September 28 / 16.55 Perth

16.55

Soft

Events And Conferences At Perth Racecourse Open National Hunt Flat Race (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £2722.46
  • 2m 0f 47y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
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Events And Conferences At Perth Racecourse Open National Hunt Flat Race (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: 3

Last run: 57 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Out of a half-sister to a French 2m2f Grade 3 hurdle winner and made quite promising debut when keeping-on third of seven over C&D (good) last month; likely contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

21

1st May 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 55y

17:25 Punchestown

Al Kalila

10st 8lb

J: J J Slevin

T: S R B Crawford

Maiden hurdle winner built on previous chasing promise with a 2l win at Kelso in February (2m5f, good to soft) in a four-runner field; this is a different challenge altogether and needs to improve again in first-time cheekpieces.

16/1

1st

3

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 3

17:10 Kelso

Al Kalila

10st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: S R B Crawford

Ayr maiden hurdle winner (2m4f; made much of running) last winter; shaped well over the extended 2m7f here on his first two starts this season and he wasn't disgraced over 3m at Down Royal last time; this drop in distance should suit him and he could be ready to strike.

9/4

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Third foal from a low-grade 1m4f Flat winner; probably best watched on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

1

30th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 75y

16:50 Punchestown

Ballysax Hank

11st 12lb

J: James Bowen

T: Gavin Cromwell

Summer Plate winner at Market Rasen (2m5f, good) last July and went close in the American Grand National (2m5f, firm) in October; excuses on both winter starts; has around 5lb to find with Release The Beast on Cheltenham running; big task under this weight and would prefer further.

10/1

6th

14

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Ballysax Hank

10st 12lb

J: James Bowen

T: Gavin Cromwell

5l win in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen (2m5f, good) last July and went close in the American Grand National (2m5f, firm) in October; excuses on both winter starts (3m then soft ground); the drop back to 2m poses a question but the stiff track and strong pace will help; possible player.

10/1

6th

4

2nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 1f 0y

16:05 Leopardstown

Ballysax Hank

11st 4lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

2-5 over fences, won the Summer Plate at Market Rasen (21.5f, good) in July off 128; won sole Flat start next time at Gowran on good to yielding before a fine second to Zanahiyr over hurdles in the American Grand National (2m5f, firm); failed to stay 3m in the Paddy Power at Christmas; ground conditions not certain to suit.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
First foal from dam who showed only minor promise in bumpers/over hurdles; stable not known for bumper winners.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

3rd Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

13:50 Newcastle

Bogleyburn

11st 5lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Gary Rutherford

in touch with leaders, not fluent 6th, weakened quickly 2 out

200/1

1

13th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

13:05 Newcastle

Bogleyburn

11st 9lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Gary Rutherford

midfield, dropped to rear and niggled along 3rd, not fluent and pecked on landing 7th

100/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Out of an unraced sister to smart bumper/chase winner Buckers Bridge; safely held when last of four finishers in 2m4f maiden point in April; makes rules debut today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

19th Oct 2023

Good To Soft

2m 1f 33y

Class 5

17:20 Carlisle

Boris The Underdog

11st 1lb

J: Edward Austin

T: Hannah McMahon

in touch with leaders, outpaced and dropped to rear over 4f out, soon lost touch and weakened

66/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to a 2m hurdle winner; joined Lucinda Russell for £75,000 after finishing second in two Irish points last season; interesting to see how he fares on this rules debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

21st Jan 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 4

13:00 Ayr

Tommys Law

11st 6lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell

Runner-up in eight of his ten starts, twice in points and six times over hurdles, the latest at Newcastle in December (2m6f, good); this looks more competitive; cheekpieces now tried; each-way chance.

8/1

9

21st Jan 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 4

13:00 Ayr

Tommys Law

11st 6lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell

Runner-up in eight of his ten starts, twice in points and six times over hurdles, the latest at Newcastle in December (2m6f, good); this looks more competitive; cheekpieces now tried; each-way chance.

8/1

2nd

3

14th Dec 2024

Good

2m 6f 0y

Class 4

12:17 Newcastle

Tommys Law

11st 0lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

led at steady pace, not fluent 8th, faced challenge from 3 out, keeping on when joined last, no extra and headed final 110yds, weakened towards finish

1/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 7lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Second foal; half-sister to bumper winner Finnthemagician; dam bumper/2m hurdle winner, closely related to a bumper winner; one of two runners for the stable; looks the part on paper.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

9

14th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:15 Perth

Backdoorflush

10st 7lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

in touch with leaders, went third before 7th

7/2

2nd

2

26th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

15:10 Sedgefield

Backdoorflush

11st 2lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

Fair way in front of subsequent winner Vanilla Dancer when runner-up over C&D (good) on debut but was out of her depth in Listed event at Cheltenham last time; big chance back in this company.

7/4

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 7lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Third foal; dam pulled up in maiden hurdle, half-sister to 2m5f hurdle winner Amrons Sage; towards rear when falling at fifth fence on Irish point debut in April; makes his rules debut here
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 100y

Class 1

13:00 Kelso

Tankardstown Diva

11st 0lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Highly progressive for new yard this season and has won handicaps on her last four hurdle starts (2m7f-3m1f, good-soft), most recently in comfortable fashion at Ludlow last month; this is a much tougher test of her credentials but it remains to be seen where her limitations now lie.

9/1

1st

4

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 174y

Class 3

14:42 Ludlow

Tankardstown Diva

11st 7lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

3-7 for new stable since last summer, with one win gained over C&D (good) and the latest at Plumpton (3m1f, soft) last month; this race is more competitive but she might still be on the upgrade.

9/2

1st

2

26th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 217y

Class 4

15:20 Plumpton

Tankardstown Diva

11st 11lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Won on yielding ground in Ireland but her two hurdle wins (2m7f and 3m) in October were both on good ground and good to soft is probably as slow as she wants it; fell on her return to fences before Christmas and needs to justify a career-high mark, 7lb higher than her latest win.

7/2

Verdict

Both of Lucinda Russell’s runners look interesting and the relative strength in the betting behind dual Irish point runner-up Tommys Law and newcomer Backdoorflush ought to reveal some clues. However, C&D third AL KALILA probably sets a fair standard of rules form and is taken to enhance Stuart Crawford’s very good strike-rate in British bumpers.[Chris Wilson]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Al Kalila

The Guardian:

Tommys Law

RP RATINGS:

Al Kalila

POSTDATA:

Al Kalila

The Times:

Al Kalila

Telegraph:

Al Kalila

Daily Mail:

Al Kalila

D Express:

Al Kalila

Daily Mirror:

Al Kalila

The Sun:

Al Kalila

Daily Record:

Al Kalila

The Star:

Tommys Law