Perth Finale for 2010

PERTH – Wednesday September 22nd

Going – Soft (good to Soft in places)

Perth’s two day season finale took place on a softened surface as the autumn rains arrived in the Tay Valley. Respectable crowds attended on both days, 2,600 on day one and just over the 3,000 mark for the closing day’s racing.

2.25 2m 4½f Salutation Hotel Maiden Hurdle(Class 4)

Nigel Twiston-Davies often makes a mark at Perth and he opened the meeting on a successful note courtesy of FRONTIER SPIRIT. Building on the promise of his Plumpton jumps debut in the winter, he raced close up if a trifle keen and took over on the flat. The six-year-old has not been hurried and looks sure to continue to reward his trainer’s patience.
DEVOTION TO DUTY steeped up on his previous effort here, both going and trip seeming more to his liking.
Gordon Elliott’s TRAFFIC ARTICLE stayed on up the straight to finish a close third, apparently benefitting from the application of a tongue-tie.

3.00 2m ½ f Perth FM 106 Claiming Hurdle (Class 4)

Rated 132, RIVERSCAPE took an easy opportunity here, her only scare being when having to jump a falling horse after the third hurdle. She cruised away in the latter stages and was claimed by B.D.Haynes for £7,000.
The rest look much of a muchness with exposed GRAND DIAMOND leading the race for second.

3.35 2m 7th Edward Massie Brown Classic Novices’ Handicap Chase (0-107)

CAPPAGH looks by no means straight forward, and didn’t jump brilliantly, but the champion jockey McCoy organised him well enough and he was unextended in beating a moderate field. He can improve and should cope with better opposition.
RELAND raced prominently but couldn’t match the winner from two out. He has enough ability to be placed to win a similar contest.
Although lightly raced recently, BEST HORSE has plenty of miles on the clock. He was beaten three out but offered al ittle encouragement on chasing debut.
LINDSEYFIELD LODGE, desperately out of sorts lately, charged toward the course exit passing the stands and KOSTA BRAVA followed him in running out.
SAFIN was foiled by the first on his chasing debut.
SIOLVER PALM was still in touch though ridden when whacking three out and unseating.

4.10 2m ½f A C Management Consulting Juvenile Hurdle (Class 4)

AL DAFA followed a fairly gentle hurdling introduction in Ireland with a tidy win here. He probably didn’t achieve a huge amount here but is far enough forward to take advantage again soon.
ANCIENT TIMES stuck to his task in second but there was not so much encouragement from those behind.

4.45 3m Sodexo Prestige Handicap Chase (0-130)

SOUBRIQUET was out sorts last winter but has much better with the sun on his back. He came clear in the straight but will be hit by the handicapper and things will be tougher over fences in the near future. He’s on 115 over hurdles though and he may be aimed at the lesser obstacles.
TWEKLVE PACES, never the most predictable, ran respectably upped in class if well held from two out.
URSIS raced with some zest in front, though his jumping can be hairy if apparently spectacular! He was headed four out and struggled from two out.
CATCH THE PERK isn’t easy to catch right, though he still retains more ability than he sometimes lets on. He looked well beaten then picked up again late on for fourth.
NUDGE AND NURDLE, a winner here in 2008, was beaten before the straight.
ECHO POINT raced prominently for two miles but felt the pinch down the back straight and pulled up before three out. He’s not especially well handicapped over fences.
VALERIUS lost his place approaching the thirteenth and was pulled up before three out, along with STEEL MAGNATE who jumped moderately and never figured seriously.

5.20 3m ½f Stanjames.com Handicap Hurdle (0-112)

MAD MOOSE found little on the run-in allowing BESCOT SPRINGS to overhaul him close home. Both have question marks against them and I’d be loathe to attach too much weight to this form.
Triple winner LIZ’S DREAM was very disappointing and pulled up, while the remainder SOUL MAGIC, DICKE HENDERHOOP and GUERILLA aren’t win betting material.

PERTH – Thursday September 23rd

Going – Soft

2.20 3m ½f SIS Novices’ Hurdle (Class 4)

Outsider GLACED OVER was pulled up after the fifth when his saddle slipped. The field was further reduced when MONOGRAM dumped Ryan Mania over the rail on the stands’ bend, taking Wood Yer part way with him.
WOOD YER was always chasing in vain after being steered back on course, but has enough about him to suggest he can win races in time.
SUPERCEDE made the best of a race that fell in his lap. He has been well placed over fences and hurdles by Gordon Elliott, a trainer who continues to plunder Scone Park prize money.

2.50 2m ½f Isle Of Skye Blended Scotch Whisky Novices’ Hurdle (Class 4)

TIME MACHINE had shown plenty of promise in Ireland, including some decent efforts in handicap company. He was going well three out, took over two out and was driven out to win.
MAKAHAALEB, a winner at down Royal kept on for second, and further confirmation that the form is quite solid came as course and distance winner JEWELLED DAGGER filled third place.
Locally trained THE COCKNEY SQUIRE, a £25,000 purchase out of Charlie Swan’s yard, led until two out before weakening. He was an easy winner of a maiden hurdle in April and will presumably come on for this outing.

3.20 2m 4½f George Stubbs Insurance Services Novices’ Chase (Class 3)

Chasing newcomer FRONTIER DANCER made a favourable impression, jumping very well and pulling away from three out. He has the make of a chaser and should go on from this effort.
STEEL MAGNATE plugged on fro a well held second. Though running better than the previous day, his jumping was still far from foot perfect.
BAAHER well held up and couldn’t make an impression from three out.
ELLANDSHE was well outclassed but added another completion and some pocket money to his record.

3.50 2m 4½f Brewin Dolphin Investment Management Novices’ Handicap Hurdle(0-104)

DE BANSHA MAN has struck me as more of a chasing type, though his first effort at that discipline was disappointing. He recorded a first win here, forging clear from before the last and will be suited by further.
COOSAN BELLE ran a sound race is second, if held form before the last, and is showing promise over hurdles.
ON THE LOOSE plugged on for a well held third and is quite well exposed, while DESERT SOUL did his usual trailblazing before gradually fading once headed three out.
Sue Bradburne’s PROFICIENCY, who had shown ability previously, was disappointing and dropped away before the fifth flight.

4.20 2m ½ f Anderson Anderson and Brown Handicap Hurdle (0-118)

REGENT’S SECRET has a very good record around here and made it 4 wins from from 8 efforts at Perth. He’s normally held up, pretty much ridden like a non-trier, but seems much happier closer to the pace at Scone Park and was kept in touch by Graham Lee. When asked the question he found enough under pressure to hold off his only challenger.
Consistent QUITO DE TRESOR made the winner pull out the stops and lost little in defeat. He had no trouble with a return to hurdling after three chase wins earlier in the year.
VINNIES FRIEND and TRUMPSTOO filled the next two spots, but were held from two out. TRUMPS TOO is better on a faster surface.

4.50 2m 4½f Brewin Dolphin Investment Management Handicap Chase (0-120)

SWINCOMBE ROCK made a very promising chasing debut despite starting in senior company. He came clear from two out to win very nicely, though pays for his effort with a revised mark of 135. That being said, he does look potentially good enough to compete well off the higher mark.
KING ROONAH made a few jumping errors, as is his way, but remained in contention until hitting two out, after which he was eased home for second. He needs to tidy up his fencing to progress further.
OR DE GRUGY led until four out, and looked likely to hold on to third at one pace. However, he was cannoned into by a loose horse and unseated on the run-in.
MORE EQUITY inherited a remote third on the run-in and isn’t going forward over fences.
ORMELLO was beaten four out and looks desperately difficult to win with, even though he does possess ability at this level.
TOP DRESSING was putting out distress signals approaching four out.
STROBE raced prominently until weakening three out and the company was probably a bit tough for him.
KYBER didn’t build on his promising chase debut and was struggling some way out before pulling up.

5.20 2m ½f Perth FM 106.06 Standard NH Flat Race

The first pair were clear here and their form is probably sound enough given that the runner-up is a previous winner.

THE COCKNEY MACKEM won with ears pricked and looks a promising sort, even if he wasn’t tested to the maximum here. He’s by a St Leger winner yet a half-brother to two fair sprinters, but evidence is that dad has the influence on this occasion.
DR FLYNN could make no impression on the winner in the closing stages. He won at Kelso in March and this run will have done him no harm.
MONROE PARK filled third, but he was well beaten equipped with a first time tongue-tie, whilst TOMZATACKMAN made no impact after long lay-off.











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