PERTH - Friday April 25th
Going - Soft
A decent crowd in for the final day of the Festival at
around 4,000. Perth made it a 'Premier Raceday' which is stretching the limits of
that description given that the best races were only Class 3. An admission
price of £22 for Grandstand is on the pricey side and £17 for the Centre Course
enclosure is bordering on taking the mickey for an enclosure with limited
facilities. Although I don't have racecourse pass this year I was at least able
to save myself £4 through the Racegoers' Club. I enjoy watching from centre
course but allow myself paddock and grandstand access.
Gripes over and the racing was competitive enough though
since the Festival was introduced in 1989 the meeting has become gradually more
top heavy with handicaps, five out of seven on this card.
2.00 2m ½f Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer NH Maiden Hurdle
(Class 4)
FOND MEMORY made a decent impression on handicap debut at
Newbury and made up for a subsequent disappointing effort at Exeter. Always travelling
well he challenged two out and led before the last, a clumsy leap there not
stopping him too much.
FINAL PASS created a sound enough impression on hurdling
debut. Travelling prominent, he led three out was then passed two out but kept
on to the line. He’s already won a point in Ireland and has a future over
jumps.
VISION DE LA VIE, a lengthy gelding that should benefit from
a stiffer test, kept on from two out without threatening the leaders.
THIS THYNE JUDE created a fair impression in bumpers last
year here and at Kelso. She looked well enough off a break, and in the paddock was
once again hinting at a dressage career if she doesn’t make it over jumps! Keen
in the race, she was restrained in rear and outpaced after three out. She
picked up nicely in that latter stages and looks sure to make her mark given a
stiffer test. Her dam was a staying
mare.
VAUREN DE VAUZELLE was on my list to follow this season, but
like many on my damp squib of a 13/14 list hasn’t gone on through the season.
He completed on this occasion, having been a first flight faller on hurdling debut,
but was soundly put in his place from two out.
CEILIDH is a chasing type who hasn’t made a mark in bumpers and
will need time.
2.30 2m Turning Out Quality Handicap Chase (104-125) (Betfair
Series Qualifier)
The Scottish Series is approaching its climax, the final to
take place over 2m 5 ½ f at Kelso on May 7th.
INOOGOO is consistent but had only recorded a single win
here previously. There was a strong pace on early and he came from off that
pace to take up the running two out. He was all out to hold on from the last
suggesting he doesn’t have much in hand off his current mark.
COUER DE FOU looked as if the race would help, but I seem to
remember making a similar remark previously so it may be that he carries some condition.
He was sweating and on his toes in the paddock, but settled well in the race,
made headway from three out to challenge at the last and pressed the winner to
the line. His recent record suggests that he is difficult to keep fit.
Double winner BAILEYS CONCERTO could never get into the
race. He won at Hexham and Carlisle and found things happening too quickly
around here, though he did stay on from the last for third.
LORD OF DRUMS was up with the sharp early pace and faded
from two out. He goes well enough around here and is on a decent mark.
WILDE PASTURES disputed or set the pace but weakened from
three out and probably went too fast for his own good.
STROBE needs better ground than he encountered here and was
beaten down the far side.
3.05 2m 4½f McBookie.com Handicap Hurdle (75-100)
KING’S CHORISTER is not the most reliable of characters but
picked this race up for the second year off a 12lbs lower mark. Eased into the
race on the home turn, he led before the last and stayed n for victory. He’s 6
wins from 65 races which tells its own story.
AMETHYST ROSE stayed on from two out to take second place.
What form she has shown has been with a decent bit of cut in the ground.
INDIGO ISLAND kept on for third place and looks at his best
on a sharpish track, though yet to record a win.
MASTER CYNK led three out and threatening to take the race
but had come to the end of his tether approaching the last.
DE BEE KEEPER was well backed but didn’t show at the head of
the race, making only moderate late progress. There’s probably a small race for
him over the summer.
MARLEE MASSIE improved on handicap debut though making no
impression form two out.
3.35 2m 4½f Out Of The Ordinary Investment Cup Novices’
Handicap Chase (123-133)
DARE TO ENDEAVOUR looked best of these in the paddock. He
led for most of the way jumping well and stayed on well from two out. Faster
ground may have been against him at Uttoxeter, but otherwise he has been
progressive.
BAR DE LIGNE was below form at Kempton last time, but has
been consistent otherwise and ran a creditable second without threatening the
winner.
ROBBIE was held up and plugged on into third place without
threatening to finish nearer.
UN GUET APENS appeared to find the track too sharp and was
never travelling with any ease.
SURPRISE VENDOR won the Pontefract Marathon recently on the flat,
but was held here after a couple of serious jumping errors.
4.10 3m 7f GA Engineering Highland National Handicap Chase
(98-124)
A late decision by Nick Alexander to run BERTIE MILAN paid
dividends as he became the first Scottish trainer to land this event. Racing in
the first three all the way, Lucy Alexander kicked no from the seventh and had
those remaining in contention on the stretch by the home turn. Despite not
being fluent at the last two fences there was more than enough in the tank to
be driven out for victory. The planned tilt at a 0-100 chase at the next
meeting now goes out of the window!
HIDDEN HORIZONS travelled comfortably in midfield, he
progressed to press the leader from the nineteenth fence. Chipping away at
Bertie Milan from that point he had to give best on the run-in. A decent effort
nevertheless and a respectable follow up to his Ulster Grand National win.
ROYALE KNIGHT ideally wants slightly better ground than this
but ran a decent enough race, not able to match the first two from three out.
MISTER PHILSON was outpaced from three out and may not have
seen out this trip.
INDIGO ROCK progressed to track the pace on the last circuit
but was calling enough by four out. His current mark is reasonable if he drops
in trip.
GOTOYOURPLAY was keen early and feeling the pinch when
coming down five out.
HEEZ A STEEL was never any better than mid division and struggling
when unseating at the eighteenth.
FIVE STAR WILSHAM race up front for two circuits but faded
quickly after five out and was pulled up before two out. Some of his better
efforts staying efforts have come at stiffer tracks and he may well have found
the tempo here a little bit too quick. Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies spotted the
loose Heez A Steel standing in front of three out, grabbed the reins and led
the latter back as he cantered in, earning a generous round of applause from
the crowd.
WILD GEESE was never entirely happy and struggling on the
final circuit before being pulled up four out.
NEPTUNE EQUESTER hit the second hard and was off the bridle
for much of the time after that. Ryan Mania kept working but had to admit
defeat before four out.
TARRACO travelled prominently for a circuit, but lost his
pitch after that and was well behind when pulled up before four out. He has shot
up the handicap of late and may just be held now.
NODEBATEABOUTIT, unlucky here a couple of years back and ridiculously
so when stopped by loose horse at Exeter this season, was never
going and his jockey gave up the ghost with a mile left.
4.45 3m 3f Bet on All Non-League at McBookie.com Conditional
Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (92-121)
I would normally have abbreviated the race title, but as a
non-league football nut for thirty odd years I had to pay due respect to the
sponsor!
SYBARITE got outpaced three out but stayed on well up the
straight and had taken charge by the last. He’s not the easiest ride, even
though having plenty of ability, and all credit to Ryan Hatch for getting a
decent tune out of him.
Making it a Twiston-Davies one-two, JAUNTY JOURNEY filled
second place in this contest for the third year in succession. He led until
before the last and kept on once passed. He regularly runs his race in staying
contests over hurdles and fences.
HELLORBOSTON made an effort to challenge two out but couldn’t
make an impression on the first two. There are a few of these long distance
hurdles in the north and he may well be targeted at the likes of here, Kelso
and Sedgefield next term.
BOLLIN FIONA was never near the leaders and plugged on for
fourth place, just holding PERFECT CANDIDATE who briefly threatened three out
but was held after.
MAGIC PRESENT was fired up in the paddock, too keen on the
track and beaten by three out.
LOS NADIS never got into the race and this trip may well
have taxed his stamina in the conditions.
RYTON RUNNER isn’t up to this class and was well held.
BESCOT SPRINGS has been busy and this may have been one race
too many.
5.20 2m ½f Go To Balcormo Races Tomorrow Standard Open
National Hunt Flat Race
A cracking finish to the last race of the meeting.
I watched this head on from by the winning post and LOOKING
WELL showed plenty of determination to squeeze through a gap up the rail near
the finish, getting his head in front right on the line. Unlike some of Nicky Richards’s
newcomers there appeared to be a bit to work on, but this one clearly has an engine
and a very good attitude. I would expect this one to progress.
MAJOR IVAN still looks a bit green, weaving around when asked
for an effort from three furlongs out. He put in plenty of effort though and a
visit to the winner’s spot is merely delayed.
THE WAY IT WORKS is a taking half-sister to bumper winner Balboni.
Arguably best on looks, she stayed on well from off the pace and there should
be more to come. A nice sort to remember for next season.
Irish raider MELBOURNE LADY wasn’t disgraced in fourth
place, having hinted at ability at both Down Royal and Wexford.
WISH IN A WELL. Coming off a decent recent effort at Ayr, was
outpaced from two out and appeared to find this a bit sharp.
CLAN CHIEF, a winner at Ayr but a big boat of an animal, was
very fizzy and had two handlers in the paddock. He was uncooperative on the
track and Kit Alexander did well to get him down to the start. Keen in the
race, he probably did quite creditably to finish sixth after all the fuss. If
he calms down he should turn into a chaser in time as he has the size and
clearly has ability.
