Can conditional Jordan Gainford be the boss in a wide-open punting puzzle?

1.55 Cheltenham
Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) | 3m | 5yo+ | ITV/RTV

Jordan Gainford, who turned professional in February, will face his biggest test to date when partnering topweight The Bosses Oscar in the Pertemps Final.

Conor O'Farrell and Hadden Frost, who claimed 5lb and 3lb respectively, were the most recent conditionals to win this race when they partnered Buena Vista to back-to-back victories in 2011 and 2010.

Unlike the attacking rides used on David Pipe's handicapper, Gainford's patience and positioning will be put to the test on the The Bosses Oscar, who appears to relish the chaos of a big-field handicap hurdle and seeks compensation for a luckless fifth in last year's Martin Pipe.

A shot at winning the Pertemps was earmarked as his 2021 target and that dream has now become a reality. The Bosses Oscar has followed a similar programme to stablemate Sire Du Berlais, who won this race two years ago after finishing sixth in the qualifier at Leopardstown's Christmas fixture, in which The Bosses Oscar went four places better on his latest start.

Although there are 14 qualifiers held in Britain before the festival, that Leopardstown race has been the key piece of form worth following in recent years.

Mall Dini (2016), Presenting Percy (2017), Delta Work (2018) and Sire Du Berlais (2019) all finished in the top six, thus earning a place at Cheltenham, before plundering the final. Dandy Mag, Mrs Milner, Anything Will Do and the aforementioned The Bosses Oscar will look to enhance that record.

Imperial Alcazar heads the home challenge for local trainer Fergal O'Brien. The scopey seven-year-old made a mark of 139 look silly when dotting up at Warwick and will look to confirm the form with third-placed Come On Teddy off 8lb higher, the same rise given to The Bosses Oscar for his British mark. No horse has won this race off the back of a victory since Call The Cops in 2015.

Come On Teddy gets a handy swing in the weights and could play a leading role under Johnny Burke, who partnered the seven-year-old to victory at Market Rasen last March. He has stamina in abundance, although he may find an early championship gallop a bit strong.

So, should you just concentrate on form from the two strongest qualifiers? Plenty of market leaders featured in those races, although it would be folly to ignore the well-treated Champagne Platinum for owner JP McManus, who has won this race for the last two years. A mark of 139 is eminently workable and the quicker the ground gets, the better his chance.

However, horses on long losing streaks have to be treated with caution and it's now almost two-and-a-half years since Champagne Platinum last won.

Those at bigger prices include the Paul Nicholls-trained Storm Arising, who appears to be a budding chaser and remains raw, although open to improvement.
Race analysis by Tom Collins

O'Brien: 'festival first would mean everything'

Fergal O'Brien is already enjoying his best season and victory at the Cheltenham Festival would fittingly be the icing on the cake.

Imperial Alcazar represents one of the finest chances he has had at his local track's four-day bonanza with the improving seven-year-old an impressive winner at Warwick in January. Consistent performer Ask Dillon is also a live contender.

"It'd be amazing to have a winner," he said. "I thought we were going to do it with Elham Valley at one point in the Boodles on Tuesday. It'd mean everything to us having moved yards and off the back of our best season.

Imperial Alcazar: three wins from six starts over hurdlesCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I wouldn't rule either of them out but I think Imperial Alcazar is our best chance. He's an improving horse, is pretty straightforward and goes on most ground.

"Ask Dillon would be a much shorter price if he'd run better last time, but we think we can put a line through that. This ground should suit him better."

Impressive record

JP McManus-owned horses have an impressive record in this race, with four winners this century. Recently, he has had a horse in the top three in five of the six previous renewals. He has three runners this year, headed by the well-fancied Champagne Platinum.

What they say

Denise Foster, trainer of The Bosses Oscar
He ran really well in the Martin Pipe last year and this trip on nicer ground is exactly what he wants. The concern is that he's got plenty of weight, but Jordan's [Gainford] 7lb claim is a big plus.

HarryFry, trainer of Unowhatimeanharry
This normally goes to a younger, unexposed, improving sort but he'll run his race and as long as he comes back in one piece that's the main thing.

David Pipe, trainer of Brinkley
He's been progressive and he won well the last day. He'd have preferred it a bit softer but hopefully he can run a nice race.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Dandy Mag
It’s a very competitive handicap but he has his chance over this trip and on the ground.

Joe Tizzard, assistant to Colin, trainer of Copperhead
He'll come on for his last run and this is another stepping stone to getting him back on track. The drying ground wouldn't be in his favour but he's a good horse on his day.

Warren Greatrex, trainer of Keeper Hill
He's off a good weight and will appreciate the better ground. He's a consistent horse and I'm sure he'll put up a good show.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Spiritofthegames
He enjoyed dropping back over hurdles last time and he's good around Cheltenham. He's been a bridesmaid so many times that it'd just be great to get his head in front.

Storm Arising: off the track since JanuaryCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Storm Arising
He's been progressive and we purposely didn't run him after his win in January to keep him right for this.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Champagne Platinum
He's been very good in two runs this season and this looks the obvious target for him. The ground will be fine.

Philip Hobbs, trainer of No Comment and Everglow
No Comment fell last time but he seems to be fine after that. Hopefully, he has an each-way chance. Everglow is a progressive novice, so hopefully has a chance.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Anything Will Do
I'm hoping he'll run. This is a step up in class for him but I'm hoping he can run respectably.

Paul Nolan, trainer of Mrs Milner
She has a chance but she'll need to improve to be winning. Hopefully, she has an each-way squeak.

Tom George, trainer of Come On Teddy
This has been his target for a while now. It was a good run from him at Warwick last time when the race wasn’t run to suit him at all. Everything should be more in his favour this time.

Lucy Wadham, trainer of Potters Hedger
He's earned his place but has crept up the handicap a bit. He's not run at Cheltenham, so we'll see how he takes to it.

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Milliner
He's got in and I'm very happy about that. He's got a lovely light weight and I could see him going well.
Reporting by James Stevens

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