Setting the Scene: Perth's Showpiece Listed Affair

Every summer, Perth gets its moment in the Listed spotlight, and the Weatherbys Pipalong Stakes is it. Named after the brilliant filly who won the Sprint Cup back in 2000, this mile contest for mares and fillies has a habit of attracting some genuinely smart performers who've been quietly campaigned towards this exact target. At £60,000 in prize money, it's the richest race on the Scottish Flat calendar and trainers know it. You don't send horses up the A9 on a whim.

Twelve are declared for the 14:48 on Tuesday, 7 July, and the Perth racecard looks competitive from top to bottom. The going is Good, Good to Firm in places — quick enough to suit the speedier types but not a dust bowl. Perth's mile is a fair test: a tight, turning track that puts a premium on jumping away cleanly and travelling through the race. Horses that get lit up early tend to come unstuck. Settle and quicken is the name of the game here.

Key Contenders: Form, Conditions and Trainer Intent

Bellarchi (Draw 3, OR 102)

The top-rated mare in the field alongside Arisaig, Bellarchi carries 9-5 — the only runner asked to shoulder a penalty — which tells you she's earned her place at the head of the market. Grant Tuer has her in excellent nick this season and the distance winner flag is the one that matters most here. She's proven at a mile, she handles quick ground, and draw three on a track like Perth is perfectly workable. Oliver Stammers takes the ride, and he's been in fine form in the north. The weight is the only question mark. Carrying 3lb more than the rest of the field doesn't sound like much, but in a tight Listed race on a turning track, it can be the difference. She's the one to beat, but not necessarily the one to back at a short price.

Arisaig (Draw 11, OR 102)

Shares the top rating with Bellarchi but gets in on equal terms with the rest of the field at 9-2. Charlie Johnston has been raiding Perth for years and knows exactly how to prepare a horse for this track — his record here is outstanding. Arisaig is a distance winner, handles fast ground, and Jamie Spencer is one of the shrewdest tactical riders in the business. The wide draw in stall 11 is a minor inconvenience on a track with a short run to the first bend, but Spencer will have a plan. This is a serious player.

Never Let Go (Draw 10, OR 99)

Ed Walker sends out two runners here, which is always interesting. Never Let Go is the one I'd rather be on. Rated 99, a distance winner, and Kieran Shoemark gets the leg up from stall 10. She's four years old — still unexposed at this level — and Walker doesn't pitch his fillies into Listed company unless he thinks they're ready. The outside draw is similar to Arisaig's situation, but if she travels kindly through the race, she's got the profile of a horse who could improve past her rating. This is the value play in the race.

Cheshire Dancer (Draw 7, OR 97)

Hugo Palmer's mare has been consistent without ever quite winning the big one, but this trip and this ground suit her profile. Rated 97, a distance winner, and David Probert is a solid booking for a horse who needs to be produced with a late run. Draw seven is the middle of the track — no real advantage, no real disadvantage. She's the type who could run a big race at a decent price if the race sets up with early pace.

American Gal (Draw 5, OR 95)

Paul Mulrennan takes the ride on Ed Walker's second string, and American Gal is a distance winner at four years old. She's 7lb below Bellarchi on ratings but gets weight from the top two. Paul Mulrennan knows Perth inside out and will get her jumping from stall five. She might be the bigger price of Walker's two, but she's not without a shout if the market has underestimated her.

Radiant Beauty (Draw 9, OR 93)

James Doyle doesn't often travel to Perth for the fun of it. Radiant Beauty is trained by James Owen and carries a distance winner flag. Rated 93, she's got a bit to find on paper, but the combination of Doyle in the saddle and a yard that clearly fancies the trip north suggests she could outrun her odds. One to include in each-way combinations.

Going and Draw: What the Conditions Tell Us

Good to Firm in places at Perth in July is exactly what you'd expect, and it's a surface that rewards horses with a clean action and a decent cruising speed. Soft-ground plodders need not apply. The draw at Perth's mile is worth noting: stalls one through six get the best of the early run to the first bend, while those drawn double figures need either a quick start or a patient jockey who's happy to settle wide before finding cover. Spencer on Arisaig and Shoemark on Never Let Go are both experienced enough to manage the wide draws, but it's a factor.

Consecrated in stall one is interesting from a draw perspective — William Haggas has saddled her with Tom Marquand, and that's a strong combination. She's rated only 89 and lacks the distance winner flag, but Haggas doesn't send horses on long journeys without a reason. Keep an eye on her in the market.

Value Picks and Dangers

  • Never Let Go — the value selection. Four-year-old, distance winner, strong handler, improving profile.
  • Arisaig — the main danger to Bellarchi. Johnston and Spencer is a formidable combination at this track.
  • Radiant Beauty — each-way interest at likely bigger odds. Doyle booking is a significant pointer.
  • Crystal Flyer and Mostar Dreams — both wear headgear or are rated in the mid-80s. Likely to make up the numbers unless the race falls apart in front of them.

Verdict: My Selection for the Pipalong Stakes

My tip is Never Let Go. Ed Walker has targeted this race — you can see it in the declaration of two runners, with Never Let Go clearly the stable's first string based on the jockey booking. Kieran Shoemark is in excellent form and the four-year-old profile screams unexposed. She's a distance winner, she'll handle the quick ground, and if Walker has her cherry-ripe for this, she can account for Bellarchi's penalty advantage and Arisaig's experience. Arisaig is the each-way saver, and I'd be happy to have Radiant Beauty onside in a tricast if you're feeling adventurous.

Check the full card on the Perth racecard page and make sure to shop around for the best each-way terms before the off at 14:48.

Who is the Favourite for the Weatherbys Pipalong Stakes 2026?

Bellarchi is likely to go off favourite given her joint-top rating of 102 and her proven record as a distance winner. However, she carries a 3lb penalty which makes her vulnerable to rivals on level weights. Arisaig, also rated 102 but without the penalty, could be sent off at a similar price. Expect a tight market between the two.

Is Perth a Good Track for Front-Runners or Hold-Up Horses?

Perth's mile favours horses that can settle and travel, rather than those who want to dominate from the front. The tight, turning nature of the track means horses who get lit up early often fade in the straight. Hold-up horses with a turn of foot — like Cheshire Dancer or Never Let Go — are well suited to the configuration. That said, a horse with enough class to lead at a sensible pace can certainly win here.

What Distance is the Weatherbys Pipalong Stakes Run Over?

The Weatherbys Pipalong Stakes is run over one mile and six yards at Perth. The extra six yards beyond the standard mile is simply a function of Perth's track layout. All twelve declared runners carry a distance winner flag or have shown form at around this trip, making the trip itself less of a differentiator than the going, draw and class on the day.