14:52 Perth

Saturday 18 June 2022

All13:4214:1714:5215:2716:0716:4617:23

Billy Duncan's 65th Birthday Celebration Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:52 | Winning time: 4m 59.8s

Wolfspear^p³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 105| CD

5/2

Bumper winner who surpassed previous hurdle exploits when successful over C&D last month, looking well served by the step up in trip and finding extra when tackled. Type to do better again and sound claims.

Form: 14733-1

Celtic Flames^p⁴⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-11| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 102| CD

12/1

Veteran who ended 2020/21 on the up with a brace of C&D handicap victories. Drew a blank last term and strictly below his best when sixth of 9 at Ayr (20.5f) in May but his mark continues to ease.

Form: 75330-6

Fathers Advice¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: William Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 102

7/1

5-y-o who quickly got back to form when runner-up over 2m here in April and similar form in 2 starts since, staying on gradually for fourth over this trip at Hexham 2 weeks ago. Fancied to give another good account.

Form: 7452-44

A Place Apart³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Thomas Dowson| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 97

100/1

Went off the boil for Gavin Cromwell in 2020 and has failed to complete in 2 starts for present stable, pulled up in a C&D handicap early last month.

Form: F0P7/P-P

Sword Of Fate¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: L Kerr| OR: 95| CD

7/1

Took advantage of a falling mark when making all in a C&D handicap chase last month. Not disgraced from 5 lb higher mark at Cartmel subsequently and has a lower mark to operate from back over hurdles. Not discounted under Brian Hughes.

Form: 865-313

Presentedwithwings³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Quinlan| T: D Bourke| OR: 95| D

11/2

Losing run is mounting up but back on track following a break when fourth behind re-opposing Wolfspear over C&D in May. Task is to build on that now from unchanged mark.

Form: 55286-4

Three Castles^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁵⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 94| D

20/1

Four-time winner on the Flat and finally off the mark over hurdles at Musselburgh in December. However, he arrives here on the back of some disappointing efforts on the level and others more convincing. Cheekpieces replace visor.

Form: 912686-

Cliffs Of Dooneen^t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 89

9/1

One-time useful Flat performer who cashed in off lowly opening hurdles mark at Carlisle in April. Faded out of contention over C&D next time but back on track when second over 2m back here 2 weeks ago. Fancied to be thereabouts.

Form: 5641-62

Gonfalonier⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 86

5/1

Not much to shout about over hurdles for Patrick Turley in Ireland and, easy to back, offered little on yard/handicap debut at Ayr (20.5f) last month. Needs to step up plenty to figure.

Form: 70058-9

Lockdown Leader³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Edward Austin⁽⁵⁾| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 84

12/1

Glimmers of promise early last season but form has tailed off earlier this year and in trouble some way out when seventh of 11 over 2m here in May (on back of a wind op). Needs to step up plenty to figure.

Form: 2/76P0-7

Forecasts

Wolfspear (5/2), Gonfalonier (5/1), Presentedwithwings (11/2), Sword Of Fate (7/1), Fathers Advice (7/1), Cliffs Of Dooneen (9/1), Lockdown Leader (12/1), Celtic Flames (12/1), Three Castles (20/1), A Place Apart (100/1)

WOLFSPEAR confirmed previous promise and relished the step up in trip when making his second start in handicaps a winning one over C&D last month, finding extra when tackled. He gets the nod to come out on top again with potential for better still. Sword of Fate, back over hurdles, and Fathers Advice head up the dangers, along with Cliffs of Dooneen.