Cheltenham Festival Horse Racing RACING

Cheltenham Festival: 2:10 Final Handicap Hurdle: Gloucestershire based trainer Fergal O’Brien amongst favourites

With Cheltenham Festival well underway on Thursday, the second event of the day is the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle, with 24 horses set to compete.

Because of this, Park Life Sport has decided to take a look at some of the favourites for the race, as some potential wildcards that the punters will be banking on.

Alaphilippe

Past form: Fifth in Warwick 2022, first in Haydock, second in Taunton and fifth in Cheltenham in 2021 as well as first at Sedgefield in 2020.

The Gloucestershire based Alaphilippe is currently the joint second favourite for the event, and will certainly be one for those with accumulators on today to beware.

His last win was in the Novice Hurdles in Haydock, and has often been a strong contender at such an event, while also impressing at his sole appearance of the year in Warwick, performing stronger than his fifth placed finish suggests.

With local trainer Fergal O’Brien, and six time Cheltenham Festival winning jockey Paddy Brennan at the helm, the current odds of 6/1 will be one to watch during the race.

Sire Du Berlais

Past form: Fourth in Warwick in 2022, second in Cheltenham and Havan, pulled up in Leopardstown 2021 and third in Leopardstown in 2020.

The current odds-on favourite, Sire Du Berlais will be aiming to win the event he narrowly lost out on last year.

With 21 career entries and four wins for his career so far, and over £220,000 in career winnings, the French horse will be hoping to fulfil the optimism many appear to hold later today.

The now 10-year-old is amongst the elder statesmen competing for the hurdle’s today, and with jockey Robert James, alongside established Cheltenham Festival winner trainer Gordon Elliott, the trio are certainly formidable, and are currently being backed at 9/2.

Sassy yet Classy

Past form: First in Punchestown, second in Navan and Punchestown, third in Clonmel and unseated in Navan in 2021.

Arguably the tipsters favourite for today, Sassy yet Classy is competing in his first race of the year, following a very hectic 2021, and will be hoping the form returns quickly.


With trainer Gordon Elliott and jockey Davy Russell looking to maintain Elliot’s strong Cheltenham Festival form, with 33 wins to date, and with odds of 9/1, don’t discount this slight outsider just yet.

To stay up-to date with the latest action from the Cheltenham Festival throughout today, make sure you stay tuned into our Live Blog!

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