17:25 Perth

Saturday 22 June 2019

All13:5014:2014:5515:3016:1016:5017:25

SWNT Our Girls Our Game Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:25 | Winning time: 3m 57.7s

Serious Ego^b⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-3| J: K Brogan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 122| D

6/1

13lb higher than when winning at Leopardstown (2m, soft) in March, hence the use of the 7lb claimer Kevin Brogan; finished sixth of eight at Roscommon (2m+, good) six weeks ago.

Form: 81580-6

Ardera Cross^p¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 117| CD

9/1

Left Dan Skelton after being beaten in a Hexham seller; always prominent, battling on determinedly once headed to beat today's rival Oromo at odds of 40/1 on debut for this trainer (over C&D) earlier this month; 4lb higher.

Form: 2221-31

Valentino Dancer²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 119

13/8

Fortunate winner on hurdles debut at Newton Abbot (2m1f) but backed that up with a solid run at Kelso (winner a subsequent Hexham scorer); enters the reckoning on handicap debut with Richard Johnson taking the mount.

Form: 12

Touchedbyanangel^t1⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 114| D

16/1

Progressing well in the summer of 2018 for Andrew Oliver (a three-time winner on good ground; 2m-2m3f); woeful so far for Lucinda Russell, so hopefully the addition of a tongue-tie can help to positively transform his fortunes.

Form: 1131P0-

Oromo^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: D A Jacob| T: K Thornton| OR: 108| CD

4/1

Infrequent winner, although is proving more consistent nowadays and clearly goes well at this track; beaten a short-head by the rallying Ardera Cross over C&D earlier this month; there's every chance that he can extract his revenge.

Form: 021-272

Placedela Concorde^t³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 107| CD

15/2

Won twice during the summer of 2018, including over C&D (novices') but has found life much tougher since sent handicapping; should strip fitter for a recent comeback run at Hexham.

Form: 82336-4

Strong Team³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: C Grant| OR: 103| CD

8/1

On the premises over C&D last month despite finishing fourth of five to Fisher Green (beaten less than 5L) and has past C&D winning form; conditions are perfect; possibly just about high enough in the handicap.

Form: 12312-4

Bahrikate^t³⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: James Corbett⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 100| CD

33/1

Her sole career win (1-25) came when springing a 33/1 shock over C&D (good) in April 2017; twice placed at this track during a relatively light 2018; 2lb lower on her return from a 352 day absence.

Form: 42U/335-

Wot A Shot³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards| OR: 97| CD

9/1

C&D winner (July 2017) who has added to that tally twice since over the minimum trip at Musselburgh; 2lb above his last winning mark (January 2019), and finished just in front of (third) today's rival Strong Team over C&D latest.

Form: 65158-3

Non-Runners

Iconic Belle²³

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: P A Kirby J: Thomas Dowson

An Fear Ciuin²¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: R M Smith J: R P McLernon

Forecasts

Valentino Dancer (13/8), Oromo (4/1), Iconic Belle (11/2), Serious Ego (6/1), Placedela Concorde (15/2), Strong Team (8/1), Wot A Shot (9/1), Ardera Cross (9/1), Touchedbyanangel (16/1), An Fear Ciuin (16/1), Bahrikate (33/1)

An open finale with a plethora of past Perth form to dissect, with a more recent example seeing Ardera Cross just edging out the re-opposing Oromo over C&D a fortnight ago. With Richard Johnson in the saddle, the handicap newcomer Valentino Dancer is an interesting runner for Olly Murphy, especially with his most recent Kelso second franked by the winner Some Day Soon at Hexham last Saturday. However, the preferred option is the Phil Kirby-trained ICONIC BELLE who has plenty in her favour despite a steady rise in the weights. She found only the very progressive Makawee stronger on the Flat at Wetherby (1m6f) latest.