Soggy Perth Sunday

PERTH - Sunday 10th July

Going - Good (softening significantly in heavy rain from 3.40 onwards)

A fairly low key meeting that won't live too long in the memory for most. The heavens threw it down with rain during the fourth race and the remaining contests were run on softening ground, with parts of the course becoming water splashes.

2.10 2m 110yds toteplacepot Maiden Hurdle (Class 4)

Lucinda Russell has brought in a few new recruits for the summer campaign and WILD GEESE scored on his second outing for Arlary Stables. Racing prominently, he led at the last and was driven out for victory. This wasn't a great contest but he'll probably go better over a longer distance.
THAT'LL DO NICELY was fifth in a moderate Musselburgh event back in November. He was going well enough two out but outstayed from the last. He has prospects in minor company over hurdles.
MR TALLYMAN finished weakly again and is basically a one paced sort.

2.40 2m 4f 110yds Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)

Few cards at Perth go without a winner from Gordon Elliott, and the Irish trainer obliged with BRAVE BEAUTY in this event. She won this fairly comfortably, easing into contention approaching two out and shaken up to go clear on the flat. She stays further but has speed to win at shorter distances.
GREEN MINING led until approaching the last and lost nothing in finishing second. He has prospects of recording a second novice win to go with his Worcester victory.
TAP NIGHT ran a fair race in third place, though held from two out. He's a flat bred sort who was previously in action the US, and I wonder if a drop to two miles might help.

LOCH DHU faded rather disappointingly from two out. That was handicap and I wonder if he might be better off in that company.

3.10 3m 110yds Try totequickpick On all totepool Bets Handicap Hurdle (0-115)

WINTER ALCHEMY looked a winner in the making when I first saw him. He's proved to be a little less than straightforward, jinking left here before the last, but stayed on under encouragement having led or disputed from the start. I suspect there may be a little better to come and stamina seems his strong suite.
MANGER HANAGEMENT was eased into the race approaching three out and had every chance. He was tired on the flat, hung right and was held.
FARFIELDS matched the winner until weakening before the last. This was a fair effort on his handicap debut and would be interesting if dropped in class.
OH SO BEAUTIFUL chased the leaders but was held from two out. She has steadily improved with experience and as a four-year-old a little strengthening will help in stamina contests.

3.40 2m 4f 110yds toteexacta Handicap Chase (0-122)

The heavens opened and the rain heaved down during this race.

Fife amateur Lucy Alexander has been getting a significant number of outside rides in recent times. She's a decent amateur rider and was helped by an improving performer in SCOTCH WARRIOR. Michael Smith's gelding has adapted well to the challenge of moving from hunter chases to handicaps and is progressing. Always going well up front, he responded well when asked for an effort from two out.
PEACHEY MOMENT has gone up 8lbs since last time and was held from the last but ran a sound race against a well weighted opponent. He has been progressive and the combination of rain and weight might have counted against him.
STEEL MAGNATE couldn't make any impact on improved terms with the winner and was held from two out.
BIG BURROWS offered a little more encouragement than on recent outings, though held in the straight.

4.10 2m 4f 110yds Try totequickpick If You're Feeling Lucky Novices' Chase (Class4)

Three Irish runners were pulled out to reduce the field to three, the rain still coming down heavily.

FOOL’S WILDCAT looked the likely winner approaching the last, and was four lengths up on the flat, but he totally gave the race away. He’s proved unreliable previously and is one to oppose at short prices.
KHORUN looked to be struggling before four out, but stayed on in the straight under driving and won a shade comfortably in the end. It’s difficult to quantify the performance though since the race was presented to him with his rivals underperforming.
Irish maiden point winner GOLDEN VIEW moved straight into chases form bumpers. He ballooned the first three but jumped better until making a pig’s ear of the water and dragging his hind legs. He stayed in contention but struggled once turned for home. The blunder could have hurt him and he’ll be worth another chance though has something to learn about fencing.

4.40 2m 110yds Red Hot Chilli Pipers Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (0-96)

It was still raining heavily and the entrance to the back straight was covered with standing water.

OCARITO surely can’t be improving significantly as a ten-year-old and presumably is just less bothered by rain than the others, but won this nicely, leading all the way and responding when asked on the flat. He was clear with COOL BARANCA who is ion decent form here and ran well enough.
The third VIA ARCHIMEDE has shown little of late and was well held.

5.10 2m 110yds totepool A Better way To Bet Standard Open NH Flat Race

The hurdles were left in position during this contest and the runners routed around them. Given that they went outside six flights and inside two then this probably added 40 or 50 yards to the distance. The rain continued to fall and the puddles grew.

The form looks pretty solid as two previous winners occupied the first two places. JIVE MASTER followed up an easy win at Newton Abbot with a driven out victory here. The winner’s profile looks sound and he has prospects when going over jumps.
INCAS ARTICLE won at Clonmel then ran fourth in what seemed a competitive contest at Bellewstown last weekend. She disputed form a mile out but was held once the winner asserted in the final 300 yards. Neither the sharp Bellewstown track nor Perth would bring out the best in her, so she will surely improve once moved up in trip.
BLAZIN WHITE FACE appeared to improve on her effort behind Atlanta Falcon here, closing to three furlongs out but held afterwards. She stuck on well enough and she would be of interest in a mares’ only race.
LADY OF VERONA made a fair start to here career, making an effort before the straight but then unable to match the principals. She’s bred to stay and will improve on this in time.

HAMILTON – Saturday July 9th

A moderate card of Class 5 and 6 events.

ELTHEEB burst clear of his opponents in the 1m 3f Class 5 event and should hold his own in better company next time.

A maiden seller is hardly a rich source of winners, but the second here THE FIERY CROSS has at least shown he has a bit of speed and was gaining on 66/1 chance Weetentherty at the line. Now he’s qualified for handicaps Ian Semple might find a low level event over five or six furlongs.