Horsebetting.com experts give their Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle betting tips for the 3m qualifier at Cheltenham on Saturday, 27 October. Theclockisticking has shaped well in two starts this season, so rates the main bet in this fiercely competitive 20-runner affair. Irish trainer Pat Kelly has a fine record with his runners at the venue, so his Dawn Raider looks a big player under Barry Geraghty and is feared most. King Calvin, meanwhile, is unexposed and could have got in lightly on handicap debut, so appeals each-way. Read our in-depth 2018 Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle betting tips preview for more details on these horses’ chances one day two of The Showcase meeting at Prestbury Park.Theclockisticking worth Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle puntTheclockisticking has shaped with plenty of promise in two starts this season, so looks the answer to a typically fierce and wide-open renewal of the 3m Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday (15:45). This Stuart Edmunds trained six-year-old had some smart form to his name last year, looks potentially ahead of his mark, and may have more to offer now stepped up in trip.
After finishing a solid second in a decent bumper at Market Rasen, he made a smooth transition to hurdles when easily landing back-to-back contests at Fakenham and Huntingdon. Connections then pitched the son of Gamut into Grade 2 company, and he ran a blinder to finish a 3 1/4 lengths third of six to the very smart and now 151-rated Claimantakinforgan in the Kennel Gate at Ascot.
Theclockisticking also ran well here when a two-length second of 14 to Diese Des Bieffes in a class 2 novice contest, before rounding off the campaign with a solid fourth of 12 to Cool Sky at Aintree where he got hampered at a crucial stage before keeping on at one pace to be beaten 11 3/4 lengths off a rating of 138.
Judged on the those performances, he looked the type that would have more to offer this season. There was lots to like about his return to action when second to Caius Marcius in a competitive 12-runner Listed handicap hurdle over an extended 2m 1f at Market Rasen, where he stayed on strongly from two out to be nearest at the finish and beaten 11 lengths.
Theclockisticking backed that up with a solid fifth of 18 to Garo De Juilley in the valuable Grade 3 Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle over 2m 3f at Chepstow when again running on strongly at the death to be beaten just 3 1/2 lengths, having lost a few places after jumping the fifth flight.
Those efforts suggest that the step up to the 3m of this will play to his strengths, and a mark of 138 could well underestimate his ability. So, taking everything into account, Theclockisticking looks to have plenty going for him and therefore had to be the main selection in our 2018 Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle betting tips.Dawn Raider a player given connectionsIrish trainer Pat Kelly has a tremendous overall strike rate of 50 per cent at the venue, having saddled three winners and two placed from six runners. That make his runner Dawn Raider a fascinating contender in a race in which a case can be made for most.
The six-year-old has won just one of his 17 starts, but has made the frame on nine occasions and comes into the contest on the back of three creditable placed efforts. they include a fine keeping on second of 11 to Graineyhill over 2m 5f at Sligo on his penultimate outing.
Dawn Raider backed that up with a solid eight-length third of 14 to Vent De La Cote at Listowel over 3m on soft ground, staying on well from off the pace without ever being able to land a serious blow.
The return to a sounder surface looks sure to suit as Dawn Raider’s sole success came on good to yielding ground at Killarney. His current mark of 128 is no gimme, but that was also the case when his stable companion companion Presenting Percy was considered by many to have far too much weight for the final of this race series at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival only to absolutely bolt-up.
So, given his shrewd connections, Dawn Raider commands plenty of respect in this and looks sure to go well in the hands of Barry Geraghty. Thus he features among our potential Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle betting tips.King Calvin weighted to go well at big oddsOff those at huge odds, King Calvin makes plenty of each-way appeal given his unexposed profile. This dual point scorer has only had four starts over hurdles, winning twice, and now makes his handicap debut off what looks a potentially lenient mark.
The Jack Barber trained six-year-old opened his account at the second time of asking over hurdles when keeping on strongly to beat Secret Investor by 4 1/2 lengths at Wincanton back in May. The winner is a well-regarded sort from the powerful yard of Paul Nicholls, who has won all three of his starts since to be rated 143.
King Calvin backed that up with a decent second to Master Tommytucker at Exeter before getting back to winning ways with a battling half-a-length success at Newton Abbot. The assessor has given him an opening handicap mark of just 133 on the back of those efforts, and that looks exploitable on his aforementioned success over Secret Investor given that they met on level weights that day.
King Calvin is also a scopey sort open to any amount of improvement after just four starts under rules and once again partnered by Nick Schofield, who has been in the plate for both his wins over hurdles. So, at the massive odds on offer at the time of writing, King Calvin looks a decent value each-way punt in a fiendishly hard puzzle to solve.Your Next Bet
