Nicola Drysdale's Not Quite Fifty Yet Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:21 | Winning time: 3m 54.43s

Cesar Du Gouet^p1,t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: O Murphy| OR: 120| D

2/1

Former Irish racer who has headed the market on both starts for Olly Murphy; off the mark in a moderate three-runner affair over fences at Huntingdon (2m½f, good) 26 days ago; scope for jumping improvement; cheekpieces on.

Form: 4342-21

Welcome Ben^t⁴⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Craig Nichol| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 114| CD

9/4

Back to winning ways with a commanding 11L victory at Ayr (2m4f, good) in May; 9lb higher in the weights; drops back in trip, but that's no hindrance with a C&D record over these particular fences of 112.

Form: 1226/2-1

Roachdale House¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: P Merrigan⁽³⁾| T: P W Flynn| OR: 113| D

11/2

Winning hurdler (Sligo, July 2017); didn't shape too badly on chasing debut at Ballinrobe (2m1f, good) when finishing just over 19L fifth to Wicklow Brave; unseated this very capable 3lb claimer at Clonmel on his next start; handicap debut.

Form: 66-045U

Witness In Court^t1²²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 112| C| D

5/1

Neck winner of a modest Fontwell Hunters' Chase (2m5½f, good to firm) in May; ran reasonably well, albeit came up short at the finish in a stronger race at Stratford (2m1f, good) latest; back handicapping with a tongue-tie applied.

Form: 874/2-16

Old Salt^p,t¹¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: Stef Keniry| OR: 106| D

4/1

Appreciated the sound surface when winning back-to-back 2m4½f handicaps at Musselburgh (good) in February; off since and reappears from a 4lb higher mark; beaten just ¾L on his only other previous visit to Perth (July 2018).

Form: 005P11-

Non-Runners

No Such Number²⁷⁶

Weight: 10-11| Age: 11

T: M A Barnes J: Dale Irving

Forecasts

Cesar Du Gouet (2/1), Welcome Ben (9/4), Old Salt (4/1), Witness In Court (5/1), Roachdale House (11/2), No Such Number (33/1)

Given the recent success of seemingly well handicapped Irish raiders on the Scottish circuit a positive mention has to go to the Paul Flynn-trained handicap debutante Roachdale House who has the once top-notch claimer Paddy Merrigan in the saddle. However, despite a sizeable rise in the weights since his emphatic win at Ayr (2m4f), a preference is for the 'home-trained' 10yo WELCOME BEN who shouldn't be hindered by dropping back in trip with a past C&D chasing record of 112. It's doubtless that Cesar Du Gouet will be a popular option among punters for the Murphy/Johnson combination, but we'll opt to tread carefully with him for now (hasn't totally convinced).