Gordon Elliott targets more Perth riches as he closes in on £1 million mark

Gordon Elliott will be sending another big team to Perth this week as the Irish trainer nears the £1 million mark in terms of prize-money earned at the Scottish track, with the valuable three-day festival starting on Wednesday.

Elliott has declared four runners for day one of the meeting, with £304,000 on offer, and also has plenty of entries for Thursday and Friday.

He has had 171 winners at the course in total, netting him £994,007 in winnings; only Aintree and Cheltenham have earned him more in Britain.

To put Elliott's love affair with Perth into even greater context, the fourth most lucrative track for the Cullentra trainer in Britain is Ascot, where he has earned a comparatively paltry total of £192,115 in comparison.

Perth was also the location for Elliott's first winner when Arresting scored on June 11, 2006.

Elliott at Perth – in numbers

OVERALL

Winners 171
Runners 598
Strike-rate 29 per cent
Prize-money £994,007
Profit to £1 level stake -£6.57

2018-19 SEASON

Winners 20
Runners 43
Strike-rate 47 per cent
Prize-money £138,188
Profit to £1 stake +£15.54

He said: "Perth is a place very close to my heart. My first winner was there so it's a track I love coming back to. It has been a very lucky place for me over the years."

Almost 13 years on, Braid Blue will be his first runner over the three-day meeting in the maiden hurdle (1.50) which opens the card. Smiling Eliza tackles the mares' handicap hurdle (2.25), Swingbridge the 3m handicap chase (3.00) and Load Up Time the amateur riders' handicap hurdle (4.05).

A recurring theme of Elliott's Perth runners is the number who are returning to the track having won or run well there previously.

Braid Blue was an emphatic six-length bumper winner last summer, while Smiling Eliza has placed form and Swingbridge is a three-time course-and-distance winner.

He said: "Braid Blue won two bumpers on his first two starts and we were hoping he'd continue to progress. He's still quite lightly raced and was sixth in a big field at Fairyhouse last time. He seems in good form and is a course winner, which is always a bonus.

Elliott's haul at Perth last year included combing with champion jockey Richard Johnson for a stunning 98-1 five-timer on the sold-out Summer Carnival card. Make My Heart Fly won the opener on August 18 and was swiftly followed by victories for Galvin, King’s Song, Cubomania and Carrie Des Champs.

Track buoyed by ticket sales as new season dawns

Perth chief executive Hazel Peplinksi had revealed staff at the track are really looking forward to racing getting under way in 2019, galvanised by a rise in year-on-year ticket sales as the venue looks to build on an increase in crowds and runners from last year.

Perth: first meeting of 2019 is on WednesdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

The third and final day of the Perth festival is the track's richest every raceday, featuring the Listed 3m Fair Maid of Perth Mares' Chase and the Highland National, with a pot of £112,000 on offer.

Peplinski said: "We're all ready and absolutely buzzing for a record-breaking festival, which is a real demonstration of our commitment to continue investing in racing as our core product.

Perth festival

Wednesday
Prize-money: £100,000
Feature races: EBF Stallions Gold Castle 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (3.00), Phil Nelson Handicap Chase (3.30)

Thursday
Prize-money: £92,000
Feature races: GS Group Handicap Chase (2.25), Heineken UK River Tay Handicap Chase (3.30)

Friday
Prize-money: £112,000
Feature races: Fair Maid of Perth Mares' Chase (3.15), Pentland Land Rover Perth Highland National (4.15)

"The team at Perth Racecourse have put in some shift leading up to our new season and all the hard work is paying off handsomely – ticket sales are really encouraging.

"We have watched a lot of quality jump racing elsewhere over the past few weeks and now it is Perth's turn to put on a show, and we can't wait."

Pipe: Eur Gone West in rich vein of form for hat-trick bid

One race Elliott is, perhaps surprisingly, not represented in is the highlight of the opening day, the Listed Gold Castle Novices’ Hurdle over three miles (3.00).

The David Pipe-trained Eur Gone West makes the long journey north for the £30,000 contest, and does so in good form having won his last two starts at Exeter and Taunton.

Pipe said: "All the runners are around the same mark and it’s a good prize. He’s got to go right-handed, but he’s in good form and has a decent chance.”

The six-year-has turned a corner of late having disappointed in three starts prior to his recent upturn in form.

“The better ground and making the running with him has probably helped,” Pipe added. “He’s in a rich vein of form and this is his last chance before he goes on his holidays."

Coolanly: Grade 2 winner at Cheltenham earlier this seasonCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The sole Irish runner is the John McConnell-trained Go Another One, who had the option of running at Fairyhouse on Tuesday. The seven-year-old carries a 5lb penalty for a Grade 3 win at Thurles in February.

Coolanly, fifth in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham and seventh at Aintree, is also penalised for his Grade 2 win in November, while Captain Tommy tries to complete a hat-trick for Harry Whittington.
Nigel Twiston-Davies won the race last year with Calett Mad and runs Kingofthecotswolds this time, with Get Out The Gate completing the six-runner field.

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