Three is sure to be the magic number

Threeunderthrufive can end the season on a winning note as he drops back to Listed company for the British EBF William Hill Gold Castle “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle at Perth tomorrow.

Paul Nicholls’ charge met with just his second defeat in six career starts at the Cheltenham Festival, finding the front-running Vanillier too good in the Albert Bartlett.

The six-year-old put himself on the back foot with a mistake early on the final circuit and while he kept to his task well enough, he was never going to trouble the impressive winner and had to settle for a distant sixth.

Threeunderthrufive had previously racked up three hurdles victories on the spin, winning easily enough at Lingfield and Ludlow before Christmas, before having to work hard under a penalty and on easy ground on his Festival prep at Musselburgh in February.

The Shantou gelding looks sure to reach his full potential when switched to fences and while he has to give weight all round here, he does look to have a touch of class and might well appreciate the expected decent ground.

Peur De Rien is another who enjoys a sound surface and he can go well in the William Hill Extra Places Every Day Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase. The eight-yearold enjoyed a confidence boost with victory at Kempton on his most recent run, having bypassed the worst of the winter. He was a convincing winner at the Sunbury track, jumping soundly and keeping on well to suggest that even his increased rating of 115 could give Oliver Sherwood something to work with.

Tinnahalla heads to Ludlow rather than an alternate engagement at Perth and the decision should pay dividends in the Join RacingTV Novices’ Hurdle. The four-year-old ran well in a competitive juvenile heat at Ascot at the end of March, racing prominently before finding a few with a bit too much toe and having to settle for a four-length fourth.

Previously a winner on heavy ground at Catterick, Tinnahalla demonstrated a better surface holds no fears for him while his 16lb rise for that North Yorkshire victory also does not seem beyond his remit. Potters Vision found Dan Gun too good last time, but a similar effort should put her thereabouts in the Central Motors (Chard) Mares’ Handicap Hurdle at Taunton. She was beaten nearly six lengths giving weight away in third, but Dan Gun has boosted that form with an easy win at Bangor on Saturday.

Frankie Dettori does not ride on a Wednesday evening at Lingfield too often, so it is probably a good hint as to expectations as he teams up with Polling Day in the Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Novice Stakes.