2026 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle

[kinloch brae]

Wasn’t he O’Brien’s race planner?

Yes, that's what I was alluding to. I don't remember too many successful steers. There were plenty of handicappers from that yard he didn't mention at all. The guy seems to have more jobs than Derek Thompson.

 

[darlojim]

Yes, that's what I was alluding to. I don't remember too many successful steers. There were plenty of handicappers from that yard he didn't mention at all. The guy seems to have more jobs than Derek Thompson.

Specifically remembering Kevin mentioning on the ATR preview that Lark in the Mornin wasn't a definite runner in the Boodles

When he absolutely was

 

[Garrison Savannah]

For me Blake shines when he’s writing in depth pieces on the industry. The BHA, HRI, horse welfare, etc. I don’t always agree with him but he has a talent for writing and he gets his points across well

Tipping wise, I’d sooner follow that racing blogger fella…

 

[FinalFurlong91]

Yes, that's what I was alluding to. I don't remember too many successful steers. There were plenty of handicappers from that yard he didn't mention at all. The guy seems to have more jobs than Derek Thompson.

I doubt hed be racing manager for long if he was telling the public about the good things they are lining up and nuking the price

Same with skelton on kateira. First thing it made me do was check what else he had in the race.

 

[Prestbury]

How good a tipster is Blake? I have never got the impression he is much cop, although of course he might be keeping plenty to himself. That's the way it seems with O'Brien runners, similar with Walsh and Mullins. I often wonder what the point of Walsh is, particularly when he often admits he knows nothing about betting.

Going back to Blake, I was surprised he had a hotline to a trainer who hardly has any runners, and barely trains ten winners a year. It's a far from her father who consistently unearthed a couple of good one's. Lavida Adiva is now an awful price. She ran second in a big field Cheltenham handicap two years ago. That was from a mark about two stone below where she is now. She has gone up from running in very small races, most of which she hasn't won. I would be very surprised if she is a serious factor.

The reason he still has a decent following for his Cheltenham tips is that back in 2021 he tipped Mrs Milner ante post in the Pertemps at 33/1 (won at 12/1) and then on the day on ITV had Mrs Milner and 2 other fairly decent priced horses who all came in. He's a smart guy who obviously knows his horses but this doesn't necessarily translate to great tipster. I find his writing better.

 

[Muswell]

Tellmesomethinggirl was one of the other ones he tipped

 

[kinloch brae]

The reason he still has a decent following for his Cheltenham tips is that back in 2021 he tipped Mrs Milner ante post in the Pertemps at 33/1 (won at 12/1) and then on the day on ITV had Mrs Milner and 2 other fairly decent priced horses who all came in. He's a smart guy who obviously knows his horses but this doesn't necessarily translate to great tipster. I find his writing better.

Just checked back and I backed Mrs Milner at 35/1. In fact today is the 5 year anniversary of that bet. It wasn't unpickable.

 

[riccirich]

The reason he still has a decent following for his Cheltenham tips is that back in 2021 he tipped Mrs Milner ante post in the Pertemps at 33/1 (won at 12/1) and then on the day on ITV had Mrs Milner and 2 other fairly decent priced horses who all came in. He's a smart guy who obviously knows his horses but this doesn't necessarily translate to great tipster. I find his writing better.

Tbh even just that is better than anything 90% of the tipsters out there have ever done

I dont follow his tips blindly at all, but like you say he has come up with a few good ones at big prices so if I hear him make a particularly good case for one at this time of year I always follow in. Mrs Milner I remember is the one I went in heaviest on of the ones i heard him put up as the case and price were both very good. I've backed lavida adiva too as I knew she'd be cut but wouldn't be as confident.

 

[Markmightbite]

The reason he still has a decent following for his Cheltenham tips is that back in 2021 he tipped Mrs Milner ante post in the Pertemps at 33/1 (won at 12/1) and then on the day on ITV had Mrs Milner and 2 other fairly decent priced horses who all came in. He's a smart guy who obviously knows his horses but this doesn't necessarily translate to great tipster. I find his writing better.

And remember he picked the reverse tricast in the derby.. he’s lived off that for months that paid huge!

 

[kinloch brae]

And remember he picked the reverse tricast in the derby.. he’s lived off that for months that paid huge!

I think some of those tipping on television see the merit in throwaway darts. Nobody remembers the losers. The Weaver Shark has been doing that for years.

 

[Eggs]

….PP cut Letos into 12-1 NRNB, still 20-1 out there.

 

[robith]

How good a tipster is Blake? I have never got the impression he is much cop, although of course he might be keeping plenty to himself. That's the way it seems with O'Brien runners, similar with Walsh and Mullins. I often wonder what the point of Walsh is, particularly when he often admits he knows nothing about betting.

Going back to Blake, I was surprised he had a hotline to a trainer who hardly has any runners, and barely trains ten winners a year. It's a far from her father who consistently unearthed a couple of good one's. Lavida Adiva is now an awful price. She ran second in a big field Cheltenham handicap two years ago. That was from a mark about two stone below where she is now. She has gone up from running in very small races, most of which she hasn't won. I would be very surprised if she is a serious factor.

He's not a great tipster, the price rush is a combination of ATR hyping up "40/1 Kevin Blake NAP!!!!" in all their promo, and him putting up Mrs Milner a few years ago in the same race, which was also part of that insane treble he put up on itv on the day

 

[Killiney]

After the final qualifier here are the qualifiers in handicap mark order. I have added 3lb to the Irish marks. There are 24 spaces available which at first glance makes Ike Sport / Keable last on the list. However, there are a few adjustments to be made :
1) Keable will get a rise in the weights on Tuesday morning for winning on Saturday. This is likely to be at least 3lb and so will move him up the rankings by a few spaces.
2) Melbourne Shamrock will get a mark on Tuesday that will take into account his win at Naas today. He is likely to get a few lbs on top of any UK tax. This is likely to move him up to around the 130 mark and likely in the weights. Even if it doesn't then he will still get a place being a winner as long as i) Impose Toi isn't declared and ii) Staffordshire Knot's rating is not more than 28lb higher than his.
3) Yeah Man only has an Irish mark of 123. With a typical 3lb tax he would only be on 126 and would miss out. However, earlier in the season he was entered in a GB hcap and given a mark of 133 by the GB handicapper who places more credence on chase ratings than his Irish counterpart. It is unlikely that this would have been adjusted downward significantly so it is likely that he would get in.
4) Duke Silver has an Irish mark of 126. If given a UK mark of less than 130 then he would still get a place as long as Impose Toi did not run and Staffordshire Knot's rating was not more than 28lbs higher.
5) Minella Emperor was 2nd last week off a UK mark of 129. The winner was given a rise of 7lb and based on this then Minella Emperor should get at least a 2lb increase, taking him to 131 which would be sufficient to get him a run.

Based on the above I would expect the lowest GB horse to be Bold Endeavour in space 20 on a mark of 130 with the additional 4 places going to the first four horses listed above (my assumption is that Impose Toi will not run and Staffordshire Knot's rating will be less than 155). Onewaywest would be the first horse to miss out on a mark of 129. Of course, any non declarations / scratchings above him would see him run.


1 Impose Toi 159
2 Staffordshire Knot 152
3 Gowel Road 146
4 Electric Mason 139
5 Ace Of Spades 139
6 Supremely West 135
7 Kikijo 135
8 Absolutely Doyen 135
9 Red Dirt Road 134
10 Letos 134
11 Classic King 134
12 Millstream Lady 133
13 Ikarak 133
14 Lavida Adiva 133
15 Idy Wood 132
16 Minella Emperor 132 (UK mark was 129 but will be reassessed for his 2nd last week - based on the winner he should get at least a 2lb rise to 131)
17 Minella Sixo 132 (Rated 129 in Ireland and Sunday 2nd needs to be reassessed plus a UK tax very likely to be fine).
18 C'est Different 131
19 Champagne Chic 131
20 Bold Endeavour 130
21 Duke Silver 129 (Rated 126 in Ireland. If rated below 129 would still get in if within 28lb of top weight as a qualifier winner).
22 Onewaywest 129
23 Idem 128
24 Ike Sport 127
25 Keable 127 (Saturday win to be assessed)
26 Yeah Man 126 (given a UK mark of 133 previously)
27 Lihyan 126
28 Beachcomber 126
29 Turndlightsdownlow 125
30 Melbourne Shamrock 124 (Sunday win to still be assessed)
31 Eyed 122
32 Ambion View 122
33 Ontheropes 121
34 Tranquil Sea 119
35 El Capitaine 119
36 Small Town Hero 118
37 Found A Diamond 117

This is very helpful Prestbury - many thanks - when do you think the amended Irish horses will be included ?

 

[Prestbury]

This is very helpful Prestbury - many thanks - when do you think the amended Irish horses will be included ?

Weights are all finalised now. Bold Endeavour is no. 24 in the hcap. If anything drops out then the next horses are (in order) 25. Onewaywest, 26. Idem 27. Ike Sport

 

[FinalFurlong91]

Supremely west a sea of blue again today

Into a best of 5s

 

[Eggs]

Supremely west a sea of blue again today

Into a best of 5s

….Harry Skelton talked positively about his chances on telly this morning. Mind you, he talked positively about most of theirs.

 

[Lobos]

….Harry Skelton talked positively about his chances on telly this morning. Mind you, he talked positively about most of theirs.

Yep, the owner had a runner at Kelso and said it was his best chance of a festival winner. Has quite a few going there (10 entered), some with Gavin Cromwell.

Only JP has had more runners than his owner this season.

 

[FinalFurlong91]

….Harry Skelton talked positively about his chances on telly this morning. Mind you, he talked positively about most of theirs.

Well i hope he gives the horse a better ride than he gave theirs in the morebattle today

 

[Eggs]

Electric Mason is another of Gordon’s string who goes to the Festival fresh, having been off the racecourse since November ahead of the Pertemps Final.

He was second to Stayers’ Hurdle hope Ma Shantou at Cheltenham in October before coming out on top in a valuable handicap at Haydock on Betfair Chase day.

Gordon said: “He’s got a great chance I hope. We had a great day in the sunshine with him at Haydock and he’s run at Cheltenham before to qualify him for the Pertemps.

“It was the obvious race to go to after Haydock. I couldn’t really see any benefit of running him again until we got to Cheltenham, but he’s in very good order and we’re looking forward to it.”

 

[Eggs]

Day three of the Festival will see C’Est Different line up as a major contender for the Pertemps Final, having won his last four races, while Celtic Dino is entered in what was the Coral Cup (now BetMGM Cup) and the County Hurdle, with the latter his preferred target at this stage.

Celtic Dino beat Champion Hurdle contender Alexei in the Welsh Champion Hurdle in the autumn and has since performed well in defeat, chasing home star mare Wodhooh at Ascot before finishing fourth in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton won by Sir Gino.

Thomas added: “Touch wood C’Est Different is in a nice place. He’s a progressive type, we don’t quite know how good he is and this will tell us a bit more.

“He’s a lovely horse and hopefully he’s got a bit more to come, how much I don’t know, but off a nice, low weight hopefully he can run a massive race.