N.H. racing at Perth and Downpatrick

the best race at the Scottish N.H. track of Perth today is the class 3 handicap chase over 3 miles at 17.10 CET. Top-weight Santando (Peter Bowen/ Tom O´Brien) had some good form i2007, but showed little in his 2 recent starts after a long layoff, while Minellla Tipperary (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson) has not run since the spring and Golden Child (Nigel Twiston-Davies/ Paddy Brennan) has been off for even longer. With question marks over these, perhaps the consistent and fit course specialist Catch the Perk (Lucinda Russell/ Peter Buchanan) is ther safest option. Tom Gweorge ad Tony McCoy team up twice with good prospects - with Carthy Cross, runner-up nofour times running, in the novice handicap chase at 16.00, and Pas de Baratin in the maiden hurdle at 18.50; this ones makes his British debut after finishing 3rd of 15 last time out at Enghien. German-bred Herakles (Michael Mullineaux/ Tony McCoy) has a good each-way chance in the 3 miles handicap hurdle at 18.20. At Dow npatrick in Northern Ireland there is a mixed card, with 5 N.H. races and two flat races - both handicaps for apprentices. Dancera (Mervyn Torreens/ Shane Grey) could run well in the 1 1/2 miles race at 16.15.