Racecards
15:00 Perth
Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f 180y
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Winner: £5,281
- 2nd: £2,430
- 3rd: £1,215
- 4th: £608
- Form P38P-61
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer A M Thomson
- Jockey Ryan Mania
mid-division, mistake 12th, pushed along from 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
- Form 71-2311
- Age 10
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer M A Barnes
- Jockey Conor Rabbitt
chased leader, led from 10th, ridden 3 out, challenged last, soon headed, kept on same pace
- Form 3235F-5
- Age 10
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer C Collins
- Jockey D F O'Regan
in rear, not fluent 11th, pushed along and outpaced 3 out, late headway for 4th
- Form 31255-6
- Age 10
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer T Reed
- Jockey Harry Reed
mid-division out wide, struggling from 6 out, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 125-222
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 104
held up, headway under pressure behind leaders 2 out when not fluent, upsides between rivals last, soon led and bounded clear
- Form 213360-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer R Dobbin
- Jockey Sean Quinlan
mid-division on inside, pushed along and weakened 3 out
- Form 33222-4
- Age 11
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey S Mulqueen
prominent, ridden to dispute 2nd 2 out, every chance when upsides last, no extra flat
- Form P2F6-U5
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer H Graham & G Rutherford
- Jockey C O'Farrell
led, headed 10th, ridden and every chance 3 out, no extra last
In depth
Verdict
Walking The Walk, only out of the frame in one of nine starts since joining Gordon Elliott, handles hurdles and fences equally well. A runner-up on four of his last five starts, he's sure to be competitive, although it's hard to believe his full career record under NH Rules has delivered just a single success from 31 starts. He may be worth taking on and the in-form course and distance winner, VICTORY ECHO, fits the bill. He's struck up a fine relationship with 7lb conditional, Conor Rabbitt, and the pair can complete the hat-trick despite the attentions of the handicapper. He loves to go from the front on this good ground and can also outpoint recent Kelso winner, The Ferry Master. The latter will appreciate the longer trip here and merits respect along with the consistent if frustrating Castletown.
Formwatch
The Ferry Master (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Handy, dropped to 4th at 7th, headway to press leaders 3 out, soon led narrowly, ridden and edged left after 2 out, stayed on well, always doing enough, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (4) gf in May beating Hidden Commander (12-0) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Victory Echo (IRE) 11-8fav (10-13) Jumped right but well, made all, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jun beating D'jango (11-6) by 7l, 4 ran.
Diegos Way (IRE) 7-1 (10-5) Mid-division, tracked leaders from 10th, 2nd at 12th, disputed lead 4 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, 4th 2 out, no extra, 5th of 12, 16 3/4l behind The Abbey (10-4) at Down Royal 3m 2f hcp Yielding in May.
Big Difference (IRE) 50-1 (11-6) Mid-division, pushed along home, no response, 6th of 9, dist behind Marshalled (12-1) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Walking The Walk (IRE) Evensfav (11-9) Mid-division, headway into 2nd 4 out, ridden in 2nd before 2 out, pressed winner briefly after last, kept on same pace under pressure close home, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Reserve Judgement (11-10) at Down Royal 2m 7f hcp gd in Jun.
Get With It (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Front mid-division, ridden and weakened 3 out, 12th of 14, 26 1/4l behind Azof Des Mottes (10-9) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Castletown (FR) 5-2fav (11-10) Led, headed after 3 out, kept on, pushed along and every chance approaching last, faded run-in, 4th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Balkalin (12-0) at Kelso 2m 5f hcp (5) gs in May.
Sir Apollo (IRE) 40-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, prominent after 3rd, hit 9th, pushed along home turn, ridden and beaten after 2 out, 5th of 7, 29l behind Rae Des Champs (12-0) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (4) gf in May.