2025 Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle Tips, Odds and News
The first of three handicaps on day three of the Cheltenham Festival is the Pertemps Final. Qualifying races take place across Britain and Ireland throughout the season, before a capacity field of 24 horses takes part in the series finale of this three-mile hurdle series on St Patrick's day at Cheltenham.
Pertemps Final Key Facts
Date
Thursday 12th March, 2026
Time
2:40pm
Course
Cheltenham Festival
Status
Grade Three Handicap
Distance
3m
Prize Pool
£100k
Age
5YO+
Pertemps Final Tips
Our guide to the Pertemps Final handicap will be published when the entries and weights have been announced.
Pertemps Final Result
Position
Name
SP
1st
Doddiethegreat
25/1
2nd
Jeriko Du Reponet
11/2
3rd
Catch Him Derry
14/1
4th
Feet Of A Dancer
15/2
5th
One Big Bang
14/1
Pertemps Final Day Card
Cheltenham Day 3 Card
Time
Thursday Races
Status
Distance
13:20
Mares Novices' Hurdle
Grade Two
2m 1f
14:00
Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase
Grade Two Handicap
2m 4f
14:40
Pertemps Final
Listed Handicap
3m
15:20
Ryanair Chase
Grade One
2m 4f
16:00
Stayers' Hurdle
Grade One
3m
16:40
Paddy Power Plate
Grade Three Handicap
2m 4f
17:20
Kim Muir Challenge Cup
Class Two Handicap
3m 2f
Pertemps Final History
The Pertemps Final has proven to be a popular addition to the Cheltenham Festival schedule since it's inception in 1974.
The Pertemps Series features races run at various venues around Britain and Ireland during the regular season. A top-six finish used to be enough to book your spot in the Final at the Cheltenham Festival, where only the top 24 rated runners will be allowed to run in the race. For the 2023 Festival, the rules were changed so that horses needed a top-four finish in a qualifier to book their spot in the final.
The most famous horse in the history of the Pertemps Final is Willie Wumpkins. Jane Pilkington's charge was 11 when he first won the race at the 1979 Cheltenham Festival. Willie Wumpkins then retained his crown in both 1980 and '81, and remains the only three-time winner of the Pertemps.
Jim Wilson, Willie Wumpkins' jockey, is also the joint winning-most rider in the history of the race. Davy Russell and Barry Geraghty have also ridden three winners apiece.
Forgive 'N Forget won the Pertemps Final in 1983. Two years later, he'd land the big one at the Cheltenham Festival, scoring in the Gold Cup under Mark Dwyer.
John Francombe, Richard Dunwoody and Luke Harvey rode the winners of the Pertemps Final in the 1980s. AP McCoy celebrated his first winner in 1998, riding Unsinkable Boxer to victory for legendary trainer, Martin Pipe.
Jonjo O'Neill is the most successful trainer, having saddled the winner of the Pertemps Final four times between 1991 and 2013.
Nicky Henderson, Philip Hobbs, Nigel Twiston-Davies and Venetia Williams have also tasted success in the Pertemps Final.
Irish trainer, Pat Kelly scored back-to-back victories with Mall Dini and Presenting Percy in 2016 and '17.
Since then, the race has belonged to Gordon Elliott. Elliott's first winner was Delta Work in 2018.
Sire Du Berlais won for Elliott the following year, before becoming just the third multiple winner of the Pertemps Final, carrying top-weight to victory over The Storyteller in 2020.
There was another Irish winner in 2021, as Mrs Milner comfortably beat favourite The Bosses Oscar.
