May 15 / 18.22 Perth

18.22

Good To Soft

Joe Stratton 60th Birthday Bash Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 4 runners
RTV
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Joe Stratton 60th Birthday Bash Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

4/5 (Won)

  • Win: £1.84

Form: 2/11- D

Last run: 25 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Very low mileage for his age, having missed 18 months after dead-heating in an Irish point and more than a year after his debut over hurdles; won easily on his handicap debut recently and holds leading claims upped 8lb now switched to chasing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

12

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Galunggung

10st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Kept the excellent rules strike-rate going with a Carlisle win (2m, soft; effective on good to soft) in February but quicker ground raises some doubts against this more forbidding opposition.

33/1

12th

12

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Galunggung

10st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Kept the excellent rules strike-rate going with a Carlisle win (2m, soft; effective on good to soft) in February but quicker ground raises some doubts against this more forbidding opposition.

33/1

Form: P37FP- C

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Generally struggled since a win over hurdles off 4lb lower here last summer, albeit soft ground wouldn't have been ideal latest; it remains to be seen how his jumping holds up, with him taking a heavy fall in January when last seen over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

13th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:33 Perth

Garde Des Champs

11st 5lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Hasn't the best of strike-rates but both his wins have been here, the latest over C&D last July (good) when wearing cheekpieces for the first time; disappointing up in trip here last time (didn't jump well); may have to race run to suit him but will need to jump better.

14/1

8th

5

20th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 133y

Class 4

15:00 Kelso

Garde Des Champs

11st 7lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Largely consistent 10yo who belatedly opened his chasing account at Perth (2m, good; first-time cheekpieces) last summer; absent since below-par effort in October but ran well when fresh here (2m4f, good) last spring and returns from latest break on a workable mark.

9/1

5

25th Oct 2025

Good

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

16:30 Kelso

Garde Des Champs

10st 8lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Reasonably consistent and ran respectably on the bare figures over C&D most recently; however, still has a modest strike-rate, which includes a record of just 1-19 in the chase sphere.

6/1

Form: 7344-3

Last run: 5 days

W: 10st 3lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish, longstanding maiden who fared better at Sedgefield last Friday (first-time visor; has worn cheekpieces) despite again not jumping well; this mark should be within range when she puts in a decent round.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

29th May 2024

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 5

19:50 Cartmel

Libby

11st 4lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Rebecca Menzies

0-5 over fences and 0-24 overall but has posted two pretty good efforts to finish third in a visor this month, latterly at Perth (2m, good to soft) a fortnight ago; major player if judged on that evidence.

5/1

3rd

5

15th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:22 Perth

Libby

10st 3lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Rebecca Menzies

soon raced in second, not fluent 4 out, pressed leader 3 out, lost ground approaching last, lost second inside final 110yds

7/2

3rd

5

15th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:22 Perth

Libby

10st 3lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Rebecca Menzies

Ex-Irish, longstanding maiden who fared better at Sedgefield last Friday (first-time visor; has worn cheekpieces) despite again not jumping well; this mark should be within range when she puts in a decent round.

7/2

OUR TIP

Form: 21265- C

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Dual winner over hurdles here, latterly off 6lb lower in an ordinary handicap last August; soft ground wouldn't have been ideal last time; possibilities on chase debut, with yard among the winners.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

15

(13)

20th Sep 2024

Good

1m 5f 26y

Class 5

17:20 Ayr

Well Planted

9st 3lb

J: Jason Hart

T: R Mike Smith

Last three wins have come over hurdles, but his last three efforts in that sphere have been moderate; look elsewhere.

25/1

8th

5

9th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

15:05 Perth

Well Planted

11st 5lb

J: Derek Fox

T: R Mike Smith

C&D scorer who was tried in cheekpieces when coming in last of 12 over C&D 23 days ago; he needs to bounce back.

20/1

12th

10

17th Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 2

18:35 Perth

Well Planted

11st 3lb

J: Derek Fox

T: R Mike Smith

Headed close home (Castel Gandolfo third) in this race last year; doesn't arrive in anywhere near the same kind of form this time around after finishing tailed off (beaten 50l) over 2m4f here last month; easing mark isn't enough to make a viable threat.

25/1

Non-runners

Thank You Blue

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.90
Straight Forecast £7.30
Trifecta £13.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Galunggung

TOPSPEED:

Libby

POSTDATA:

Libby

D Express:

Libby

The Times:

Galunggung

Telegraph:

Galunggung

The Guardian:

Galunggung

Daily Mail:

Galunggung

Daily Mirror:

Galunggung

The Sun:

Galunggung

The Star:

Galunggung

Daily Record:

Galunggung