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I took my first trip to my ‘local’ since moving to Fife.
The label ‘Family Day’ doesn’t exactly endear me to a day’s racing, but it was at least bearable. Despite there being a sizeable crowd it’s not too difficult to get a vantage point and moving around is comfortable. The view would be a bit better if someone took a pointy object to the bouncy castles, but no doubt some would accuse me of being a meany! Gazebos are the other things that block the view. I found the two small wooden platforms near the last hurdle gave as good a view as any.
Racing itself was a moderate grade but nevertheless entertaining.
2.10 Maiden Hurdle<br>First Cry looked progressive and seemed a solid odds-on favourite, but had no answer to Ballyhurry and Rossclare in the straight. The winner probably has limited opprotunities as a 9yo, but looked honest enough and might pick up a small handicap.<br>Dominic Elsworth got 10 days for not making sufficent effort on fourth placed Diktatit. The latter made steady late progress though I suspect third would have been the best she could have achieved. A degree of promise though and I suspect Mr Guest will find a race for her. A little Fillies and Mares race perhaps?
2.4o Novices’ Chase<br>Westmeath Flyer took it up 2 out from front-running Field Roller who couldn’t find enough to get back. The rest were well held. Westmeath Flyer is 11 so time is [precious, but 6yo Field Roller probably has a race or two in him at this level.<br>Daytime Arrival’s odd leaps gave Mr.Callow a ‘fun time’ in the rear.<br>The Masareti Kid must be the most often mis-pronounced name.
3.10 Novices’ Hurdle<br>Apparently a mtach between Rouge Et Noir, very fizzy ib the paddock, and Guerilla who walked very stiffly and was led around on the grass in the paddock. Rouge Et Noir pulled very hard and stayed clear despite some guessing games at the hurdles which brought the repair men into operation! I reckon Guerilla has a problem as he struggled to get away from the slow coaches. He got caught for second by Incas as Dominic Elsworth eased down, earning him another visit to the stewards’ room, this time resulting in an ‘explaination noted’.<br>I don’t think Rouge Et Noir achieved much here and I reckon he’ll have to calm down to beat anything better.
3.40 Handicap Chase<br>This looked between  Il Penseroso and Schinken Otto. So it proved with Il Penseroso taking over from Schinklen Otto 3 out. The latter kept on well enough and looks likely to win a race soon. Although Il Penseroso will get a bit of stick from the handicapper I don’t think he’s finished winning yet. A worthwhile 20 hour round trip from Carmarthen for Mrs Thorpe who also had a second place in the following race.
4.15 Handicap Hurdle<br>A wide open looking hurdle was won well enough by Ulster traine James Lambe’s Poor Tactic’s. Seems the grocers’ apostrophe is alive and well in Northern Ireland! He had been well held in Ireland which suggests a lack of competitiveness this side of the Irish Sea in low grade staying hurdles. Mrs Thorpe’s Faddad was prominent all the way and kept on well for second.
4.50 Lady riders’ Hcap Hurdle<br>Miss J Riding’s ride on Mystic Glen earned ride of the meeting. Good as her effort may have been, the race looked very ordinary with the field finishing in a heap, all bar Mezereon who was a few lengths adrift in 6th having cut out the pace until the straight. The winner isa 7yo who had run 16 times and never been placed, which sums the event up.
5.20 NH Flat Race<br>Two Market Rasen bumper winners met here with Jim The Gent forging clear in the straight after favourite Royal Attraction gave way. Royal Attraction was around Evens and Jim The Gent 4/1, the only reason being that Jim The Gent had won the apparently weaker event of the two. He could do no more than win that time though so I backed him as the value of the two.<br>A big cheer greeted the winner here and I can’t remember such a cheer for a British Bumper. It pretty well matched the reception given to Nina Carberry as she won a bumper at Bellewstown last August.
The action didn’t stop here as there were two qualifiers for the 2006 Charles Owen pony racing final. A good excuse to wait for the car park to clear a bit. Those in the know made a killing as both were won by odds-on favourites, though with non-runners the bookies spent most time trying to work out which ponies were running.<br>Make a note of the name 13-year-old Jake Greenhall won the 5 furlong event on Silver Mist Lady. The mare was the only thoroughbred pony in the race, and it should as she won by about a furlong! However, young Greenhall showed that he is a serious jockey and could be one to watch out for in years to come.
On the food side, the fish and chips from Vinegar Joe’s are excellent.
Rob
P.S. To the well lubricated gentleman who took exception to my hat. On a sunny day you were hatless and drinking lager, I wore a hat and drank plenty of  water. I wouldn’t mind betting which one of feels better this evening!
(Edited by robnorth at 8:27 pm on July 20, 2006)
Perth is a pleasure to visit – I managed to take in two days of the April Festival last year. Some of the hoopla that comes with it can be a bit curious, though, and the sight of Sam Moorshead trying to goad some plastic ducks down the tiny stream that runs through the public area (in order to win some punter a year’s membership) will live long in the memory.
Think Elsworth was a little unfortunate – looked to me at Cartmel today that Diktatit once again proved she can’t stay the sharpest 2m-2m1f trips even when ridden to do so.
Alison Thorpe (Il Penseroso) has saddled five winners from eight runners since July 9th now and is pretty under-rated in my opinion. She must be doing something right for Maidstone Monument to have defied 34lb worth of revenge from the handicapper in the last year (for all that he was a bit lucky last weekend).
gc<br>
(Edited by graysonscolumn at 7:43 pm on July 20, 2006)
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Sam Morshead with a microphone in his hand trying to do some PR work is the downside of every Perth meeting.
Wallace
Yes, Mr.Morshead was ‘in his element’ at the presentation following the pony races (I was waiting for the car park to clear OK?).
"Where’s the clerk of the course?", he asked.
"She’s behind you", we said!
Oh the pantomime season!
Rob
Quote: from graysonscolumn on 7:42 pm on July 20, 2006[br]Think Elsworth was a little unfortunate – looked to me at Cartmel today that Diktatit once again proved she can’t stay the sharpest 2m-2m1f trips even when ridden to do so.
I’d give her another chance at a bare 2m with the emphasis firmly on speed. Perhaps a trip to Musselburgh is on order!
Diktatit looks worth supporting over Uttoxeter’s bare 2m trip today. Last chance to run before going up 15 lb. Surely today will be the day if she’s to get off the mark over hurdles in the near future. Currently 9.6 on betfair, if she doesn’t rade shorter in running I’ll be shocked.
Faddad is a real summer jumps type that would struggle to win another race if the likes of Racing Daily got their way.
Quote: from davidjohnson on 1:21 pm on July 27, 2006[br]Diktatit looks worth supporting over Uttoxeter’s bare 2m trip today. Last chance to run before going up 15 lb. Surely today will be the day if she’s to get off the mark over hurdles in the near future. Currently 9.6 on betfair, if she doesn’t rade shorter in running I’ll be shocked.<br>
<br>That’s her taken care of for a few months, then. For all that the race was not run as truly as it could have been, she looks completely incapable of running kindly under restraint, and for as long as that remains the case I couldn’t posit her as one to follow.
Mark you, she’s not even close to being the biggest equine fiend in the Guesty yard for as long as Apadi and Renvyle walk the Earth.
gc<br>
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Quote: from Aragorn on 2:23 pm on July 27, 2006[br]Lady Thorpes Faddad won in a canter yesterday… I’d never heard of her before<br>
<br>That’s 7-14 for Alison Thorpe this month – surely an unprecedented run of form for the Carmarthenshire handler, for all that she’s a smart cookie. Would have been 8-14 had Rushneeyriver not emptied up the run-in in the 3m hurdle, the combination of seeing the front a bit too soon and an inspired Potts Of Magic screaming home off a small weight doing for him.
gc<br>
(Edited by graysonscolumn at 10:49 pm on July 27, 2006)
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Kevin
Sadly other commitments prevent me from getting to Perth on Tuesday, but I hope you have a profitable visit!
Rob
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