Perth - Family Day

PERTH – Sunday July 13^th

Going – Good to Firm (watered) drying out a bit as the meeting went on to show Firm in places.

Fresher weather promised for the weekend but it stills feels plenty warm enough up here and Perth was bathed in sunshine for the mid-July meeting. A huge crowd attended.

2.00 2m 4f 110yds totejackpot Novices’ Hurdle (Class 4)

Four were soon reduced to three as newcomer BELLA MONTAGNA looked completely foxed by the first hurdle, unseating Brian Harding.

Gordon Elliott was noticeable for lack of runners at April’s Perth festival, but he has wasted no time adding to his tally since. DANTE’S KING won over fences here on his previous run and hurdled fluently here to see off his remaining two rivals. His trainer can place him to win again.

One to note here is OCEAN CLUB who made an encouraging debut for Brian Ellison. He jumped quite big, perhaps suggesting he will be better over fences in time. Outpaced three out he stuck on determinedly from the last and there should be a race in him.

Tim Vaughan’s EXPERIMENTALIST chased the leader most of the way but could make no impression from two out. He has form with cut in the ground and the others were a shade too quick on this fast ground.

2.30 2m 4f 110yds Royal Caledonian Hunt Novices’ Chase (Class 4)

KIAN’S DELIGHT won the Summer Champion Hurdle here last year and won in impressive style. He jumped well, went on from four out and was in no trouble afterwards.

AGRICULTURAL couldn’t match the two leaders, but put in some sterling work from three out to take second place.  He has certainly progressed form a poor first chasing effort at Hexham.

D J MILAN jumped exuberantly in front, but the effort of trying to hold the winner told and he weakened into third. He was up against a decent winner and may be better over fences than the bare result suggests.

BEST SERVED COLD didn’t jump with any great fluency and was beaten with six to go.

Long standing maiden ELLANDSHE isn’t like to break his Rules maiden tag at 13. He was tailed off after six fences and soon pulled up. Surely he will be retired soon?

3.00 3m 110yds totequadpot Handicap Hurdle (88-115)

SOLWAY BAY stays well and was given a fine ride by Ewan Whillans. Put gradually into the race before four out, he was driven to two out and stayed on under pressure to lead on the flat.

FEISTYLASS looked them sot likely winner two out, but didn’t find as much as the winner from the last. It was only a selling handicap hurdle she won here last time though, so credit for upping her game to contest the finish here.

RYTON RUNNER and FAIRWOOD MASSINI were up with the pace for a long way but found wanting form two out.

Hat-trick seeking GREEN LIGHTNING rapped a couple of hurdles very hard, his error at the eighth seeing him drop back through the field after which he was eased and pulled up.

3.30 2m 110yds Drew Russell 65^th Birthday Maiden Hurdle (Class 4)

A penalty kick for GOAL. The opposition were not up to much and the winner only had to jump round. He did make a hash of a couple of hurdles, possibly distracted by the wayward hurdling of leader Dynamic Drive.

DYNAMIC DRIVE caused Stephen Mulqueen any amount of problems, but his rider persisted and he still led two out. He was put in his place easily and, though he clearly has some ability, looks one to avoid.

The battle of the duffers saw TIM’S APPROACH finish well clear ASKALOTT. The former showed promise on his racing debut at Cork but has gone backwards since, while Askalott’s only glimmer of form was winning an appalling point at Friars Haugh last year.

4.00 2m 4f 110yds Totepool Handicap Chase (102-119)

Locally trained STROBE was driven along at times, but stayed on well from three out under pressure, gaining the lead on the run-in. He loves this ground and does go well at Perth.

QOUBILAI jumped well in front and looked the likely winner entering the straight. However, he made mistakes at the last two fences to open the door to the winner. Quobilai should gain compensation for this.

TWILL STAND TO US ran better than his third place really tells, but a couple of howlers cost him ground and he weakened from two out. This was only his second chase and he will win over fences.

KARINGA QUEEN was never travelling well and after a brief effort in the straight weakened into fourth.

A double winner this season, HODGSON was beaten five fences from home.

4.30 2m 110yds Ecosteel and Lothian Steel Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (81-105)

PARSON’s PUNCH seemed a bit reluctant and was left some way at the start, but soon caught up. He was up with the pace and stretched on after three out, driven to hold on from two out, in the process landing the second leg of a double for Glenfarg based Lucy Normile at her local track. This horse clearly has ability but he’s quirky and can’t be relied upon to put it all in.

MILANEEN chased the leaders from three out and kept on without quite getting to the winner.  She showed a degree of promise in bumpers, but this was by far her best effort over hurdles.

MOMKINZAIN has improved on decent ground this season, but he was under the pump from a long way out and didn’t have enough to match winner.

BORN TO SHINE raced up with the pace until his saddle slipped and Gary Rutherford was unseated before three out. His handicap efforts to date suggest he has a small race in him.

CAPTAIN  BALDWIN was hampered at the start by the winner, soon recovering but held from two out.

5.00 2m 110yds totepool Standard Open NH Flat Race (Class 6)

There was a small field here, but there’s a chance it wasn’t a bad event with three big stables represented.

Paddock opinion favoured the first two here and HENLLAN HARRI stretched on nicely to win the race.  There’s staying blood in this one’s family and improvement can be expected with a distance of ground and jumps to clear.

DEFINITE ROW had some fair efforts to show previous to this and sets the standard. She kept on well enough and seems to have enough about her to win over hurdles. I’m sure Gordon Elliott can place her well.

CLOUDY JOKER looks to have a bit more to work on. He set the pace but just found himself held in the final furlong. He will come on for the race.

DALSTONTOSILOTH comes from a stable that have only ever had one bumper winner, so wouldn’t have been expected no debut. He was held form three out but looked rather little green, sticking on after the first three. He might pay as long term project.

THEHOODLUM, trained by Jean McGregor down the M90 at Milnathort,  was totally outclassed and allowed to coast in form three out. On this and previous evidence racing prospects do not look bright.