The PERTEMPS Network Final Handicap Hurdle

[Saxon Warrior]

Cheers Saxon

The Punchestown race only became a 3M race three seasons ago, when it converted to a Pertemps Qualifier.

In that first season as a Qualifier Gordon Elliott moved Delta Work from Graded Hurdles to go off 7/2F and qualify in third.
He won the Final at Cheltenham the following month.

He has not had a qualifier through this race in the two seasons since, and tends to target the Christmas Qualifier with his main Pertemps horses.

Gordon ran Sire du Berlais in Warwick last year (because the horse didn’t finish in the six at the Christmas Qualifier)
He ran Tagliatelle at Mussleborough in 2016 to qualify.

These three runners are the only ones he has qualified after Christmas, two of them won and Tagliatelle came 4th.

So Gordon Elliott always uses Leopardstown at Christmas for his main Pertemps entries.

If he qualifies anything in the 7 qualifiers after that then it’s a sign of them having an outstanding chance too, but don’t hold you’re breath, he qualifies one this way every two years.

[Madmoose]

Is it not more reasonable to assume now that Column of Fire will head towards the Coral Cup? He’s entered at Punchestown on the 31st over 2.5 miles. If he runs on the 31st then it wouldn’t leave much time for a pertemps run coupled with Elliott might well have TBO, Commander of Fleet and Cracking Smart qualified by then. The next few days should help be insightful.

Seems to be the way that Column will go the Coral cup, i’m tempted to take a risk and back him for the race now but will see when he is declared in a few days time.

[Quevega]

The Leopardstown race isn't the easiest of qualifiers, so you need to either be certain your horse is a likely winner, so placing is easy, or just be able to run them on their merits and see if they qualify.

One of the other qualifiers would be much easier for qualification, but harder to hide ability and look like you're cheating.
Although they did a good job of that with Sire du Berlais

[Lobos]

The Leopardstown race isn't the easiest of qualifiers, so you need to either be certain your horse is a likely winner, so placing is easy, or just be able to run them on their merits and see if they qualify.

One of the other qualifiers would be much easier for qualification, but harder to hide ability and look like you're cheating.
Although they did a good job of that with Sire du Berlais

Spot on Q. That's exactly the reason they pulled COF from the race. The race is quite deep for a qualifier and Gordon has a few running in it who will likely be harder to finish in top 6 with. He doesn't need COF in there to complicate things further. It'll be easy to qualify COF in a later race down to his ability. Talk of him going anywhere else bar the Pertempts and people cashing out for that race is a tad premature.

[Quevega]

Spot on Q. That's exactly the reason they pulled COF from the race. The race is quite deep for a qualifier and Gordon has a few running in it who will likely be harder to finish in top 6 with. He doesn't need COF in there to complicate things further. It'll be easy to qualify COF in a later race down to his ability. Talk of him going anywhere else bar the Pertempts and people cashing out for that race is a tad premature.

Yep,
Although I do think the Coral Cup is a real possibility for the horse.
We'll see when he actually gets declared for something.
I'd not be totally put off the pertemps, if he does run in another race aside from a qualifier, as long as it's soon.
I personally think the pertemps would suit better from a win perspective, but we'll see.

[Lobos]

Yep,
Although I do think the Coral Cup is a real possibility for the horse.
We'll see when he actually gets declared for something.
I'd not be totally put off the pertemps, if he does run in another race aside from a qualifier, as long as it's soon.
I personally think the pertemps would suit better from a win perspective, but we'll see.

Gordon loves the Pertempts. He owns that race. Coral cup..........pffft.

[Quevega]

Gordon loves the Pertempts. He owns that race. Coral cup..........pffft.

Agreed.
I do think he sees that race as a consolation race. And much harder to win.

[Saxon Warrior]

The Leopardstown race isn't the easiest of qualifiers, so you need to either be certain your horse is a likely winner, so placing is easy, or just be able to run them on their merits and see if they qualify.

One of the other qualifiers would be much easier for qualification, but harder to hide ability and look like you're cheating.
Although they did a good job of that with Sire du Berlais

Yes, I think the fact that they ran SDB back at Warwick 2&1/2F weeks after he missed the first 6 in Leopardstown was a short enough time between races to ensure that just enough edge was taken off his performance (then two months to recover for the Final).

Maybe thats a possible back-up plan for any of his that finish outside of the first 6 tomorrow (if they can travel over in mid-January).

[Eggs]

....today’s qualifier could be interesting, JoB sadly lost Tower Bridge I wonder if he has another being aimed here.

[Ray]

Ive backed the bosses oscar to place today at 11/8..the win bet is tempting me but is he going to be trying?

[Istabraq]

Ive backed the bosses oscar to place today at 11/8..the win bet is tempting me but is he going to be trying?

I think your problem there might be that he’s ridden to finish 5th...

[Ray]

Oh lovely, thats the story of my life when im place betting!..ill be hopeful he can get within the top 4 its only in a couple of multis so will have to see!

[Hurdles or chasing]

Brian Cooper takes the ride to hopefully get the Bosses Oscar round to finish 5th

[Lobos]

Brian Cooper takes the ride to hopefully get the Bosses Oscar round to finish 5th

I think they'll be trying to win today. Gordon has openly said he's going for the Pertempts and we know he's not scared to send horses to the Pertempts to run off biggish weights.

[Istabraq]

I think they'll be trying to win today. Gordon has openly said he's going for the Pertempts.

Wouldn’t make any sense, see his Irish mark raise 6/7lb plus whatever the UK handicapper thinks he has in hand he could be a stone worse off than he is now.
Surely Elliott is too cute for that...