The PERTEMPS Network Final Handicap Hurdle

[nortonscoin200]

Dallas des Pictons has been missed off the list Norton.

I did look at him Q.

But rightly or wrongly I discounted him on the grounds that his last seven runs have been over fences and he'll be too old (8 next year) to fit the usual profile.

There were several other potential candidates I ruled out because they seem to have embarked on a chasing career. But sure, there's nothing to stop Gordon switching DDP back to hurdles.

I woke up this morning thinking I was also being very blinkered when talking up Fakiera last night.

Because he could also be a very good fit for the Martin Pipe. A stiff two-and-a-half miles round Cheltenham could suit him even better than the Pertemps.

But certainly one to keep an eye on.

I imagine we'll know a lot more once the entries appear for the Pertemps qualifier at Leopardstown next month.

[Quevega]

I did look at him Q.

But rightly or wrongly I discounted him on the grounds that his last seven runs have been over fences and he'll be too old (8 next year) to fit the usual profile.

There were several other potential candidates I ruled out because they seem to have embarked on a chasing career. But sure, there's nothing to stop Gordon switching DDP back to hurdles.

I woke up this morning thinking I was also being very blinkered when talking up Fakiera last night.

Because he could also be a very good fit for the Martin Pipe. A stiff two-and-a-half miles round Cheltenham could suit him even better than the Pertemps.

But certainly one to keep an eye on.

I imagine we'll know a lot more once the entries appear for the Pertemps qualifier at Leopardstown next month.

He entered Dallas for the pertemps qualifier at cheltenham in october to see what his mark was.

[nortonscoin200]

He entered Dallas for the pertemps qualifier at cheltenham in october to see what his mark was.

Oops, forgot about that.

Well, that's another to put in the mix. Though I'm still carrying the scars from the Martin Pipe.

[Quevega]

Oops, forgot about that.

Well, that's another to put in the mix. Though I'm still carrying the scars from the Martin Pipe.

Which also brings us to... - Column of Fire. an even bigger scar.

He looked like he was going to win the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham before he fell. He was lame after that fall and it took him a fair bit of time to come right. He’s back in full work now, but it will probably be closer to Christmas before he gets back to the track. We’ll aim him at big handicap hurdles again and on his Cheltenham form he looks well handicapped.

The closer to Christmas and handicap hurdles and well handicapped are all big clues.
If he's not aimed at this I'll be surprised.

Unless Elliotts come out since and said he's going chasing ???

[Faugheen_Machine]

Would Column of Fire not also be an obvious one for this?

[Quevega]

He's basically saying he's going to run in the pertemps qualifier over Christmas and finish 5th or 6th then go straight to the pertemps final.

[Quevega]

Would Column of Fire not also be an obvious one for this?

jinx...........

[Quevega]

Can anyone confirm if he's since said anything about chasing for Column of fire ???
something in the back of my mind.

Cos if not.
I'm going to back him with PP 25-1 as they are going 4 places 1/4 odds as well.

[Eggs]

Which also brings us to... - Column of Fire. an even bigger scar.



The closer to Christmas and handicap hurdles and well handicapped are all big clues.
If he's not aimed at this I'll be surprised.

Unless Elliotts come out since and said he's going chasing ???

...there is a 33-1 RaB with Hills for Column of Fire to win Brown Advisory Plate. I suppose that could mean somebody knows something.

[Faugheen_Machine]

jinx...........

You beat me to it.

The 14/1 on CoF to win any race is quite attractive, especially as he can be put in multiples too. He isn't going to be double figures for any handicap that they plot him up in.

[nortonscoin200]

Would Column of Fire not also be an obvious one for this?

I discounted him on the grounds that he's already run eight times over hurdles. That goes against the stat that the last eight winners (apart from Sire Du Berlais) had run a maximum nine times over hurdles.

But Column of Fire would certainly be a contender - though his form is out there, he's not going to be a plot job. To a lesser extent the same can be said of The Bosses Oscar.

[Kevloaf]

I discounted him on the grounds that he's already run eight times over hurdles. That goes against the stat that the last eight winners (apart from Sire Du Berlais) had run a maximum nine times over hurdles.

But Column of Fire would certainly be a contender - though his form is out there, he's not going to be a plot job. To a lesser extent the same can be said of The Bosses Oscar.

Is his form out there though?

His best rating would almost certainly have come in the Martin Pipe?

I think he's got a bit in hand still. He won't be a 'plot' in the traditional sense this year but he was campaigned like a Gordon Elliott plot last year and was 1 hurdle away from executing.


I think he'd go off favourite for the Pertemps.

14/1 any race and 25/1 for this are both appealing... I've only not done it yet because of the RP comment about him going chasing, and that isn't even that off putting.

[Cheltenham Novice Chase]

Which also brings us to... - Column of Fire. an even bigger scar.



The closer to Christmas and handicap hurdles and well handicapped are all big clues.
If he's not aimed at this I'll be surprised.

Unless Elliotts come out since and said he's going chasing ???

Elliott said in his Racing Post stable tour that COF would be going chasing

[Quevega]

Elliott said in his Racing Post stable tour that COF would be going chasing

Cheers, I thought I could recall something contradicting the ATR tour.
I've took the risk anyway.

[doctorwu]

Great work Nortonscoin.