June 07 / 16.27 Perth

16.27

Good To Soft

Perth Gold Cup Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £17690.2
  • 2m 7f 180y
  • Class 2
  • 10 runners
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Perth Gold Cup Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

100/30 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 4901-2 BF

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
Good ground is key to him, though good to soft is acceptable; after signs of a revival at the Cheltenham Festival he duly delivered in a competitive 2m4f handicap at Haydock, winning cosily despite narrow margin of victory; the 4lb rise seemed generous and when beaten at Uttoxeter he bumped into the talented Glengouly on a good day; all his best form is at shorter, so stamina would be the principal concern.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

28th Jun 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 2

15:27 Uttoxeter

Riskintheground

11st 12lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Successful on this card two years ago; campaigned mostly over 2m4f/2m5f but saw out 3m well at Perth (good) most recently, adding to his Grade 2 handicap success in April and taking chase record to 9-30; better than ever and commands respect.

9/2

1st

2

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:27 Perth

Riskintheground

11st 4lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Good ground is key to him, though good to soft is acceptable; after signs of a revival at the Cheltenham Festival he duly delivered in a competitive 2m4f handicap at Haydock, winning cosily despite narrow margin of victory; the 4lb rise seemed generous and when beaten at Uttoxeter he bumped into the talented Glengouly on a good day; all his best form is at shorter, so stamina would be the principal concern.

100/30

2nd

2

24th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

16:03 Uttoxeter

Riskintheground

11st 9lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Good ground is the key to him; his form had nosedived but he was running much better when hampered late on at the Cheltenham Festival and then came good at Haydock (2m4f, good), prevailing only narrowly but under a confident ride in a strong race (he also won it the season before when staged at Cheltenham); a 4lb rise seems very generous.

11/8

10/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 1251-3 BF

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Career bests on the RPR front in his last two races, winning at Kelso (2m5f) and close up at Aintree (2m4f; again on good); could run well, though a nagging concern that he didn't appear to stay 3m when he tried it once before (at this track).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 1

14:45 Market Rasen

Breizh River

11st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tristan Davidson

Win/placed form in his usual cheekpieces before making all for a narrow success in the newly fitted visor (with tongue-tie worn for last seven starts) at Cartmel (2m5f, good); he's getting high in the weights now (raised another 4lb) and he won't be the only one racing prominently.

9/1

1st

3

28th Jun 2026

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 2

16:15 Cartmel

Breizh River

11st 11lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tristan Davidson

In fine fettle in recent runs, landing his fifth win over fences at Kelso (2m5f, good) in April and placed since at Aintree and Perth; swaps cheekpieces for a first-time visor and looks sure to give another good account.

3/1

2nd

9

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:27 Perth

Breizh River

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tristan Davidson

Career bests on the RPR front in his last two races, winning at Kelso (2m5f) and close up at Aintree (2m4f; again on good); could run well, though a nagging concern that he didn't appear to stay 3m when he tried it once before (at this track).

10/1

OUR TIP

5/1

  • Place: £3.60

Form: /256P- D

Last run: 57 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Now well handicapped judged on peak efforts, but his form during the last 12 months lacks substance; pulled up in the Grand National last time on his return to fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:27 Perth

The Real Whacker

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Patrick Neville

Now well handicapped judged on peak efforts, but his form during the last 12 months lacks substance; pulled up in the Grand National last time on his return to fences.

5/1

25

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

The Real Whacker

10st 9lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Patrick Neville

11lb below his peak mark and well handicapped judged on best efforts, the most recent of which were over 3m on good ground late in 2024; muted in this three runs this term, only one of which was over fences but he ended up tailed off in that Wetherby race, which he'd won a year earlier; those past glories may now be too distant.

66/1

3

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 1

14:57 Wetherby

The Real Whacker

11st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Patrick Neville

Front-runner who won this in good style last year (good) and again has the benefit of a recent run, which could give him an advantage over a few of these; can give a good account in first-time cheekpieces but it looks a hotter contest than 12 months ago and he carries a 6lb penalty this time.

4/1

Form: 01681- CD

Last run: 45 days

W: 10st 10lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Seeking a hat-trick in this race and on the back of a seventh course success in April when he dead-heated over this trip; not handicapped out of it after just a 3lb rise, for all that he's never defied this high a mark in the past.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

12th Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:51 Perth

Statuario

12st 1lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Gained all seven chase wins at the track, the latest a dead-heat over this trip in April (good ground); on fairly tough mark now but last month's Perth Gold Cup fourth was respectable and he probably won't be far away.

4/1

4th

5

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:27 Perth

Statuario

10st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Seeking a hat-trick in this race and on the back of a seventh course success in April when he dead-heated over this trip; not handicapped out of it after just a 3lb rise, for all that he's never defied this high a mark in the past.

13/2

1st

3

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:40 Perth

Statuario

11st 3lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Six-time course winner who was runner-up in this race last year (good to soft); has since gained two C&D wins on good ground, latest in September; has plenty going for him; leading contender.

100/30

Form: 3612-3 D BF

Last run: 34 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
On a hat-trick when a fairly close third in this last year and he returns off a 4lb lower mark, and in a solid run of form; enters the reckoning.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

12

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 1

14:45 Market Rasen

Stans The Man

10st 7lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Ella Pickard

In a solid run of form but this is a tough mark for an exposed 9yo and he's undergone a fourth wind operation since finishing fifth at Perth in early June.

16/1

5th

8

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:27 Perth

Stans The Man

10st 2lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Ella Pickard

On a hat-trick when a fairly close third in this last year and he returns off a 4lb lower mark, and in a solid run of form; enters the reckoning.

10/1

3rd

2

4th May 2026

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:38 Fakenham

Stans The Man

11st 12lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Ella Pickard

Won this race in 2025 (good ground) and returned to form towards end of last season, latterly when second to recent big-race winner Havaila in Sussex National at Plumpton (3m4f, good); high on the list.

4/1

Form: 3UP0-4

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Back from 193 days off when a 16l fourth to Somespring Special at Newton Abbot (2m5f) and ran as though that race would bring him on; that was his best effort yet since leaving Emma Lavelle, for whom he was competitive off higher marks; trip/ground fine.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

28th Jun 2026

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 2

16:15 Cartmel

Light N Strike

12st 0lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Mickey Bowen

Won six races (five over fences) for Emma Lavelle; yet to fire in five starts for current yard; first-time blinkers need to work for him to rediscover his old form.

6/1

6th

4

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:27 Perth

Light N Strike

10st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Back from 193 days off when a 16l fourth to Somespring Special at Newton Abbot (2m5f) and ran as though that race would bring him on; that was his best effort yet since leaving Emma Lavelle, for whom he was competitive off higher marks; trip/ground fine.

8/1

4th

3

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

13:45 Newton Abbot

Light N Strike

11st 5lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Progressive for Emma Lavelle last term, winning this off today's mark and backing it up with solid placed efforts; however, he's struggled for this yard (early unseat in Kerry National, pulled up at Chepstow and tailed off at Cheltenham when last seen in October) and now has something to prove.

13/2

Form: 153-11 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 12lb

8 yo Filly

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Has enhanced her good strike-rate over fences with back-to-back wins at Newton Abbot (2m5f) and Bangor (3m; again on good); it was harder work last time after a 6lb rise and she now has another 5lb to contend with, though last time was her first go over this far.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:27 Perth

Somespring Special

10st 12lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Has enhanced her good strike-rate over fences with back-to-back wins at Newton Abbot (2m5f) and Bangor (3m; again on good); it was harder work last time after a 6lb rise and she now has another 5lb to contend with, though last time was her first go over this far.

7/2

1st

4

23rd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 2

16:10 Bangor-on-Dee

Somespring Special

10st 12lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

8yo who made it 5-16 over fences when bouncing back with a clearcut win at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) two weeks ago; up 6lb but she hit a personal best last time and is a big player again if her stamina holds out on this step up 3m.

11/4

1st

7

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

13:45 Newton Abbot

Somespring Special

10st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

4-15 over fences; gained a win at Chepstow (extended 2m3f, good) in October but hit with a 7lb rise and she's been well held on both outings this year, most recently trailing home last of three at Wincanton (2m, good) three weeks ago; only 2lb lower and now has plenty to prove.

10/1

Form: 26P2-1 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Made it 5-12 over fences when readily taking care of two rivals over a similar trip at Kelso a month ago (good; made most); only 3lb higher but without Jack Power's 5lb claim, so at this level he's probably in need of his best form yet.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

12th Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:51 Perth

Walk On Quest

11st 7lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won three-runner contest at Kelso (2m7f, good) in May and is still on a workable mark but never really got competitive in last month's Perth Gold Cup and needs to put that run behind him.

8/1

8th

7

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:27 Perth

Walk On Quest

10st 2lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Made it 5-12 over fences when readily taking care of two rivals over a similar trip at Kelso a month ago (good; made most); only 3lb higher but without Jack Power's 5lb claim, so at this level he's probably in need of his best form yet.

10/1

1st

1

6th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

14:25 Kelso

Walk On Quest

12st 1lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won four handicaps on the trot two seasons ago (2m-2m5f, good to soft/soft); hasn't won since but was beaten only by a nose over C&D on good last time; contender.

6/5

Form: 1P/66- D

Last run: 167 days

W: 10st 2lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Won the Edinburgh National over an extended 3m7f at Musselburgh in 2023 and 2025 (both good to soft); has not recaptured his form in his last three races and now returns from further wind surgery; 6lb out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:27 Perth

Magna Sam

10st 2lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Alastair Ralph

Won the Edinburgh National over an extended 3m7f at Musselburgh in 2023 and 2025 (both good to soft); has not recaptured his form in his last three races and now returns from further wind surgery; 6lb out of the weights.

33/1

Form: P09P-P D

Last run: 36 days

W: 10st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Only 1-20 over fences, the win coming in the 3m Mayo National in 2024 (good ground); finished a fine second in the Galway Plate that summer but he's been underperforming for a while now and belatedly tries a tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

6

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:27 Perth

Duffle Coat

10st 7lb

J: James Smith

T: Gordon Elliott

Only 1-20 over fences, the win coming in the 3m Mayo National in 2024 (good ground); finished a fine second in the Galway Plate that summer but he's been underperforming for a while now and belatedly tries a tongue-tie.

20/1

8

2nd May 2026

Yielding

3m 7f 68y

15:05 Punchestown

Duffle Coat

10st 13lb

J: James Smith

T: Gordon Elliott

Sole win over fences came in 3m Mayo National in 2024 on good ground; good second in Galway Plate that summer but last year's form was poor; pulled up after never counting on return from long absence in Irish National; hard to be confident in although has ground to suit.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £26.90
Straight Forecast £21.46
Tricast £173.17
Trifecta £299.40

Selections

WEST COUNTRY:

Somespring Special

POSTDATA:

Riskintheground

SPOTLIGHT:

Light N Strike

D Express:

Walk On Quest

The Star:

Breizh River

RP RATINGS:

Stans The Man

The Sun:

Statuario

Telegraph:

Somespring Special

Daily Mirror:

Somespring Special

Daily Record:

Somespring Special

The Times:

Riskintheground

TOPSPEED:

Light N Strike