Perth Gold Cup Day

PERTH – Sunday June 8^th

Going – Soft (Heavy in places)

2.10 2m 4f 110yds Land Rover Discovery Maiden Hurdle (Class 5) (for Provost’s Plate)

A successful debut for Stuart Crawford’s ROYAL DJANGO, a Kayf Tara gelding who is likely best suited by these conditions. Racing handily he challenged two out and having been led into the last he railed to good effect under driving to lead close home.

Favourite NINGBO EXPRESS looked the likely winner at the last only to be run out of it close home. She should be placed to win a race over hurdles before long.

TARLAN was coming back off a new three year lay-off having fractured his pelvis. This comeback was very promising since he came with every chance two out and was only outpaced from the last.

BADGED ran up to his form in fourth.

AMILLIONTIMES set the pace until two out but found the opposition too strong after that.

2.45 2m 4f 110yds Jaguar F-Type Handicap Chase (109-132)

The favourite here Gordon’s Elliott trained KILLEENMORE was walked up for the vet before the race. There was clearly some problem as he raced in rear, was under pressure with a mile to go and pulled up before four out. The horse was reported as lame behind.

CREEVYTENNANT was a useful hunter chaser two seasons ago, winning the hunter event at the 2013 Musselburgh Cheltenham Trials Meeting. Having missed last season he came back successfully here, making all the running and sticking on despite an unusual distraction on the run-in. The race was run during a thunderstorm and Creevytennant veered on the run-in as there was a flash of lightning. Nevertheless he had enough in hand to hold on.

CALL BOX travelled well, came to challenge at the last and kept on under driving if a clear second best. He goes well here and can find another opportunity.

SCOTCH WARRIOR may well have found these conditions a little testing. He chased the leaders from three out but couldn’t make an impression. A fair enough effort off a 5lbs higher mark than his recent win.

ALLOW ME was beaten two out, while veteran GARLETON is struggling now, was on and off the bridle, and beaten from three out.

STONETHROWER was beaten turning for home.

3.20 2m 110yds Stewart Milne Hunters Meadow Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (65-105)

 SNOQUALMIE CHIEF saw off a moderate field in comfortable style to land Gordon Elliott’s 100^th winner at Perth. Held up, he came through the field from three out and won going away.

DISCOVERIE set the pace and kept on for second. Dianne Sayer should place this one to win a race this summer.

DEFINITELY BETTER travelled strongly but didn’t find a huge amount from two out.

There wasn’t an awful lot of encouragement from the remainder who were beaten off before the last.

3.50 2m Fugro Subsea Novices’ Chase (Class 4)

Not a bad novices’ chase for this time of year won by FALCARRAGH, a decent novice hurdle last season and bouncing back from a disappointing chase debut at Worcester. He joined issue with the leaders three out and stayed on to win by a couple of lengths.

MIDNIGHT GAME chased the leaders from three out but was never quite near enough to get in a serious challenge though finishing best of all into second from the last. This looks a step up on his chasing debut at Killarney and there may be better to come in time over fences.

HOWWOULDUNO set the pace or disputed most of the way and stuck to his task once passed at the last.

ORSIPPUS, rather small for chasing, disputed the lead for much of the way, but was outpaced from three out only to run on again under pressure on the flat. He wasn’t going anywhere in particular over hurdles last term and my feeling is that his trainer maybe felt it was time to try something different. He might be worth a try over a longer distance.

AGRICULTURAL had much to find here and was left behind from four out.

4.25 3m Range Rover City Of Perth Gold Cup Handicap chase (139-119)

It was chucking it down with rain for one of Perth’s feature events of the season.

A battle of attrition won in brave style by GUESS AGAIN who pretty much made all. He was maybe briefly headed two out but dug deep and was asserting in the final furlong. A good effort, but he doesn’t get to the track that often and is likely to need a bit of a rest after these exertions.

LAMBORO LAD came there looking the likely winner two out but was outpointed from the last. A fair enough effort and Peter Bowen will presumably look to place him in similar events this summer.

RAAJIH travelled well into contention three out but couldn’t get to the leaders down the straight. He zoomed up the weights after doddling home at Kilbeggan and that may have stymied him here.

HOLD EM COWBOY was held up as usual but couldn’t get in a blow and probably found the class a bit beyond him.

FIDDLERS REEL raced prominently early but gradually lost touch from the fourteenth.

FIREBIRD FLYER chased the leaders for much of the way but was getting the worst of the argument when falling heavily three out. He did walk away looking a bit shaken but OK.

FENTARA was in rear when belting the thirteenth and was pulled up soon after.

WICKLOW LAD was outpaced after the twelfth and not good enough in this company. There may be a soft race or two for him however at some of Perth’s meetings this summer.

4.55 2m 4f 110yds Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer Handicap Hurdle (90-118)

A decimated by non-runners with only seven of the 16 declared turning up for the race.

VASCO DU MEE registered a win for Gordon Elliott, cruising to the front three out and basically allowing AP McCoy to take the mickey out of the others from before the last. Not sure what she achieved here and Elliott may well try to pull the mare out before being re-assessed.

COOL BARANCA generally thrives at this time of the year and tried to throw down a challenge but simply wasn’t good enough.

MOLLY MILAN flattered three out but never got in a serious blow.

INDEPUB set the pace but couldn’t match the first two from two out. I remember seeing him race over 5 and 6 furlongs at the start of his career and it didn’t occur to that he would end up ploughing round Perth in the mud!

5.25 2m 110yds Range Rover Evoque Standard Open NH Flat (Class 6)

The hurdles weren’t removed due to the chewed up state of the course, so this was a bit of a slalom event around the hurdles.

GHOST RIVER pulled clear impressively in the final two furlongs was well held from then.

U NAME IT kept on promisingly for third, but the rest were well beaten.

THEREVEREND CLOVER took a false step and came down five furlongs out. Horse and rider got up OK.