It’s always one of the trickiest handicaps of the week, but the Pertemps Final rarely fails to produce a future star, and this year’s renewal looks typically deep, competitive and ripe for a touch of value. With a wide-open betting market and a strong gallop forecast, this has all the ingredients for a surprise – and punters should tread carefully before piling in on short-priced types.

Forget the hype – value lies deeper

There’s little doubt that Jeriko Du Reponet will attract plenty of support for Nicky Henderson. He’s lightly raced, open to stacks of improvement, and shaped well enough at Exeter last time to suggest there’s more to come over staying trips. But at 7/1 or shorter, he’s no sort of bet in a race of this nature – especially with his only solid run at this sort of trip coming in defeat. He’s priced more on reputation than substance.

Equally, Win Some Lose Some looks progressive, but he’s been climbing the handicap at speed and now faces a very different test against seasoned stayers on an undulating track in a strongly-run race. He’s a fair each-way play, but no better than that at single-figure odds.

Look beyond the market for real Cheltenham credentials

One who makes considerably more appeal is FEET OF A DANCER, who has a profile almost tailor-made for this race. She ran a cracker in the Leopardstown qualifier – the same race Mrs Milner used as her springboard before winning this in 2021 – and she travelled like the best horse in that race until committing slightly too soon. That form has worked out well, she’ll love a strong pace, and crucially she goes well fresh. At around 14/1, she’s rock-solid each-way material and still improving.

Another with compelling claims at a price is HENRI THE SECOND. He looked a smart prospect a year ago, has had his issues, but bounced right back at Sandown recently and has Cheltenham form in the book. The Timeform figures back him up, he stays all day, and Paul Nicholls doesn’t tilt at windmills in races like this. He’s got a proper staying profile and represents the class angle now dropped back into a handicap.

One under the radar

ONE BIG BANG is another dark horse worth keeping on side. He’s improved for cheekpieces, has run well here before, and bolted up last time in a race where he travelled like the winner a long way out. He’s a solid stayer with upside still to come and his trainer is in hot form. Off 133, he’s very much under the radar and should outrun odds of 20/1.

And if you want a proper left-field flier at massive odds, don’t entirely rule out J’AI FROID, who has hit the trends hard and returned with a bang last time at Chepstow. He’s no superstar, but these staying handicaps often throw up grizzled veterans, and this lad has been around the block enough to know his job. The 50/1 looks insulting.

Conclusion

This is a race where you don’t want to be too cute – but nor should you settle for the obvious. The front of the market looks vulnerable, the pace angle suggests a late closer will be favoured, and plenty are primed to peak today rather than in qualifiers.