June 08 / 14.47 Perth

14.47

Good

bet365 Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 0f 47y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
RTV
View Course
bet365 Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 3661-1 CD

Last run: 24 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Back from break with two C&D wins (good to soft/good) this spring, latterly when too strong for Mack The Man in higher-grade race; raised 3lb to another career-high mark today but Sean Bowen is booked again; major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

2nd Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

14:48 Perth

Just Dottie

11st 4lb

J: William Maggs

T: R Mike Smith

Four C&D wins, the most recent when justifying favouritism from 2lb higher in May 2025; Flat winner since (last September); reportedly never travelling when only fifth of 12 (Ravenscraig Castle third) here on latest start.

9/2

5th

5

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

15:17 Perth

Just Dottie

11st 9lb

J: William Maggs

T: R Mike Smith

Fourth of six on the Flat last time out and beaten 22l here the time before that; a four-time winner in this discipline but reservations at the minute.

20/1

4th

6

(6)

21st May 2026

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 5

17:00 Musselburgh

Just Dottie

8st 11lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: R Mike Smith

Four wins over hurdles; had few chances on the Flat but she won at Ayr in September (1m5f, soft) and showed better form when third over 1m7f 11 days later; still has some potential in this sphere and a hurdle run last month should have sharpened her up; might need more of a stamina test than this though.

6/1

Form: 632-1 CD

Last run: 24 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Delivered on earlier promise when winning C&D maiden (good) fairly comfortably last month; contests much deeper race on this handicap debut but should still have further improvement to come.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 2f 25y

Class 1

14:15 Kelso

The Last Cloud

11st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Patrick Neville

Won three in a row at Perth last May-September (2m, good; two of them handicaps) and has run with credit in defeat in Graded races on last three starts, the first two over 2m/2m1f (good to soft) and the latest at 3m (soft); he might not be far away.

9/2

3rd

11

24th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 1

12:55 Doncaster

The Last Cloud

11st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Patrick Neville

Has steadily progressive form, albeit mostly at about 2m and his latest effort (in Aintree Grade 1) is open to question as several hurdles were omitted; something to prove back up markedly in trip.

14/1

4th

6

24th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

15:00 Cheltenham

The Last Cloud

11st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Patrick Neville

Progressive 5yo judged on his hat-trick of wins on good ground at Perth, doing it readily in handicaps on his last two starts; has considerably more on his plate at this loftier level and softer ground could be an issue for him.

12/1

Form: /6268- D

Last run: 157 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Yet to add to his Irish maiden hurdle win in 2021 and was out of form when last seen in the winter; seems versatile regarding trip/ground but is not the most obvious answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

21st Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

16:40 Perth

Coventry

10st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Lisa Harrison

Unable to justify prominence in the betting when well beaten at Kelso (2m5f, good) this month and remains without a win since 2021; others have much more appealing profiles.

20/1

12

24th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:08 Perth

Coventry

10st 5lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Lisa Harrison

Soundly beaten over 3m here this month and remains without a win since Irish maiden success in 2021; continues to slide down the weights and may benefit from this drop back in trip but still makes only limited appeal.

20/1

Form: 2F337-

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
0-10 over hurdles; ran quite well in Newcastle maiden (2m4f, good) in March, after a break, but weakened tamely from penultimate flight in 2m4f handicap here (good to soft) in April; back in trip today; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

16th Aug 2025

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

17:35 Perth

Bishop Hill

11st 10lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Yet another placing here in a 2m4f maiden last month; 0-3 in handicaps but was going well when falling in one of them and there's a race in her off this mark; unraced beyond 2m4f but could stay.

10/1

6

3rd Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:20 Perth

Bishop Hill

10st 11lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Placed four times in a row over C&D last spring/summer, including a close second in this race, but has not been firing on all cylinders lately and is now 0-11 over hurdles.

5/1

5

8th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

14:47 Perth

Bishop Hill

11st 8lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

0-10 over hurdles; ran quite well in Newcastle maiden (2m4f, good) in March, after a break, but weakened tamely from penultimate flight in 2m4f handicap here (good to soft) in April; back in trip today; others preferred.

16/1

Form: 1325-2 CD

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Won twice (once over C&D) last autumn and has been placed on three of his four starts since returning in February from a break; can give another good account today but was raised 3lb to new career-high mark after last month's 2m5f Kelso second.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 3

15:10 Cartmel

Heart Above

10st 9lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Dianne Sayer

Bounced back to form with narrow win at Kelso (2m5f, good) in May but that seems to be his favourite track and he ran poorly here (2m6f) last month; this drop back in trip is not ideal; not the percentage call.

25/1

7

28th Jun 2026

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

15:02 Cartmel

Heart Above

11st 3lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Dianne Sayer

Made the frame in his only two races at Cartmel; short-head win at Kelso (2m5f, good) five weeks ago, which seems his favourite track but he needs respect with that return to form.

8/1

Form: 4312-3 CD

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Sometimes races a bit too freely but made all to score by 13l at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) in April and has also performed well on both subsequent outings (once over C&D); refitted cheekpieces are the headgear of choice today; probably won't be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

30th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

14:07 Sedgefield

Trailblazer

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Adam Nicol

Made all to score by 13l over C&D (good) in April and has remained in good form since; current mark is workable; ought to give this a good shot.

6/1

7

13th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:08 Perth

Trailblazer

10st 4lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Adam Nicol

Sometimes races a bit too freely but made all to win by 13l at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) in April and has performed fairly well on all three outings since (2m-2m1f); worth another crack at 2m4f; probably won't be far away.

5/1

8

8th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

14:47 Perth

Trailblazer

11st 3lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Adam Nicol

Sometimes races a bit too freely but made all to score by 13l at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) in April and has also performed well on both subsequent outings (once over C&D); refitted cheekpieces are the headgear of choice today; probably won't be far away.

12/1

Form: 8747-5 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Not really firing on all cylinders since the winter but has slipped to a very tempting mark and, with blinkers refitted, was not beaten far when fifth in recent C&D handicap fought out by Just Dottie and Mack The Man.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

10

16th Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

17:05 Perth

Cuban Cigar

10st 2lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Stuck in a bit of a rut right now and he's at his best with some give underfoot; others preferred from 2lb out of the weights.

12/1

5th

2

13th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

16:53 Perth

Cuban Cigar

11st 3lb

J: Conner McCann

T: Lucinda Russell

Regressive 7yo who never really got competitive when sixth over C&D (good) last month; far too well handicapped to rule out but needs to stage a revival.

5/1

10

8th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

14:47 Perth

Cuban Cigar

11st 2lb

J: Conner McCann

T: Lucinda Russell

Not really firing on all cylinders since the winter but has slipped to a very tempting mark and, with blinkers refitted, was not beaten far when fifth in recent C&D handicap fought out by Just Dottie and Mack The Man.

12/1

Form: /23P-7

Last run: 11 days

W: 10st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Lowly rated Flat maiden; made the frame in two Musselburgh maiden hurdles (1m7f/2m1f, good to soft) in February/March but pulled up in C&D handicap and safely held in selling handicap since.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(5)

30th Jun 2026

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 6

16:30 Musselburgh

Gemini Man

9st 13lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Three wins from four Flat starts in 2026 include a C&D success last week (had Sophiesticate two necks back in third); likely has more to offer at this kind of trip and could easily shrug off a 4lb penalty; yard took this last year.

5/2

1st

5

(5)

22nd Jun 2026

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 6

15:45 Musselburgh

Gemini Man

8st 10lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Pulled up over hurdles in May but right back on song to notch a second success of 2026 in 1m2f Newcastle classified event 20 days ago; this return to handicap company demands more though.

6/1

1st

4

(6)

2nd Jun 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

18:15 Newcastle (AW)

Gemini Man

9st 9lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Resumed winning ways at Wolverhampton (9.5f) in February but he was pulled up back hurdling at Hexham 24 days ago; not out of things if shrugging off that effort.

7/2

Form: 4/322/ D BF

Last run: 606 days

W: 10st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
In good form for Philip Kirby in autumn 2023 but makes stable debut after 606-day absence and is entitled to benefit from this outing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

23rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

14:10 Cartmel

Leopolds Rock

10st 7lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Stuart Coltherd

Missed all of 2024 and has shown nothing in three starts since returning for this yard.

33/1

14

25th Jul 2025

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

15:12 Uttoxeter

Leopolds Rock

10st 13lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Stuart Coltherd

Won twice over hurdles and once on the Flat for Philip Kirby in 2022, but missed the whole of 2024 and has shown nothing in two starts since returning for this yard last month.

16/1

7

2nd Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:50 Worcester

Leopolds Rock

11st 3lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Stuart Coltherd

Won twice over hurdles in 2022; never showed when last of eight finishers on first outing in 606 days at Perth (2m, good) last month; usual cheekpieces left off here; hard to fancy.

14/1

Non-runners

Mack The Man, Simple Star, Hourless

Selections

THE NORTH:

The Last Cloud

RP RATINGS:

Cuban Cigar

Daily Mirror:

Just Dottie

The Sun:

Trailblazer

SPOTLIGHT:

Simple Star

D Express:

Mack The Man

The Times:

The Last Cloud

Telegraph:

The Last Cloud

The Star:

The Last Cloud

Daily Record:

The Last Cloud

TOPSPEED:

Cuban Cigar

POSTDATA:

Cuban Cigar