Everybody loves Perth! – Scottish track well supported with 98 runners declared across nine races for Tuesday meet

Published 2020/08/10

The Irishman’s strike on Lake Baikal last month was his first winner at Britain’s most northerly racecourse at the 46th attempt.

His latest three mounts include River Frost for trainer Ben Haslam in the night’s highlight, the Perth Thank You SHS Stadium & Arena Safety Handicap Chase.

McLernon said: “It took me a while to get off the mark but I did it eventually. I had about half a dozen seconds, including a couple on Lake Baikal, but I can’t think of any hard luck stories. It’s a lovely track to ride round and the ground and the prize money are usually pretty decent.”

J P McManus-owned River Frost faces eight rivals including Keith Dalgleish pair Amalfi Doug and Monsieur Co while another interesting contender is recent Market Rasen third Forecast for the Dr Richard Newland/Sam Twiston-Davies combination.

Charlotte Jones is another big fan of Perth and she has three mounts starting off with No Hiding Place for her boss Jimmy Moffatt in the Thank You Auto Services Perth Handicap Hurdle.

“It is always a course I seem to do well at and I had my latest success at the track on Golden Town just last month,” Jones said. “I’ve had three winners in all from only seven rides and our local course, Cartmel, is the only place I’ve ridden more.”

Scotland’s leading jumps trainer Lucinda Russell faces a hectic night as she is sending a mammoth raiding party of 17 horses on the short trip from Milnathort up the M90 to her local course.

Four-time champion jockey Richard Johnson has four rides starting with Rose Dobbin’s Chosen Flame in the opening Thank You Cherrybank Garage Handicap Hurdle which has been split into two divisions.

And newly-crowned champion Brian Hughes is booked for five mounts including Jim Goldie-trained mare Pammi in the Perth Thank You Medics UK Handicap Hurdle. Hazel quote?

The bumper turnout continues a positive few days for Perth after Sunday’s announcement that bet365 have come on board to provide valued sponsorship of the Scottish venue’s Gold Cup Day on August 30.

Live on ITV Racing that Sunday afternoon, the £25,000 bet365 Sam Morshead Perth Gold Cup will take centre stage on a card now worth £83,500 overall thanks to bet365’s backing. -