Sire Du Berlais with owner JP McManus© Photo Healy Racing
Sire Du Berlais will bid to land the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Final for a third time at Cheltenham in just over two weeks. Gordon Elliott confirmed the plan in a press open day at his Cullentra House Stables yesterday.
The JP McManus-owned gelding landed the three miles handicap in both 2019 and 2020, and supplemented his great Cheltenham Festival record by finishing runner-up to Flooring Porter in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle 12 months ago.
The ten-year-old qualified for this year’s Final when fourth of seven behind another McManus-owned gelding Sporting John at Warwick in January.
“Rob James will ride him and claim 7lb off him. He worked well this morning and is not that much higher than when he won it last,” said Elliott.
“It looks an open race when you see Dunboyne fighting for favouritism. He got stopped on his last two runs but is more of a future three-mile chaser.
“Dunboyne has his chance but Sire Du Berlais likes it around there and was second in the Stayers’ Hurdle last year. He seems to light up this time of the year.
“Tullybeg and Folcano are also in the Pertemps and we might run six or seven if they all get in. Tullybeg worked well this morning and could go there with an each-way chance.”
