2016 Cheltenham Festival ante post plays: Cup Final the Pertemps choice

David Metcalf | February 10, 2016

Cup Final has great value

Cup Final looks potentially well-ahead of the assessor and decent value at 10/1 with Coral in the ante post betting for Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday, March 17th.

The Nicky Henderson trained gelding has always been held in the highest regard, and was sent off odds-on to make a winning debut over hurdles at Taunton back in November 2013.

Cup Final ran a blinder to finish a four length runner-up to the now 162-rated Irving, despite cutting his hind leg during the race.

The seven-year-old went on to shape with bags of promise when third on handicap debut at Cheltenham, before opening his account in good style when cosily beating Drum Valley by two lengths at Sandown off a mark of 127.

Form of Sandown victory very strong

Drum Valley is now rated 140, and the third home Uknowhatimeanharry – who was beaten a further 3 1/2 lengths – is unbeaten in three runs this season and rated 138.

That gave the form a rock solid look, and Cup Final duly took advantage of what looked a very workable mark of 132 to make a winning return to action at Musselburgh earlier in the month following a lengthy lay-off.

After being held-up in midfield, the son of Presenting made good headway three from home before challenging at the last and staying on strongly on the run-in to score by 1 1/2 lengths.