13:55 Cheltenham

Thursday 18 March 2021

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:50

Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 5m 59.0s

The Bosses Oscar⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jordan Gainford⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 151

10/3

Winning return at Thurles in October and runner-up in 3m handicaps both starts since, shaping particularly well in a big field at Leopardstown over Christmas. Lofty mark but still high on shortlist.

Form: 125-122

Unowhatimeanharry^p,t⁹⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 11-12| J: K Brogan⁽⁵⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 151| CD

50/1

Confirmed he's still capable of smart form when landing handicap at Aintree on return from 8 months off in November. Effort best excused next time and kept fresh for this since.

Form: 4250-10

Brinkley^p³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 148

16/1

Very progressive bar a blip on his Exeter reappearance, getting his career firmly back on track with a pair of wins in cheekpieces since. Put up another 8 lb but could easily have more to give.

Form: 731-P11

Dandy Mag³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148| D

20/1

Beat The Bosses Oscar and Mrs Milner when winning 20-runner event at Leopardstown in December. Not in the same form when only midfield there in February but could easily bounce back.

Form: 450-810

Imperial Alcazar^t⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 147

11/2

Shaped as if needing run on reappearance and very much back on the up with 25f Warwick win in January. That form looks very solid and he's a leading contender here despite an 8 lb rise.

Form: 1221-91

Ask Dillon^p³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Liam Harrison⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 144| BF| D

28/1

Drawn a blank since his novice season but he's posted 4 very solid efforts in defeat in staying handicap hurdles this season. Another from this yard who could be in the shake-up

Form: 0-F4224

Copperhead²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 143| D

40/1

Grade 2 novice chase winner last term. Things haven't gone to plan this time round but there were slightly better signs at Chepstow last time and his yard has been among the winners in recent days.

Form: 11F-PP5

Keeper Hill^p1³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Adrian Heskin| T: W Greatrex| OR: 142| D

40/1

Smart but clumsy chaser who has performed with credit when third back over hurdles on his last 2 starts, the latter a Musselburgh handicap over 3¼m. Has cheekpieces on for the first time.

Form: 3-44533

Spiritofthegames²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 141| D

18/1

Another good effort in a competitive handicap chase here when second in Paddy Power Gold Cup in November. Second over 3m at Chepstow back hurdling last time. Possibly more to come over hurdles.

Form: 26-2482

Storm Arising⁶⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 140| D

20/1

Progressive stepped up to around 3m this term, winning at Lingfield and Chepstow and good second at Sandown in between. Further 4 lb rise may not prevent another prominent showing.

Form: 430-121

Champagne Platinum^p²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 139| D

17/2

Well backed in Kim Muir last season but he's never entirely convinced over fences and has shaped well back hurdling this time round, very much catching the eye at Haydock last month. Big player.

Form: 5437-32

No Comment^h,t²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 137

50/1

Let down by his jumping over fences last term and back in form over hurdles this season, including narrowly denied at Hereford in December. Set for third when falling 2 out latest. Back up in trip.

Form: 5FF-52F

Anything Will Do³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 137

22/1

Not disgraced in competitive 3m Leopardstown handicaps on his last 2 starts but will need a career best to overcome this mark. Others hold stronger claims.

Form: 123655

Mrs Milner^t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: B J Cooper| T: P Nolan| OR: 134

12/1

Winner on 2m Galway reappearance in July. Good efforts in defeat around 3m on next 3 starts. Fell latest. Still well handicapped and player if none the worse for that.

Form: 2-1324F

Redford Road²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 134| CD

40/1

Useful staying novice hurdler. Didn't really click for him over fences to end 2020 but he made a sound return to hurdles when fourth to Bushypark at Haydock last month. Each-way claims.

Form: 0-38374

Come On Teddy⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 134| BF| CD

10/1

Left reappearance run well behind when landing competitive C&D handicap in December. Creditable 5 lengths third of 13 to reopposing Imperial Alcazar at Warwick. Likely to give another good account.

Form: 241-413

Perfect Man^t,v1²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Oakley Brown⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 133| D

125/1

Ended time with Olly Murphy with Leicester selling win in December. Has run creditably on 2 of 3 starts for new yard since but vulnerable in a race as competitive as this. Visor replaces cheekpieces.

Form: 6-41574

Storm Goddess^t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Tom Buckley⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 131| BF

18/1

Multiple hurdles winner, the latest in 21f Kempton handicap (21f) in November. Not beaten far in 3m listed race there 2 weeks later and warmed up for this with a run in a jumpers bumper last month.

Form: 334145

Potters Hedger^v²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: J M Quinlan| T: L Wadham| OR: 131| D

125/1

Suited by the emphasis on stamina when landing 3m heavy-ground Haydock handicap last month in a change of headgear. Only fifth back there since, though. Others more obvious.

Form: 01-2915

Everglow^b1,t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 126

40/1

Ascot maiden winner in December who has made a solid start in handicaps since, 10¾ lengths third of 12 to reopposing Bushypark at Haydock (3m) latterly. First-time blinkers added to tongue tie.

Form: 3-52173

Kansas City Chief^p²⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 10-1| J: Millie Wonnacott⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 126| D

28/1

Veteran who stepped up on his comeback run when third over C&D in October. Not at best both runs since, finishing a remote third at Wincanton latterly. Sixth in this 12 months ago.

Form: R6-6373

Milliner¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 126| BF

7/1

Lightly-raced 8-y-o who has posted a couple of good runs in handicaps since returning from an absence, proving stamina for 3m when third at Punchestown 17 days ago. Has crept in and he's interesting.

Form: 129/53

Non-Runners

Southfield Harvest²⁵

Weight: 10-13| Age: 7

T: P F Nicholls J: Non Runner

Getaround⁹⁵

Weight: 10-10| Age: 6

T: Mrs L J Young J: Bryan Carver

Bushypark²⁶

Weight: 10-7| Age: 7

T: P A Kirby J: Non Runner

Forecasts

The Bosses Oscar (10/3), Imperial Alcazar (11/2), Milliner (7/1), Champagne Platinum (17/2), Come On Teddy (10/1), Mrs Milner (12/1), Southfield Harvest (14/1), Brinkley (16/1), Bushypark (16/1), Spiritofthegames (18/1), Storm Goddess (18/1), Dandy Mag (20/1), Storm Arising (20/1), Anything Will Do (22/1), Ask Dillon (28/1), Kansas City Chief (28/1), Everglow (40/1), Copperhead (40/1), Keeper Hill (40/1), Redford Road (40/1), Unowhatimeanharry (50/1), No Comment (50/1), Getaround (50/1), Potters Hedger (125/1), Perfect Man (125/1)

The Irish have dominated this in recent years but it's the British who are taken to come out on top this time, with impressive Warwick winner IMPERIAL ALCAZAR selected to make light of an 8 lb rise and prove too strong for Champagne Platinum. The Bosses Oscar and Southfield Harvest are also high on the shortlist.