16:40 Cheltenham

Thursday 12 March 2026

All13:2014:0014:4015:2016:0016:4017:20

Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

5YO plus | Class 1 | 2m 7f 213y | 24 Runners | Turf

Staffordshire Knot^b³²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 152| D

14/1

In the form of his life this winter, winning for a third time when seeing off stablemate Better Days Ahead in the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle at Navan (2¾m, heavy) 32 days ago. A high-class handicap performance will be needed to defy clear top weight here, though.

Form: 9/31121

Gowel Road¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Toby McCain-Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 148| CD

16/1

Smart hurdler who landed last season's Cleeve Hurdle over C&D.and good fourth of 6 to Ma Shantou in this year's renewal of that race. Creditable second in 3m Chepstow handicap last month on a rare outing away from Cheltenham.

Form: 037442

Electric Mason¹¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Freddie Gordon| T: C Gordon| OR: 139| D

8/1

Landed maiden/novice hurdles at Fontwell last winter and has taken it up another notch in handicaps this season, finishing second to Ma Shantou in a qualifier here before landing the valuable Betfair Stayers' at Haydock (3m, good to soft) in November. Kept fresh for this since.

Form: 5107/21-

Ace Of Spades⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Skelton| OR: 139| C

10/1

Steadily progressive over hurdles, getting back to winning ways in 25f Huntingdon handicap (soft) in January. Harry Skelton prefers Supremely West this time but this 7-y-o is still capable of giving a good account.

Form: 42/1421-

Minella Sixo^v¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 137| D

22/1

Easily best effort this season when edged out by the reopposing Melbourne Shamrock in 23f Naas handicap (heavy) 18 days ago, although he hung left under pressure. Jack Kennedy switches to Staffordshire Knot this time.

Form: F0-9762

Kikijo⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Callum Pritchard⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 135| CD

12/1

Chase winner over 2½m last winter and has progressed again back hurdling this season, winning here before seeing off Turndlightsdownlow by ¾ length (pair clear) in a qualifier for this race at Sandown (3m, soft) in December. Seemingly saved for this since and his mark is still workable.

Form: 412/411-

Supremely West⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 135| D

3/1

Encouraging reappearance third to Ma Shantou and Electric Mason here in October on his first start for Dan Skelton. Has had excuses for a couple of his defeats since and very well handicapped on that reappearance form for a yard with strong record in handicap hurdles at this meeting.

Form: 63/3546-

Absolutely Doyen⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135| D

12/1

Made it 5-5 for Paul Nicholls when seeing off 4 rivals in 3m Musselburgh novice at the end of January. Has a lot more on his plate back in a handicap but he's almost certainly capable of better again.

Form: 2/11111-

Red Dirt Road²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 134| D

33/1

Relished the step up in trip when bagging a major pot at Sandown (23.5f) last February. Pulled up on next 2 outings but took a step back in the right direction when 13½ lengths fourth of 13 to Champagne Chic at Haydock (3m, good to soft) 26 days ago. Will need to build on that again.

Form: 511P-P4

Classic King⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Ben Jones| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 134

25/1

Dual 19f hurdles/chase winner last term. Creditable efforts on all 3 starts this season (10½ lengths fourth of 9 to Absolutely Doyen at Wincanton latest) but doesn't obviously have anything in hand off his mark.

Form: 132/464-

Lavida Adiva²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: B S Hughes| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 133| D

20/1

Successful twice last season and took advantage of some below-par rivals when bagging 5-runner listed event at Doncaster in December. Found life tougher in Grade 2 company since and races off a career-high mark back in a handicap.

Form: 2-34143

Ikarak^p⁶⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 133| D

40/1

Made it 4 wins from 8 starts since joining Olly Murphy when seeing off 9 rivals at Ayr (3m, soft) in January. Hard to knock that record but he'll require a big career best to land another victory here off 6 lb higher.

Form: 152-131

Duke Silver³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Hugh Horgan⁽⁵⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 133| D

25/1

Career best when beating Yeah Man to win 18-runner handicap at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting (23f, good). Heavy ground possibly stretched his stamina when a well-held seventh over 3m there at the Dublin Racing Festival. His mark demands improvement.

Form: 241017

Yeah Man^p²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Conor Stone-Walsh⁽³⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 133| D

20/1

Second in the Troytown at Navan in November and shaped well from his lower hurdle mark when chasing home the reopposing Duke Silver at Leopardstown (23f, good) over Christmas. Found 2m too sharp for him in Gowran Grade 3 hurdle latest and better can be expected back over further.

Form: 9-622P6

Melbourne Shamrock^b1¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Donagh Meyler| T: E Mullins| OR: 132| D

16/1

Lightly-raced sort who qualified for this race when edging out Minella Sixo over 23f in the mud at Navan 18 days ago. First-time blinkers now replace the cheekpieces he wore on that occasion. Open to further improvement.

Form: 3/P-4241

Idy Wood⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 132

50/1

Made a successful return to hurdling at Uttoxeter (2½m) in September. Went in again at Kempton in November but his run of good form came to a halt at Windsor on New Year's Day. Has stamina to prove racing beyond 21f for the first time.

Form: 41-1410

Letos⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Danny Mullins| T: A Mullins| OR: 132

12/1

Won a 2½m Naas handicap in November and improved again when second of 6 at Carlisle (25f, soft) in December. Flying too high in a Naas Grade 1 novice last time but boasts a progressive profile in handicaps.

Form: 42-2120

Champagne Chic^p²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott| OR: 131| D

11/1

Very much going the right way, defeating Turndlightsdownlow (pair clear) at Wincanton (heavy) in January before proving 5½ lengths too strong for Minella Emperor at Haydock (3m, good to soft). Another 7 lb higher now but he appeals as one who can continue to progress.

Form: 40/6211-

C'est Different⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Dylan Johnston| T: S Thomas| OR: 131| D

6/1

Rapid improver who made it 4-4 in handicaps when seeing off 16 rivals at Newbury (3m, good to soft) in January. Likely capable of even better and a must for the shortlist.

Form: 4711/11-

Minella Emperor^p²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Mr M J O'Neill⁽⁷⁾| T: E Mullins| OR: 130

12/1

Fairly useful bumper winner who has shaped with plenty of encouragement all 4 completed starts over hurdles, particularly when second to Champagne Chic in 3m Haydock handicap last month. Refitted with the cheekpieces he wore in bumpers. One of 2 interesting contenders for Emmet Mullins.

Form: 1P432-2

Bold Endeavour^p⁴⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 130| D

7/1

Struggled last season but showed much of his old spark when third of 6 Ace of Spades in 25f Huntingdon handicap hurdle on reappearance 7 weeks ago. Fourth in this race off 13 lb higher in 2024 so he's dangerously well treated if staging a full-scale revival.

Form: 007PP/3-

Onewaywest⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Elliott England⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 129

25/1

Much improved over hurdles this season, winning at Warwick/Wetherby in quicky succession in November. Set to go close to completing the hat-trick when falling at the last at Kempton on Boxing Day and showed he's none the worse when second to Ace of Spades over 25f at Huntingdon 7 weeks ago.

Form: 52/11F2-

Idem³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: P W Wadge| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 128

40/1

Largely consistent sort who shrugged off a lesser effort at Haydock just before Christmas when second of 13 over 3m at Musselburgh (good to soft) last month. Yard going well.

Form: 40-2582

Ike Sport^h⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 127

40/1

Second to Absolutely Doyen at Wincanton on Boxing Day. Another good effort when sixth of 15 in Lanzarote at Kempton in January but disappointed at Plumpton latest.

Form: 205266

Forecasts

Supremely West (4/1), C'est Different (8/1), Minella Emperor (10/1), Electric Mason (10/1), Melbourne Shamrock (12/1), Ace Of Spades (12/1), Kikijo (14/1), Staffordshire Knot (14/1), Absolutely Doyen (14/1), Bold Endeavour (14/1), Letos (16/1), Champagne Chic (16/1), Lavida Adiva (16/1), Yeah Man (16/1), Gowel Road (20/1), Minella Sixo (20/1), Onewaywest (25/1), Duke Silver (25/1), Classic King (25/1), Idy Wood (33/1), Red Dirt Road (33/1), Ikarak (33/1), Ike Sport (50/1), Idem (50/1)

SUPREMELY WEST has had possible excuses for a couple of his defeats since his promising third to Ma Shantou and the reopposing Electric Mason here in October (strong form) and is well treated if recapturing that level. Kikijo looks to have been kept fresh for this since winning twice at the end of 2025 and is second choice. Champagne Chic, C'est Different, Bold Endeavour, Absolutely Doyen and Emmet Mullins pair Melbourne Shamrock and Minella Emperor are others with plenty to recommend them.