Fine Form
No Drama This End PE – 2.40
can right the wrongs of Cheltenham in the British EBF Gold Castle ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle at Perth.
The Paul Nicholls-trained grey took to hurdling at the start of the season with instant success, winning a Grade Two at Cheltenham on his hurdling debut before landing the Winter Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown by five lengths in December.
He then stepped up to Grade One level to take the Challow at Newbury, a performance that saw him line up as the 5-2 favourite for the Turners at the Cheltenham Festival.
There he was out of luck from the very beginning, and never found a route through the field as Harry Cobden eventually called it a day and pulled him up.
A trip to Aintree for the Sefton was then planned but scuppered by a burst blood vessel, and it very much feels like this horse has unfinished business to attend to before the end of the season.
On the same card is the equally eyecatching entry of
Panic Attack PE – 3.10
in the Listed Fair Maid Of Perth Mares’ Chase over three miles.
Trained by champion-elect Dan Skelton, the 10-year-old has been a star all season winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup, the Coral Gold Cup and then a mares’ Listed event at Newbury.
She headed next to Cheltenham for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase and ran respectably to come home third over what was arguably an inadequate two-and-a-half-mile trip.
A Grand National bid followed and the mare was a popular choice, but a fall at the third ended her race at a very early stage after an uncharacteristic jumping error that can probably be attributed to the fact she was badly hampered at the fence prior.
She goes to Perth having only gone a few furlongs at Aintree and as she is presumably feeling no ill effects of her bad luck there she will be the horse to beat.
On the Flat at Catterick the Jennie Candlish-trained
Rosenpur CT – 4.25
could prove a class apart in the Racing TV Profits Returned To Racing Handicap.
With a rating of 80 he is the best horse on the card and while he is making his seasonal debut, the six-year-old has run well fresh before.
He had an incredibly busy spell through winter 2024 and all of last spring and summer, so he really deserved a break after his last run in November.
That may leave him a little vulnerable here, but he does go well at Catterick.
Ralph Beckett does not send many to the North Yorkshire venue but he has found a suitable opening for
Cranachan CT – 2.52
in the Download The Raceday Ready App Restricted Maiden Stakes.
Gelded after an inauspicious debut, he went to Kempton last month and was only beaten a neck by one with more experience.
He should be able to get off the mark in this company.
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