver in National Hunt Chase at 16/1
• Mark Howard Portfolio (Jan 11) - The Last Day in Grand Annual at 50/1
• Mark Howard Portfolio (Jan 4) - Fury Road in Stayers' Hurdle at 20/1

When it comes to the Pertemps Final, punters haven’t gone far wrong by following Gordon Elliott in recent times.

The triple Grand National-winning trainer, who has sent out 32 Cheltenham Festival winners, has won the last three renewals. Delta Work scored off a mark of 139 in 2018 and Sire Du Berlais has landed the prize for the last two seasons off 145 and 152.

Just for good measure, the same stable were also responsible for the runners-up in both 2018 and 2020, courtesy of Glenloe and The Storyteller respectively.

It is therefore no surprise that Elliott trains the ante-post favourite, The Bosses Oscar, this time around.

One of the eyecatchers of last year’s Festival when storming home in fifth position in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle when rated 138, the six year old hasn’t done much wrong in three outings this winter.

Successful in a conditions hurdle at Thurles in October, he then chased home the subsequent Grade 1 winner Flooring Porter in a Grade B handicap over three miles at Navan in early December. Runner-up once again in a Pertemps qualifier at Leopardstown over the Festival period, he was given an entry in a similar contest at Musselburgh’s trials meeting early this month.

Raised five pounds since his last start, The Bosses Oscar is rated 143 in Ireland, but the UK handicapper allocated him a lofty mark of 151 at the Scottish track. It goes without saying that the home ‘assessor’ hasn’t done the Irish raider any favours.

Multiple champion trainer Paul Nicholls has yet to win the Pertemps Final, but Southfield Theatre came within a whisker in 2014 when beaten a nose by Fingal Bay.

His half-brother SOUTHFIELD HARVEST looks an ideal candidate to go one better.

A lightly-raced gelding by Kayf Tara, he beat subsequent Grade 2 winning novice hurdle Stolen Silver in a good ground bumper at Chepstow nearly two years ago before winning over timber at Ludlow this time last year.

Runner-up in both his starts this campaign, he looked in need of the outing when tapped for speed when attempting to concede weight to the useful Shang Tang at Ascot on his reappearance.

Back in action a month later at Wincanton in a Pertemps qualifier on Boxing Day, he was edged out close home by Jacamar with the pair pulling 24 lengths clear of the third. His connections can feel aggrieved they weren’t awarded the contest in the stewards’ room having been carried across the run-in by the Milton Harris-trained winner.

Subsequently upped five pounds, his mark of 135 ought to ensure a place in the line up – the bottom weight last year was rated 131.

Southfield Harvest has been thwarted by the weather this month both at Sandown and Exeter (withdrawn due to the bottomless ground on Sunday), but it is possible he will line up at Newbury’s rescheduled fixture this weekend.

Unbeaten over three miles, each outing this season has been over two miles five and he has already shown his versatility ground wise with victories recorded on good and soft surfaces. The return to this longer distance will be an advantage and the fact he has only had four runs over hurdles, strongly suggests we haven’t seen the best of the seven year old.

Available at 25/1 with William Hill and 20/1 with both bet365, Betway and Unibet (or 16/1 NRNB with Paddy Power), Southfield Harvest has the profile to make a major impact in next month’s Pertemps Final.

Published at 1055 GMT on 15/02/21