To stand a chance of featuring in the Pertemps Final, runners needed to have finished in the top six in any of the qualifying races that were held earlier in the season. It’s a rather unique event in this aspect but it’s something which means this race consistently has a jam-packed field.
Taking place for the first time in 1974, this handicap hurdle was promoted to Grade 3 level in 2018 having previously being Listed class.
Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle Past Winners
| Year | Winner | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Mrs Milner | 12/1 | Paul Nolan | Bryan Cooper |
| 2020 | Sire Du Berlais | 10/1 | Gordon Elliott | Barry Geraghty |
| 2019 | Sire Du Berlais | 4/1 | Gordon Elliott | Barry Geraghty |
| 2018 | Delta Work | 6/1 | Gordon Elliott | Davy Russell |
| 2017 | Presenting Percy | 11/1 | Pat Kelly | Davy Russell |
| 2016 | Mall Dini | 14/1 | Pat Kelly | Davy Russell |
| 2015 | Call The Cops | 9/1 | Nicky Henderson | Andrew Tinkler |
| 2014 | Fingal Bay | 9/2 | Philip Hobbs | Richard Johnson |
| 2013 | Holywell | 25/1 | Jonjo O'Neill | Richie McLernon |
| 2012 | Cape Tribulation | 14/1 | Malcolm Jefferson | Denis O'Regan |
| 2011 | Buena Vista | 20/1 | David Pipe | Conor O'Farrell |
| 2010 | Buena Vista | 16/1 | David Pipe | Hadden Frost |
| 2009 | Kayf Aramis | 16/1 | Venetia Williams | Aidan Coleman |
| 2008 | Ballyfitz | 18/1 | Nigel Twiston-Davies | Paddy Brennan |
| 2007 | Oscar Park | 14/1 | David Arbuthnot | Tom Doyle |
| 2006 | Kadoun | 50/1 | Michael O'Brien | Tom Ryan |
| 2005 | Oulart | 10/1 | Dessie Hughes | Paul Carberry |
| 2004 | Creon | 50/1 | Jonjo O'Neill | Timmy Murphy |
| 2003 | Inching Closer | 6/1 | Jonjo O'Neill | Barry Geraghty |
| 2002 | Freetown | 20/1 | Len Lungo | Tony Dobbin |
| 2001 | Abandoned (foot & mouth) | - | - | - |
About the Pertemps Final Hurdle: Hugely Competitive Stayers Handicap
The organisers of the Cheltenham Festival understandably make a big deal of the fact that there are 14 Grade 1 races taking place across the four days of action. Race goers love the chance to see the very best horses across the various divisions compete against one another but punters always enjoy getting their teeth stuck into a competitive betting heat and in that regard there is nothing quite like a handicap.
The Pertemps Final Hurdle is one such race that always provides plenty of opportunity for punters. Not only is this three mile contest a handicap but it is one that all the competitors must qualify for earlier on in the National Hunt season.
There are 16 different opportunities in Britain and Ireland for connections to get their horses into the Pertemps Final Hurdle and have a crack at a winner’s prize that reached over £56,000 in 2020 though will be just over £42,000 in 2021. These are held at various courses in Britain and Ireland and horses must finish in the top six in at least one of them to have a chance of a place amongst the big field of the series final. The top six horses from the latest qualifiers can be found here.
Never Easy To Unravel
You might think that the presence of such a structured route to the Pertemps Final Hurdle would mean that predicting the winner is relatively easy. That is not the case. Horses who go off at odds of 20/1 or longer regularly claim places whilst winners at double figures are commonplace and winning favourites rare.
When picking through the form to try and pull out a potential winner the qualifying places do seem to be the most obvious place to start. Punters will certainly get some important insights from those them but it is well worth noting that only a small percentage of recent winners actually won the race that got them a place at Cheltenham.
Punters who want specific races to cast an eye over should look at October’s Cheltenham Qualifier and the Heroes Handicap run at Sandown in February even though it is not one of the qualifiers.
There are some important trends to consider for the Pertemps Final though. The race is open to horses aged five and older but Delta Work became only the second five-year-old to win since the race was introduced to the Cheltenham Festival in 1974. The key spell in terms of age is between six and nine so punters must have very good reasons for backing any horse who falls outside of this range.
The other range to carefully consider concerns the weights. Horses with an official rating of over 150 find it very difficult to make their class show with the amount of weight that they are forced to carry. Backing a horse carrying less than 11st is ideal but the unpredictable nature of the Pertemps Final Hurdle is reflected in the fact that even the top weighted horse has won previously. The latest to do so was Sire Du Berlais who won his second successive Pertemps Final in 2020 saddling 11st 12lbs.
This weigh carried by Sire Du Berlais was in fact the joint heaviest by any winning horse in the history of the race alongside Fingal Bay in 2014, 1lb more than the next highest weighted winner, Presenting Percy, who carried a hefty 11st 11lbs to victory in 2017. The lightest runners to win the race were Rogers Princess in 1989 and Creon in 2004, both of whom were carrying 10st 0lbs.
Pertemps Final Series Qualifiers Results
Below we have the top six finishers in each of the latest Pertemps Final qualifiers. Fourteen are from the UK and two from Ireland.
Cheltenham, 15:15, Saturday 24th October 2020
| Pos. | Horse | Odds | Weight | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Honest Vic | 12/1 | 10st 12lbs | Henry Daly | Richard Patrick |
| 2nd | Lock’s Corner | 20/1 | 10st 4lbs | Jonjo O’Neill | Richie McLernon |
| 3rd | Kansas City Chief | 18/1 | 9st 9lbs | Neil Mullholland | Victoria Malzard |
| 4th | Sirrobbie | 16/1 | 10st 4lbs | Harry Whittington | Adrian Heskin |
| 5th | Cotswold Way | 66/1 | 10st 3lbs | Philip Hobbs | Michael Nolan |
| 6th | Neville’s Cross | 10/3 | 10st 4lbs | Tom Lacey | Robbie Power |
Newbury, 14:30, Thursday 5th November 2020
| Pos. | Horse | Odds | Weight | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Dell’ Arca | 13/2 | 10st 3lbs | David Pipe | Fergus Gillard |
| 2nd | Dolphin Square | 11/2 | 11st 8lbs | Philip Hobbs | Richard Johnson |
| 3rd | Sammylou | 20/1 | 10st 4lbs | Graeme McPherson | Kielan Woods |
| 4th | Present Chief | 9/2 | 10st 8lbs | Jonjo O’Neill | Jonjo O’Neill Jr |
| 5th | Third Wind | 9/2 | 11st 12 lbs | Hughie Morrison | Tom O’Brien |
| 6th | Jammin Masters | 66/1 | 11st 1lb | Warren Greatrex | Adrian Heskin |
Aintree, 13:35, Saturday 7th November 2020
| Pos. | Horse | Odds | Weight | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Unowhatimeanharry | 12/1 | 11st 5lbs | Harry Fry | Kevin Brogan |
| 2nd | Mohaayed | 6/1 | 11st 4lbs | Dan Skelton | Harry Skelton |
| 3rd | Yes No Maybe So | 7/2 | 10st 8lbs | Tom Lacey | Jonathan Burke |
| 4th | Golan Fortune | 4/1 | 10st 8lbs | Phil Middleton | Mr Sam Lee |
| 5th | Flashjack | 40/1 | 11st 3lbs | Henry Daley | Tom O’Brien |
| 6th | Fagan | 20/1 | 10st 12lbs | Alex Hales | Kielan Woods |
Kempton, 14:48, Monday 9th November 2020
| Pos. | Horse | Odds | Weight | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Storm Goddess | 4/1 | 9st 7lbs | Charlie Longsdon | Tom Buckley |
| 2nd | Younevercall | 7/1 | 11st 12lbs | Kim Bailey | David Bass |
| 3rd | Boreham Bill | 12/1 | 9st 13lbs | Emma Lavelle | Ben Jones |
| 4th | Costwold Way | 10/1 | 9st 11lbs | Philip Hobbs | Sean Houlihan |
| 5th | Who’s My Jockey | 9/1 | 10st 0lbs | Richard Hobson | Jack Tudor |
| 6th | Flashing Glance | 10/3 | 10st 11lbs | Tom Lacey | Stan Sheppard |
Market Rasen, 13:30, Thursday 19th November 2020
| Pos. | Horse | Odds | Weight | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Teescomponents Lad | 7/1 | 10st 9lbs | Gillian Boanas | Sean Quinlan |
| 2nd | First Lord De Cuet | 6/4 | 10st 0lbs | David Pipe | Fergus Gillard |
| 3rd | Regarding Ruth | 5/1 | 10st 2lbs | Lucy Wadham | Bryony Frost |
| 4th | Tower Bridge | 12/1 | 11st 12lbs | Joseph O’Brien | Aidan Coleman |
| 5th | No Comment | 18/1 | 11st 4lbs | Philip Hobbs | Richard Johnson |
| 6th | Label Des Obeaux | 9/1 | 10st 7lbs | Alan King | Tom Cannon |
Sandown, 15:00, Friday 4th December 2020
| Pos. | Horse | Odds | Weight | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Portrush Ted | 12/1 | 11st 12lbs | Warren Greatrex | Gavin Sheehan |
| 2nd | Storm Arising | 5/1 | 11st 7lbs | Paul Nicholls | Harry Cobden |
| 3rd | Farrants Way | 4/1 | 11st 0lbs | Venetia Williams | Charlie Deutsch |
| 4th | Flemcara | 15/2 | 11st 0lbs | Emma Lavelle | Ben Jones |
| 5th | Illegal Model | 6/1 | 11st 5lbs | Charlie Longsdon | S. Twiston-Davies |
| 6th | Espion | 4/1 | 11st 1lb | Philip Hobbs | Richard Johnson |
Carlisle, 14:10, Sunday 13th December 2020
| Pos. | Horse | Odds | Weight | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Captain Zebo | 4/1 | 11st 5lbs | John Dixon | Mr John Dixon |
| 2nd | Ask Dillon | 5/2 | 11st 12lbs | Fergal O’Brien | Paddy Brennan |
| 3rd | Chapel Stile | 9/1 | 10st 9lbs | Nicky Richards | Ryan Day |
| 4th | Aurora Thunder | 12/1 | 10st 0lbs | Lucinda Russell | Blair Campbell |
| 5th | Getaround | 5/2 | 11st 2lbs | Ella Pickard | Bryan Carver |
| 6th | Justatenner | 28/1 | 11st 1lb | Tristan Davidson | Harry Reed |
Wincanton, 14:45, Saturday 26th December 2020
| Pos. | Horse | Odds | Weight | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Jacamar | 11/1 | 10st 12lbs | Milton Harris | Mitchell Bastyan |
| 2nd | Southfield Harvest | 4/1 | 11st 1lb | Paul Nicholls | Lorcan Williams |
| 3rd | Neachells Bridge | 40/1 | 10st 13lbs | Neil Mulholland | Robert Dunne |
| 4th | Tedham | 11/4 | 10st 11lbs | Jonjo O’Neill | Kevin Brogan |
| 5th | Mario De Pail | 4/1 | 11st 7lbs | Sam Thomas | Jordan Nailor |
| 6th | Miss Honey Ryder | 28/1 | 10st 5lbs | Warren Greatrex | Harry Bannister |
12:40 Leopardstown, Monday 28th December 2020
| Pos. | Horse | Odds | Weight | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Dandy Mag | 16/1 | 10st 13lbs | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2nd | The Bosses Oscar | 11/2 | 11st 3lbs | Gordon Elliot | Bryan Cooper |
| 3rd | Unexpected Death | 9/2 | 10st 10lbs | Oliver McKiernan | Liam McKenna |
| 4th | Mrs Milner | 7/1 | 10st 8lbs | Paul Nolan | Sean O’Keeffe |
| 5th | Anything Will Do | 28/1 | 10st 12lbs | Joseph O’Brien | J J Slevin |
| 6th | Morosini | 8/1 | 11st 2lbs | Jessica Harrington | Mark Walsh |
Warwick, 15:35, Saturday 16th January 2021
| Pos. | Horse | Odds | Weight | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Imperial Alcazar | 5/1 | 11st 2lbs | Fergal O’Brien | Paddy Brennan |
| 2nd | Mr Harp | 7/1 | 10st 0lbs | Thomas Gallagher | Jack Quinlan |
| 3rd | Come On Teddy | 9/2 | 10st 11lbs | Tom George | S. Twiston-Davies |
| 4th | Saint Dalina | 16/1 | 9st 9lbs | Charlie Longsdon | Tom Buckley |
| 5th | Tobefair | 22/1 | 11st 12lbs | Debra Hamer | Harry Cobden |
| 6th | Kepagge | 9/1 | 10st 12lbs | David Pipe | Tom Scudamore |
Huntingdon, Friday 29th January 2021
| Pos. | Horse | Odds | Weight | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abandoned | – | – | – | – | – |
Musselburgh, 14:55, Sunday 7th February 2021
| Pos. | Horse | Odds | Weight | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Taxmeifyoucan | 16/1 | 10st 7lbs | Keith Dalgleish | Conor O’Farrell |
| 2nd | Kaizer | 5/2 | 10st 4lbs | Alistair Whillans | Sean Quinlan |
| 3rd | Keeper Hill | 13/2 | 11st 12lbs | Warren Greatrex | Adrian Heskin |
| 4th | Whirling Dervish | 6/1 | 11st 0lbs | Johnny Levins | Aidan Coleman |
| 5th | Prince Kayf | 6/1 | 10st 12lbs | Keith Dalgleish | Craig Nichol |
| 6th | Nikgarde | 13/2 | 9st 13lbs | James Ewart | Rachael McDonald |
Exeter, 16:10, Sunday 14th Exeter 2021
| Pos. | Horse | Odds | Weight | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Brinkley | 10/3 | 10st 7lbs | David Pipe | Tom Scudamore |
| 2nd | Tommy Rapper | 16/1 | 10st 3lbs | Dan Skelton | Harry Skelton |
| 3rd | Flemcara | 7/2 | 9st 12lbs | Emma Lavelle | Ben Jones |
| 4th | Ask Dillon | 3/1 | 10st 6lbs | Fergal O’Brien | Liam Harrison |
| 5th | Flashjack | 33/1 | 10st 0lbs | Henry Daly | Richard Patrick |
| 6th | Agrapart | 13/2 | 10st 6lbs | Mrs Jane Williams | Chester Williams |
Haydock, 15:50, Saturday 20th February 2021
| Pos. | Horse | Odds | Weight | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Bushypark | 8/1 | 10st 8lbs | Philip Kirby | Thomas Dowson |
| 2nd | Champagne Platinum | 6/1 | 11st 12lbs | Nicky Henderson | James Bowen |
| 3rd | Everglow | 4/1 | 10st 11lbs | Philip Hobbs | Ben Jones |
| 4th | Redford Road | 10/1 | 11st 6lbs | N. Twiston-Davies | Jordan Nailor |
| 5th | Potters Hedger | 11/1 | 11st 6lbs | Lucy Wadham | Jack Quinlan |
| 6th | Elf De Re | 18/1 | 11st 4lbs | Sandy Thomson | Ryan Mania |
Punchestown, Wednesday 24th February 2021
| Pos. | Horse | Odds | Weight | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abandoned | – | – | – | – | – |
Chepstow, 14:57, Thursday 25th February 2021
| Pos. | Horse | Odds | Weight | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Blackjack Kentucky | 7/2 | 10st 12lbs | Paul Nicholls | Harry Cobden |
| 2nd | Spiritofthegames | 5/1 | 11st 5lbs | Dan Skelton | Bridget Andrews |
| 3rd | Poker Play | 2/1 | 10st 3lbs | David Pipe | Fergus Gillard |
| 4th | Perfect Man | 17/2 | 10st 13lbs | Sophie Leech | Adrian Heskin |
| 5th | Copperhead | 8/1 | 11st 12lbs | Colin Tizzard | Jonjo O’Neill Jr |
| 6th | Digger Daudaie | 5/1 | 9st 12lbs | Charlie Longsdon | Tom Buckley |