Gordon Brown – Race Reporter
Gordon has a wealth of experience of racing through his background in the written and broadcast media. His current principle role is reporting and supporting the scene in Scotland on Racing TV and relaying the latest news with Scottish angles.
Laura Morgan is eyeing more Perth success, this time in the £15,000 three-mile feature race with her unbeaten course winner Whistleinthedark.
The Leicestershire raider, with jockey Harry Reed booked for the ride, shoulders top-weight of 12st in the Sport, Education & Wellbeing Handicap Chase.
“He’s been to Perth twice before and won both times – over course and distance in May and over 2m 4f at the Perth festival last year,” Morgan said.
“We love bringing horses up and it’s been a lucky place for us – we’ve had four winners from eight runners this season already. They really look after you and they always do a good job with the track.”
Among the opposition is four-time course scorer Wasdell Dundalk, trained in Cumbria by Lisa Harrison and a close third in the corresponding race twelve months ago.
Sea Aster, pulled up on her only previous visit to Perth last autumn, represents top track trainer Gordon Elliott and champion jockey Sean Bowen.
Breizh River returns from wind surgery for Northumberland-based Paul Robson while Maurice Barnes’ Saint Arvans has winning and placed form at the Scone venue.
Last year’s runner-up Garde Des Champs lines up for the Hogmanay Hoolie Is Back Handicap Chase as he bids to open his account over fences at the 16th attempt.
Trained by Lucinda Russell, he re-engages with Leonard Kerr’s Sword Of Fate, who was a place behind him in this contest last July.
And Matchless, representing Staffordshire trainer Jennie Candlish and jockey Sean Quinlan, attempts to extend his winning sequence to four in the Saints In The Community Handicap Hurdle.
The gelding has never looked back since launching his winning spree in selling company at Hexham in early May.