PERTEMPS NETWORK FINAL Handicap Hurdle

[doctorwu]

Born Patriot getting a spin out/marker at Ascot 1.45 Saturday

[Pigeon Island]

There has not been much of a mention of Alaphilippes run on Saturday…. I can’t quite put my finger on what happened he cruised round then looked really awkward over the last and I initially thought he went wrong, then thought he just emptied and assumed fitness was an issue without a recent run. I have now watched it back again and wondered if Paddy was strangling him, it looked strange on the run in when he almost stood up before disappearing out of camera shot…. Like I say I can’t quite put my finger on it but he’s been entered in the stayers so he must be well thought of and off 140 you would think he could be competitive off that mark? The bookmakers must of thought the run was ‘interesting’ as he is 14/1 best price and mainly 12’s!
Interested to hear anyone else’s thoughts on the run

[jrjr]

There has not been much of a mention of Alaphilippes run on Saturday…. I can’t quite put my finger on what happened he cruised round then looked really awkward over the last and I initially thought he went wrong, then thought he just emptied and assumed fitness was an issue without a recent run. I have now watched it back again and wondered if Paddy was strangling him, it looked strange on the run in when he almost stood up before disappearing out of camera shot…. Like I say I can’t quite put my finger on it but he’s been entered in the stayers so he must be well thought of and off 140 you would think he could be competitive off that mark? The bookmakers must of thought the run was ‘interesting’ as he is 14/1 best price and mainly 12’s!
Interested to hear anyone else’s thoughts on the run

It looked like he just got tired to me, first run since the Bartlett last year, travelled v nicely though. Dropped a couple of lbs to 138 off the back of Saturday's run. Looks a short enough price at this stage though...

[Big Bucks]

There has not been much of a mention of Alaphilippes run on Saturday…. I can’t quite put my finger on what happened he cruised round then looked really awkward over the last and I initially thought he went wrong, then thought he just emptied and assumed fitness was an issue without a recent run. I have now watched it back again and wondered if Paddy was strangling him, it looked strange on the run in when he almost stood up before disappearing out of camera shot…. Like I say I can’t quite put my finger on it but he’s been entered in the stayers so he must be well thought of and off 140 you would think he could be competitive off that mark? The bookmakers must of thought the run was ‘interesting’ as he is 14/1 best price and mainly 12’s!
Interested to hear anyone else’s thoughts on the run

I like him PI. I actually backed him at the weekend thinking he would win(obviously) but then dwelled on it and had on my shortlist for here and thought will have a good chance, back it once nrnb is live. Keals then put him up so forced my hand and stuck 2pts on him. Will top up once nrnb comes into play.

[Istabraq]

There has not been much of a mention of Alaphilippes run on Saturday
e is 14/1 best price and mainly 12’s!
Interested to hear anyone else’s thoughts on the run

He's one of a bunch who could get competitive but when it comes down to it I'd back the likes of Elliott and Skelton to handicap their horses better, I like Fergal alot but I'm not convinced he focuses his efforts on getting his horses a mark for a final, his are generally triers so will have less in hand than some horses who have been 'expertly' campaigned....

[Pigeon Island]

I would back him now if I know he’s off 138 but reckon they will go for another run, hopefully ran off his feet over 2 miles!!! There will obviously also be a few Irish horses well in for the pertemps but can’t help but think Alaphilippe has a few pounds in hand as well!

[Danoli]

My eye was really taken to Alaphilipe too on Saturday. Although I must say, I was expecting bigger than 14s atm. Def has a few pounds up his sleeve and I think they may have learnt there lesson from Imperial Alcazar winning and going up.

Im hoping anyway.....

[delsie777]

There has not been much of a mention of Alaphilippes run on Saturday…. I can’t quite put my finger on what happened he cruised round then looked really awkward over the last and I initially thought he went wrong, then thought he just emptied and assumed fitness was an issue without a recent run. I have now watched it back again and wondered if Paddy was strangling him, it looked strange on the run in when he almost stood up before disappearing out of camera shot…. Like I say I can’t quite put my finger on it but he’s been entered in the stayers so he must be well thought of and off 140 you would think he could be competitive off that mark? The bookmakers must of thought the run was ‘interesting’ as he is 14/1 best price and mainly 12’s!
Interested to hear anyone else’s thoughts on the run

The horse struggles to breathe i think

[Istabraq]

My eye was really taken to Alaphilipe too on Saturday. Although I must say, I was expecting bigger than 14s atm. Def has a few pounds up his sleeve and I think they may have learnt there lesson from Imperial Alcazar winning and going up.

Im hoping anyway.....

Does a few lbs give you a Cheltenham festival handicap winner ?
For the unrestricted handicaps the winners almost need to be G1 standard, many of them do go onto that level, Saint Roi, Belfast Banter etc.
I think Spectre made the point a few days ago that you need to be a stone in hand...

[Quevega]

Does a few lbs give you a Cheltenham festival handicap winner ?
For the unrestricted handicaps the winners almost need to be G1 standard, many of them do go onto that level, Saint Roi, Belfast Banter etc.
I think Spectre made the point a few days ago that you need to be a stone in hand...

Of the 9 winners last year you could arguably say that 7 had a stone or almost a stone in hand.
So it's definitely a preference.
The 2 that didn't fit that bill were probably Sky Pirate & Vintage Clouds whose lack of weight in hand was probably counter acted by strong enough experience & course and distance form.

[Pigeon Island]

Of the 9 winners last year you could arguably say that 7 had a stone or almost a stone in hand.
So it's definitely a preference.
The 2 that didn't fit that bill were probably Sky Pirate & Vintage Clouds whose lack of weight in hand was probably counter acted by strong enough experience & course and distance form.

So Alaphilippe is 138, is it totally bonkers to think he may become a 152 horse? Albeit over fences Threeunderthrufive is already rated that and he finished behind Alaphilippe in the Bartlett last year…….. I will watch with interest to see where he is entered up next because if he needs another run he certainly doesn’t want to be winning it!

[Quevega]

So Alaphilippe is 138, is it totally bonkers to think he may become a 152 horse? Albeit over fences Threeunderthrufive is already rated that and he finished behind Alaphilippe in the Bartlett last year…….. I will watch with interest to see where he is entered up next because if he needs another run he certainly doesn’t want to be winning it!

Not bonkers no.
Could easily improve.
He has ran a few times in his life though (lots of PtP's), so maybe more exposed than some.

[Craigy14]

So Alaphilippe is 138, is it totally bonkers to think he may become a 152 horse? Albeit over fences Threeunderthrufive is already rated that and he finished behind Alaphilippe in the Bartlett last year…….. I will watch with interest to see where he is entered up next because if he needs another run he certainly doesn’t want to be winning it!

He was an eye catcher definitely in the qualifier on Saturday. I think Mr Brennan learned his lesson from last year when for some reason he went for it with Imperial Alcazar in the qualifier.

[Nwfb89]

Interesting to see a entry for authorized art at huntingdon on Friday in a qualifier for this, mullins must have the race in mind for him after finishing 7th in the Xmas qualifier at leopardstown and missing out by 1 place, not sure the pertemps is a race mullins targets very often at all but definitely going to be worth a look if this horse is declared this week

[RoadToCheltenham]

Interesting to see a entry for authorized art at huntingdon on Friday in a qualifier for this, mullins must have the race in mind for him after finishing 7th in the Xmas qualifier at leopardstown and missing out by 1 place, not sure the pertemps is a race mullins targets very often at all but definitely going to be worth a look if this horse is declared this week

Good spot this. After 700 days off the track, interesting they didn't give up on him - also raced a few times over 2m before stepping up for that Pertemps qualifier. Will be getting on board if he is declared come Wednesday...