Setting the Scene at the Fair City
Right, pull up a stool and listen close, because the card at Perth on Sunday evening has a proper little gem tucked away at 17:45. The Sky Bet Build A Bet Handicap Stakes — Class 2, five furlongs and three yards, thirty-two grand in the pot — might not have the glamour of Ascot or the prestige of Cheltenham, but don't let that fool you for a second. Perth in August on a summer's evening, with the Tay shimmering in the background and a tight, sharp sprint to unpick? There are worse ways to spend a Sunday, I'll tell you that for nothing.
This is a rating band of 86 to 105, which means we've got a proper competitive bunch. Eight runners, all distance winners, most of them hardened handicappers who know their job. The going is Good to Firm, Good in places with selective watering applied today to hold the ground — so we're not on a rattling quick surface, but it's still lively enough to reward a horse with zip and early pace. On a track as compact and unforgiving as Perth, that matters enormously. Check out the full Perth racecard for all the day's action.
Contender Breakdown — Who's Got a Shout?
Badri (Draw 1, Rating 99)
Let's start at the top of the weights, because Badri is the one everyone's going to be talking about. A nine-year-old gelding carrying 10-0 for Michael Herrington, and crucially he's a course and distance winner at Perth. That's not a trivial thing on a track with its own personality — horses who've been around here before and won have a distinct edge. Jason Hart takes the ride, and he's a jockey who doesn't waste a horse's energy. The concern? Top weight at nine years old on ground that's on the quicker side. He's rated 99 and giving lumps of weight to younger, potentially improving rivals. I like him, I really do, but the burden of 10-0 on Good to Firm ground over five furlongs is a serious ask. He's not without a chance, but he's not my idea of value at likely short prices.
Fluorescence (Draw 2, Rating 92)
Fluorescence is the one who catches the eye for me. A four-year-old filly trained by the quietly excellent Edward Bethell, with Oisin Orr in the saddle — and Oisin on a filly over five furlongs on decent ground is a combination that makes you sit up straight. She's a distance winner, rated 92, carrying 9-7, and drawn in stall two which on a five-furlong track at Perth is almost ideal. Bethell has been in cracking form with his sprinters this summer, and he doesn't send horses to Perth from his Yorkshire base without believing they've got a serious squeak. The filly's draw and weight both work in her favour, and at what should be a decent price, she's my idea of the value play in this race.
Baker Blue (Draw 6, Rating 94)
Here's the three-year-old who could cause a stir. Baker Blue, trained by Dylan Cunha and ridden by Callum Rodriguez, is rated 94 and carries 9-7. Three-year-olds get a weight allowance against their elders at this time of year, and if this lad is still on the upgrade — which three-year-olds so often are in August — then that rating might be flattering to the older horses. Draw six is not ideal on a tight five-furlong track where low draws tend to have an advantage, and that's the one thing that makes me hesitate. Rodriguez is a fine rider and will give him every chance, but Baker Blue will need to overcome a positional disadvantage from the off.
Rocking Ends (Draw 4, Rating 91)
Rocking Ends is a six-year-old gelding for Tom Clover, wearing a visor, and Cieren Fallon gets the leg up. Fallon junior is a seriously talented jockey — composed, tactically sharp, and very good at placing a horse in a sprint. The visor suggests connections want a bit more focus and early zip, and draw four is a fair enough pitch. Rated 91 and carrying 9-6, he's not overburdened. The distance form is there, and Clover has been known to have his horses spot-on for a race like this. Don't underestimate him — he could easily be the one who pings out of the stalls and makes all.
Kylian (Draw 3, Rating 90)
Robert Cowell is one of the shrewdest sprint trainers in the country, full stop. When he sends Kylian to Perth with Paul Mulrennan on board, you take notice. The five-year-old is wearing a visor, rated 90, carrying 9-5, and drawn in stall three — a lovely pitch for a five-furlong dash. Mulrennan is a Perth specialist in many ways, a northern jockey who knows tight tracks and sprint finishes inside out. Kylian is a distance winner and at 9-5 he's got a workable weight. This is a horse who could absolutely go very close, and Cowell's runners tend to be fit and ready when they travel.
Going and Draw — The Small Print That Wins You Money
On Good to Firm ground at Perth over five furlongs, the draw is not just relevant — it's critical. The track is a right-handed oval, relatively tight, and over the minimum trip there's very little time to recover from a slow break or a wide draw. Historically, low draws have a meaningful advantage here, and looking at this field, stalls one through four are where you want to be. That immediately boosts the cases for Badri (1), Fluorescence (2), Kylian (3), and Rocking Ends (4).
Baker Blue in six and Reigning Profit in seven are at a disadvantage from the gates. Vintage Clarets in eight is the widest of the lot, and while the Fahey yard know how to train a sprinter, Ethan Tindall will need a perfect break and a bit of luck in running to get into it from out there. The selective watering today is a sensible touch — it stops the ground getting dangerously quick and should suit horses with a bit of class rather than pure, flat-out speedballs.
Value Picks and Dangers
My value pick is Fluorescence — the Bethell filly ticks almost every box. Low draw, fair weight, in-form trainer, top jockey, and distance form. She's the one I'd be putting my hand in my pocket for.
The danger I'd be most wary of is Kylian. Cowell and Mulrennan is a combination that wins races, the draw is perfect, and a five-year-old at the peak of his powers on a track that suits his profile could easily be too good for this lot. If Fluorescence gets beat, I'd expect Kylian to be the one doing the beating.
Rocking Ends is the each-way flyer — Cieren Fallon in the plate, a visor to sharpen him up, and a fair draw. At likely bigger odds, he represents the kind of punt that makes a Sunday evening feel worthwhile.
Tom's Tip — My Selection
FLUORESCENCE (Nap) — Edward Bethell's four-year-old filly is the one for me, and I'll not be shy about it. Oisin Orr, stall two, 9-7, Good to Firm ground, and a trainer who's been firing them in all summer. She's a distance winner who should relish the conditions, and I'd be surprised if she's not in the shake-up from the jump. Back her each-way at the very least, and if you can get better than 4/1, fill your boots.
Each-Way: Rocking Ends — the visor, the draw, and Cieren Fallon make him a lively outsider at a price.
Who is the favourite for the Sky Bet Build A Bet Handicap Stakes at Perth?
At the time of writing, Badri is likely to attract the most market support given his course and distance winning form at Perth. The nine-year-old is a proven performer at the track, and Jason Hart is a jockey punters trust in a sprint. However, top weight of 10-0 makes him a tricky proposition at short odds, and there is strong value elsewhere in the field.
Is the draw important in the Sky Bet Build A Bet Handicap Stakes at Perth?
Absolutely, and it would be foolish to ignore it. Over five furlongs at Perth, low draws have a consistent statistical advantage. Stalls one through four — occupied by Badri, Fluorescence, Kylian, and Rocking Ends — are significantly better positioned than those drawn in the higher stalls. Baker Blue (6), Reigning Profit (7), and Vintage Clarets (8) will all need a slick start and some fortune to overcome the positional disadvantage.
What are the going conditions for the Perth 17:45 on 16 August 2026?
The going at Perth on Sunday 16 August is officially Good to Firm, Good in places, with selective watering applied during the day to help hold the surface. This is a fair, racing surface that should suit horses with a combination of speed and class. It is not so quick as to be a concern for any of the declared runners, and the watering means conditions should remain consistent throughout the evening card.
