Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Trends for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival

By Mark Fordham

Feb 25th, 2026 9:27 AM EST

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2026 Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle Trends

The Pertemps is often a minefield. Qualifiers take place for the race throughout the season, and there can be a lot of different form lines to weigh up. We've highlighted the trends you need to watch out for in the Pertemps to help solve one of the Cheltenham Festival's toughest puzzles when you bet at horse racing betting sites.

The last 10 winners:

• Had won no more than five hurdle races.
• Had run at least twice that season, five winning.
• Finished in first three in one of their last six races.
• Last ran no more than 76 days ago - i.e. in December.
• Last ran in a hurdle race.

Nine of the last 10 winners:

• Had won on a galloping track (exception Mall Dini 2016).
• Carried at least 10st 10lb to victory (Mrs Milner carried 10st 9lb).
• Were not sent off favourite in the betting on the day (Sire Du Berlais defied this).
• Had won no more than two handicap hurdles (Good Time Jonny won three).

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Eight of the last 10 winners:

• Were aged between 5-8 (Delta Work, Doddiethegreat).
• Had never won a Graded race (exceptions Sire Du Berlais in 2020, Grade 2 winner Third Wind in 2022).
• Were officially rated 138 or higher (Mrs Milner was rated 134, Doddiethegreat was rated 131).
• Had never run in the Pertemps Final before (dual winner Sire Du Berlais and Third Wind, who was fourth behind him in 2020).

Seven of the last 10 winners:

• Had not run in more than six handicap hurdles (Sire Du Berlais 2020, Mrs Milner 2021, Doddiethegreat 2025).

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Key Trials From the Last 10 years

To run in the 2025 Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival, horses must have finished in the first four in one or more of the qualifying Pertemps Hurdle Series races. Up to three seasons ago, they only had to finish in the first six.

Four of the last 10 winners (Mrs Milner, Sire Du Berlais, Mall Dini and Presenting Percy) finished between fourth and sixth in the Leopardstown Pertemps Hurdle Race on December 28. 2020 winner Sire Du Berlais again ran in the Leopardstown race before his second Pertemps Final win, but could only finish ninth. The 2023 winner Good Time Jonny was third in this race. The top four of the 2025 renewal at Leopardstown were Duke Silver, Yeah Man, Small Town Hero and Intent Approach.

Three of the last 10 winners (Delta Work, Mall Dini and Presenting Percy) finished third or fourth in the Punchestown Pertemps Hurdle Race in January/February, though this now takes place in November. Third and fourth last November were Custom Taylor and Sarah Beara.

2022 winner Third Wind qualified by finishing third in the Warwick qualifier, while 2013 winner Holywell and 2020 winner Sire Du Berlais last raced in that race, finishing in the top four. Unfortunately, 2026's meeting was abandoned.

Trainer Trends

• Jonjo O’Neill leads the way with four wins in this contest, but none of those (2013) have come in the last decade.
• The form trainer is undoubtedly Gordon Elliott, who has won three of the last eight editions of the race and saddled the 2023 second.
• Pat Kelly and David Pipe have each won the race twice, Kelly doing so with only two runners, earning himself a 100% strike-rate!
• Trainers based in Ireland have won the seven of the last 10 renewals.
• Nicky Henderson had the first two home last year.

Jockey Trends

• No jockey currently riding has won the race more than once.

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How Did the Trends do Last Year?

Doddiethegreat broke a number of key trends to add to exceptions already seen. He was the oldest winner of the race in the last 10 years and was rated just 131. Given his age, it should come as no surprise that he was far more experienced in handicap hurdles than most previous winners.

Favourite Jeriko Du Reponet was a very strong trends pick and was clearly the Nicky Henderson yard's top choice, as he was ridden by Nico de Boinville. However, he was only good enough for second.

2025 Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle Result

Who Fits The Trends Best In 2026?

Dan Skelton's Supremely West would have strong claims based on trends. His rating and weight will be a little lower than is normally seen, but both of those have been defied in recent years. Another Skelton runner who perhaps fits even more of the trends looks to be Ace Of Spades.

Gordon Elliott's Staffordshire Knot fits every clear trend, with the exception of having previously won in Graded company. But his price could be one to follow.

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About the Author

Mark Fordham

More About Mark

Mark spent over a decade as a sports reporter and editor with Goal.com and Bleacher Report. He is now a Content Editor at Bookies.com covering all manner of sports from the Premier League and cricket to the NBA and NFL, and is our resident EPL tipster. Mark also has years of experience working with all things online casino, and knows a good one from a bad one.

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