If it is Perth, set in deepest Scotland and Britain’s most northerly course, follow a trainer based in Ireland. Sound like odd advice? Don’t you believe it.

Gordon Elliott may train in County Kildare, but he has been Perth’s leading trainer in recent seasons, with his all-out assaults on every meeting invariably paying dividends.

Tomorrow promises to be no exception on a day when there is no Flat racing in Britain.

Elliott isn’t complaining. He has a whole host of fancied runners at his favourite Perth venue and is fancied to have several winners, starting off with Glimmer Star in the opening toteplacepot Maiden Hurdle.

Lightly-raced but runner-up in a bumper on his latest start, the former point-to-pointer looks a horse with potential and he will not need to be anything out of the ordinary at this stage of his career to win this modest affair.

Brave Beauty represents Elliott and this year’s Grand National-winning jockey Jason Maguire in the Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer Novices’ Hurdle and will be hard to beat.

A winner on this course 11 days ago, Brave Beauty crossed the line with a length to spare but appeared to have any amount in hand as he cruised home on a tight rein.

He looks set to follow up under a penalty.

Cape Secret can be another for Elliott and Maguire in the Try totequickpick On All totepool Bets Handicap Hurdle. A runner-up here last August, Cape Secret has not run over jumps since, but he did have a recent run on the Flat in handicap company at Fairyhouse and that should have helped to knock the cobwebs off him after his lengthy absence.

He will be fit enough to do himself justice this time around, rest assured, and he is awarded the nap vote.

Elliott and Maguire can round off yet another good day at Perth by winning the totepool National Hunt Flat Race with Incas Article, who, despite failing to justify favouritism last time out, looks a potentially useful horse, well worth the chance of resuming winning ways.

Nicky Richards will be doing his utmost to keep Gordon Elliott at bay in at least one race, the Try totequickpick Novices’ Chase, in which he saddles Peachey Moment.

The six-year-old has won all of his three races this season, two of them on this course and one at Kelso.

He looks to be progressing with each outing and, despite having a hefty 12st 5lb on his back, Peachey Moment promises to be a tough nut to crack.

At Southwell, racegoers have seven races to look forward to and the extra treat of seeing the most successful jump jockey in history in action.

Tony McCoy is fancied to keep his many fans happy by completing a treble on Chesapeake (2.50), a winner on his reappearance last month for Jonjo O’Neill, former course winner Cygnet (3.50), who is trained by Donald McCain, and John Jenkins’ Hi Tide (4.20), another horse with course- winning form.

Mick Easterby can make his presence felt with Ginger’s Lad (3.20).

The seven-year-old, a previous winner at this venue, finished a creditable second to Overbranch at Sedgefield on his latest outing last month.


Racing selections

York (today)
2.05 Hamish McGonagall (NAP), 2.40 Deauville Flyer, 3.15 Pekan Star, 3.55 Georgebernardshaw, 4.25 Discression, 5.00 Last Bid, 5.35 Saucy Brown.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Newmarket, Ascot, Chester, Hamilton and Salisbury.

Perth (tomorrow)
2.10 Glimmer Star, 2.40 Brave Beauty, 3.10 Cape Secret (NAP), 3.40 Peachey Moment, 4.10 Golden View, 4.40 Laybach, 5.10 Incas Article.

Southwell (tomorrow)
2.20 Misamon, 2.50 Chesapeake, 3.20 Ginger’s Lad, 3.50 Cygnet, 4.20 Hi Tide, 4.50 Colditz, 5.20 Safe Investment, 5.50 Jive Master.

Tomorrow’s other meeting: Stratford.