TEDDY TO PUT THEM TO BED

13:55 - Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle

The Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle is a notoriously competitive race with a controversial qualifying system, which leads to a very trappy 3 mile race.

Favourite since December after a very impressive 1-2-2 this season is The Bosses Oscar. Given a rather heavy penalty of 8lbs from the British handicapper, Jordan Gainford takes off 7lbs for the market leader. His rating of 151 means that he is top weight in the field, however this shouldn't be a massive concern as Sire Du Berlias won the Pertemps last year off a similar mark. He's one for the antepost punters to be screaming home, however I think he may have been handicapped out of this.

Imperial Alcazar looks to beat the the trend of "horses who won LTO do not go on to win the Pertemps". Fergal O'Brien and Paddy Brennan partner here for a crack at the race, however looking back at the form, the ground doesn't look ideal. In a race where you need a lot to go right, there seem to be a few negatives around him.

That leads me on perfectly to my selection, Come On Teddy. Third behind Imperial Alcazar in the qualifier, he was carrying 5lbs less than the winner of the qualifier. He is now a whopping 13lbs lower than Imperial Alcazar which certainly puts him in the "well in" category. He has won at Cheltenham before over this trip and the ground looks ideal for him.

I'm all aboard Come On Teddy for the Pertemps Final. There are plenty of extra places available and he's currently around the 10/1 mark (5pm Wednesday). I wouldn't be surprised to see a market move on him on the day and hopefully we'll be screaming COME ON TEDDY at 13:55 on Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival!

COME ON TEDDY (E/W)

written by Charlie Sharp