3.40pm Perth Tips & Betting Preview 05/07/2017

Eight handicappers go to post as they slug it out for the Kilmany Cup at Perth on Wednesday, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: The field is dominated by older horses including Russian Regent, who runs well over C&D and could go well for each way purposes. That said, BAILEYS CONCERTO ran well at Aintree on his latest start, only beaten around five lengths and if building on that run he should be taking this off a mark of 121, as he’s placed off much higher in the past. Conditions are in his favour and the ever reliable Brian Hughes takes the ride, so everything is set for a big run. Always On The Run rates as the chief danger, with this step up in trip having the potential to unlock further improvement.

1 ALWAYS ON THE RUN – Has placed on his last three runs for Tom George, finishing third over the 2m 4f distance here back in June and he’s down one pound in the handicap. That said, he is not progressing and needs this step up in trip to have a positive effect if he’s to be featuring under Adrian Heskin. Possible each way contender if he does see this out strongly but others make more appeal overall.

2 RUSSIAN REGENT – Thirteen year old whose form is starting to slowly regress for Gordon Elliott, becoming very unpredictable as time draws on. He does however tend to go well over course and distance, returning with a respectable run at Downpatrick last month over hurdles. Now on a mark of 128 which is three pounds below his last winning mark so it wouldn’t be inconceivable that he could run well for the placings under Davy Russell.

3 JOVIAL JOEY – Impressive win over course and distance on his penultimate start, eased down for a comfortable success and as a result he was raised eight pounds. He was unable to back that up when pulled up at Market Rasen on his latest run, but perhaps the step back in trip wasn’t in his favour and he will appreciate a return to this distance. He still remains unexposed over fences and Daragh Bourke takes off a useful five pounds, so he’s likely to be in the shake up.

4 YES TOM – Twelve year old for the Crawford yard whose ability is almost impossible to gauge at present, losing his way since a good third at Ballinrobe back in May. He pulled up on his seasonal debut at Roscommon in June and returned eleven days later to be brought down at the tenth, in the rear at the time. He’s now eleven pounds below his last winning mark but he’s hard to fancy on what he’s shown of late and this looks a tough ask.

5 KILBREE KID – Has won three times over course and distance in the past, but he’s not been at his best this season and he looks the second string for Tom George in this. He was last seen at Stratford when a never dangerous fifth and he has a lot to prove off only a pound lower mark. Conditions will be fine and Ciaran Gethings takes off a useful three pounds, but others make more appeal on balance.

6 MIA’S ANTHEM – Has looked very laboured in two runs this season for Noel Kelly, last seen at Aintree where he was beaten around 37 lengths. He has cheekpieces refitted for this run but more is still undoubtedly required and others look to have much more obvious claims about them. Derek Fox takes the ride and although he’s a previous course and distance winner, others are preferred this time around.

7 PANTXOA – Rated 145 at his peak but he’s clearly not the force of old and he’s been very inconsistent under rules for a while now. He won on his stable debut for Fergal O’Brien when taking a hunters’ chase at Newton Abbot but failed to back that up when well beaten at Cheltenham on his latest run. Far more needed back into this sphere and it’s hard to see him landing a blow with how poor he’s been for the majority of his time since 2014.

8 BAILEYS CONCERTO – Last win came way back in 2014 but he returned to form on his latest start when fourth at Aintree in May, only beaten around five lengths. If building upon that run he should be tough to beat off a mark of 121, as he’s placed off much higher ones in the past and the ever reliable Brian Hughes takes the ride with conditions to suit.