Quality action at Autumn Raceday
Hammersly Lake was an impressive 5/1 winner of the feature race at Perth Racecourse on Monday.
Racing off a 10lb higher mark and again ridden by Brian Hughes, he slammed 9/4 favourite Imperial Presence by three and three-quarter lengths in the £25,000 Sodexo Prestige Venues And Events Killiecrankie Handicap Chase over 2m 4f.
Winning trainer Charlie Longdon was thrilled with the run and heaped praise on the Perth Racecourse team.
“He was fifth in last year’s American Grand National and that is the plan again,”Longdon said.
“It was a career best performance on Monday and Brian said he deserves to run in conditions races in this country.
“Full marks to Perth for putting on a valuable race like this.
“They’ve been rewarded with the likes of Kim Bailey, ourselves and Philip Hobbs sending up horses rated in the 150s.”
Lucinda Russell had four runners in the Bet With The Dewhurst Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle and she struck with 18/1 chance Celtic Flames, who came from last to first to score by a neck under Derek Fox.
“He can be a funny horse but I knew he’d stick his head on and run on,”Fox said.
“We were last three out but he stayed on well and I was confident he’d see the trip out well.”
Dan and Harry Skelton teamed up to land the Energy Check Utility Solutions Novices’Handicap Chase with Ange Des Malberaux.
Bringing the season to a close later this month is Perth Racecourse’s Glorious Finale.
Taking place on September 26 and 27, tickets for the double header are available to purchase at www.perthraces.co.uk. Ange Des Malberaux, ridden by Harry Skelton (in yellow), won the Energy Check Utility Solutions Novices’Handicap Chase