A Midsummer Monday in Perthshire
There is something quietly special about a midsummer Monday at Perth. The course sits in one of the most beautiful settings in British racing, and on a late June afternoon with the going riding good, good to firm in places, the stage is set for a card that rewards those who look a little deeper than the headline act. Seven races are spread across the afternoon session, ranging from a charming amateur jockeys' handicap to a richly endowed fillies' novice stakes that will attract serious attention from the breeding community. The Perth racecard today is varied, competitive, and — as is so often the case at this track — full of horses who have shown they genuinely relish the place.
The going description of good, good to firm in places is about as fair as summer turf gets. It rewards horses with a clean, efficient action, tends to suit those on the younger side who carry less weight on their joints, and generally produces honest, true-run races where form holds up well. Trainers who have been patient with their horses through a wetter spring will be hoping to cash in today, and there are several in this field who fit that profile exactly.
The Feature Race: Darley EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (15:30, Class 2, £40k)
The richest race on the card — and the one that will draw the most scrutiny from those with an eye on bloodlines and future potential — is the Darley EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes over a mile and six yards, worth £40,000 to the winner. As a GBB Race, it carries additional significance for breeders, and the quality of the entries reflects that. Five fillies go to post, and the one who arrives with the clearest form line is Capichera, the three-year-old trained by Ed Walker and partnered by Paul Mulrennan. She carries a rating of 82 — the only runner in the race to hold an official mark — which immediately sets her apart from her unraced or lightly tried rivals.
That said, the unrated fillies in this field should not be dismissed lightly. Charlie Johnston sends out two — Carnival of Light (4yo) and Sedeirah (3yo, ridden by Daniel Tudhope) — and Johnston's operation has a fine record of producing well-prepared debutants and lightly raced fillies who arrive fit and forward. Stolen Kisses, a four-year-old from Tim Easterby's yard ridden by David Allan, is another who merits respect; Easterby knows this track intimately and rarely sends a horse this far north without genuine confidence. Take A View from Harry Charlton's yard completes the field, and on good to firm ground, a horse with a clean, long stride could outrun her inexperience.
On balance, Capichera looks the one to beat on known form, and the going should suit her well — Ed Walker's fillies tend to be well-schooled and composed, and Mulrennan is a shrewd judge of pace on a track like this.
Key Runners to Watch Across the Card
Shimmering Sands — 14:30 Amateur Jockeys' Handicap
The opening race of the afternoon is a lovely starting point, not least because it showcases the amateur riding community — a group who deserve far more recognition than they typically receive. The Racing TV Amateur Jockeys' Handicap over one mile two furlongs and five yards features eight runners, and the one who catches the eye most compellingly on form is Shimmering Sands, the seven-year-old trained by Michael & David Easterby and ridden by Mr Henry Callan. Crucially, Shimmering Sands holds both course and distance form — the [C,D] qualification is exactly what you want to see on a track with Perth's unique undulations — and at a rating of 67, he sits near the top of the weights without being overburdened.
Yermanthere, the eight-year-old trained by Tim Easterby and ridden by Mr Thomas Easterby, is another with strong distance credentials and arrives as the top-rated runner on 68. There is always something appealing about a horse ridden by a member of the training family — the communication between horse and rider tends to be intimate and well-rehearsed. Sandret, a ten-year-old veteran partnered by Miss Rebecca Hitchen, has distance form and the kind of experienced temperament that suits an amateur jockey well. Keep an eye too on Princess Niyla with Mr David Dunsdon aboard, who holds distance form and could outrun her mark of 62 on ground this quick.
Sir Paul Ramsey — 16:00 Napoleons Casino Bradford Handicap
The mile handicap at 16:00 looks a competitive affair, but Sir Paul Ramsey — Charlie Johnston's four-year-old ridden by Jason Hart — stands out as the one most likely to dictate terms. Rated 79 and top of the weights, he carries distance form and the confidence of one of the most prolific training operations in the north. Good to firm ground will likely bring out the best in him, and Hart is a jockey who knows exactly how to use a front-running advantage on a track that rewards those who travel kindly.
Dovey Moon from David Evans' yard, ridden by P.J. McDonald, is a fascinating alternative — rated 78 and with course and distance experience, Evans has a knack of producing horses at their peak for exactly this kind of summer handicap. The veteran Garden Oasis, an eleven-year-old trained by Tim Easterby, holds both course and distance form and should never be written off at this track — horses who love a place tend to keep finding for their trainers here, regardless of age.
Betweenthesticks — 16:30 Five-Furlong Handicap
The sprint handicap at 16:30 over five furlongs and three yards is the race most likely to produce a sharp, decisive result, and Betweenthesticks — the six-year-old trained by Ruth Carr and ridden by James Sullivan — arrives with both course and distance form and a rating of 69 that makes her the most experienced and reliably exposed runner in the field. On good to firm ground, a horse who has already shown she handles this precise configuration of track and trip is a significant advantage. Carr is a trainer who always has her horses fit and ready, and Sullivan is an underrated jockey who rides with intelligence.
A Word on Welfare and the Going
It would be remiss, on a card that includes a ten-year-old, an eleven-year-old, and several veterans of eight or nine years, not to acknowledge the importance of going conditions for older horses. Good, good to firm ground is generally considered safer for equine limbs than either extremes of heavy or firm, but it does place demands on horses whose joints have accumulated years of racing mileage. Perth's groundstaff have a fine reputation for maintaining their surface responsibly, and the course's management team have consistently shown a commitment to horse welfare that is genuinely admirable. Sandret at ten and Garden Oasis at eleven are both in the care of trainers — Sam England and Tim Easterby respectively — who have long records of managing older horses with patience and care. Their presence in today's fields speaks to that trust.
Best Bets and Ones to Watch
- Capichera (15:30) — Top-rated, proven form, ideal ground. The one to beat in the feature.
- Shimmering Sands (14:30) — Course and distance form, strong yard, capable amateur in the saddle.
- Sir Paul Ramsey (16:00) — Top weight with a reason to be, Jason Hart a major asset.
- Betweenthesticks (16:30) — Course and distance specialist, Ruth Carr rarely runs a horse out of form.
- Dovey Moon (16:00) — Each-way appeal at a track she clearly enjoys; P.J. McDonald makes everything look straightforward.
It promises to be a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon in Perthshire. The ground is fair, the fields are competitive, and there is enough quality — particularly in the feature — to keep even the most discerning racegoer engaged from first race to last. Whether you are watching from the grandstand or following along at home, today's card at Perth is well worth your full attention.
