Gordon Elliott has enjoyed a particularly strong affinity with Perth Racecourse in recent years, with the Cullentra maestro operating at a 30% strike rate at the track in recent seasons. A meeting regularly targeted by Elliott has been the three-day Perth Festival, held in April, and he once again takes aim at this in 2022 with five runners across the day 1 card. Our racing expert has assessed the chances of his hopefuls here, which comes alongside alongside Sky Bet‘s new customer offer of Bet £5 Get £20 In Free Bets.
LAFFITE – (1.50, Heidsieck Monopole “Party Has Started” Maiden Hurdle)
Gordon Elliott’s first runner at Perth’s April Festival comes in the opening 2m4f maiden hurdle, where he sends over LAFFITE.
This 5yo was beaten distances of 100l, 55l and 41l in a trio of bumper outings, yet put forward a much improved showing when runner-up on hurdles debut at Wexford last month.
The winner of that race has since gone close in novice company, so the form looks solid, and Laffite is entitled to improve with that outing under his belt. He was only a length and a half ahead of a 99-rated rival at Wexford, however, and faces runners such as Amenon (122-rated) off level weights here, which suggests that he is playing for minor money at best.
Verdict: Big step forward formwise when second at Wexford latest, but he’s coming up against some classy rivals here and likely holds place claims at best.
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COACH CARTER – (3.00, Bob Nelson Capercaillie Handicap Chase)
Gordon Elliott turns to Sean Bowen for the ride aboard COACH CARTER in Perth’s 2m 0-140 handicap chase.
This Sholokhov gelding hasn’t always had the most consistent profile, but he was clearly on a going day when runner-up in Listed company at Ayr last time, and that coincided with getting back on some decent ground.
Earlier in the season, Coach Carter had run out an impressive winner of a novice chase at Listowel, when 10l clear of stablemate Gevrey, who now finds himself rated 130. That form suggests that Coach Carter could be well treated here off a mark of 135, particualry with none of his rivals on Wednesday coming into the race without questions to answer.
Verdict: Back to form at Ayr latest and this is a drop-in class from that assignment; tough to beat if bringing his A-game.
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THE GOFFER – (3.35, British EBF William Hill Gold Castle ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle)
There have been some good winners of this 3m Listed event down the years, and Gordon Elliott’s THE GOFFER aims to join that roll of honour with victory on Wednesday.
The Allan Snow owned gelding claimed Grade 3 honours at Thurles in February, when accouting for a pair of last time out winners in Berkshire Royal and Captain Conby.
The Goffer was unfortunatley well below that level in the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival subsequently, but this looks a more suitable assignment and The Goffer remains relativley unexposed at this 3m distance. Considering how the Irish have dominated in the staying novice hurdle scene this season, The Goffer looks folly to write off here, but the British-trained runners do come into this in slightly better form.
Verdict: Conceding weight to all but one of these doesn’t make his task any simpler, but he is not one to dismiss lightly.
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DAPHNE MOON – (4.10, William Hill Fair Maid Of Perth Mares’ Chase)
On paper at least, this year’s renewal of the day 1 feature Fair Maid Of Perth looks a straight shootout between last month’s Grade 2 Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase 2nd Pink Legend and 4th Zambella, but Gordon Elliott adds an interesting alternative into this line-up in the form of DAPHNE MOON.
A strike-rate of just 1-13 isn’t exactly astounding, but Daphne Moon has looked a mare crying out for a dour test over fences, which she finally gets here, and she certainly hasn’t had as many opportunities chasing as the market leaders.
Both of those (Pink Legend & Zambella) still have stamina to prove over 3m and it’s yet to be seen how much those Cheltenham exertions took out of them, so at the prices Daphne Moon certainly looks no forlorn hope for all that she has a good bit to find on these terms.
Verdict: Looks to be crying out for a dour stamina test, a comment which wouldn’t apply to the top two, and that does help to level the playing field somewhat.
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GETAWAY GOLDIE – (4.41 Perth, Canine Partners Mares’ Handicap Hurdle)
Perth’s penultimate Wednesday race is a fairly modest looking 2m4f Mares’ Handicap Hurdle, and Gordon Elliott is represented in the contest by GETAWAY GOLDIE.
This 6yo comes into Wednesday’s race a six-race maiden under rules, but she does have an eyecatching Navan third to her name which came at the hands of the classy Bob Olinger.
Getaway Goldie was out of sorts when seen last summer, her jumping looking nothing short of erratic at times, but those efforts came over the large obstacles and reverting to hurdles looks a particularly interesting move for Getaway Goldie. On her last start in this sphere, she finished third at Fairyhouse (beaten under 7l) and she runs over the same 2m4f distance here.
Obviously something of a leap of faith is required on first start since August, but it also her first start racing under Gordon Elliott’s name, and that Bob Olinger form shows that there is a clearly a horse there should the trainer manage to work his magic with Getaway Goldie.
Verdict: Has some eye-catching backform to her name which suggests that she is more than capable of featuring here on first start under Gordon Elliott.
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