O’Neill has eyes on top prize

Jonjo O’Neill has his eyes set on another City of Perth Gold Cup, 16 years after he landed the same race with Water Font.

Tomorrow’s £30,000 handicap chase, staged over three miles and sponsored by Horizon Parking, has attracted a quality field of 12 runners, including O’Neill’s Upswing.

The nine-year-old has won his last two starts at Ffos Las and Cheltenham, and O’Neill said: “He travelled and jumped well at Ffos Las but the good ground is the real key to him as he tends to struggle if it gets too soft.

“In the main his jumping is pretty good and he’s the type of horse to keep on the go over the rest of the spring and into the summer.”

Lord Ballim, trained in Devon by Nigel Hawke, is another of the runners arriving in good shape as he has won four of his last five races, including over two miles and four furlongs at the Perth Festival.

Hawke, winning jockey on Seagram in the 1991 Grand National, said: “He’s a horse that has plenty of confidence now and settles much better these days. Perth is a long way to come but the prize money is very good and he has winning form at the track.”

Newly-crowned champion trainer Nicky Henderson saddles top-weight Volnay De Thaix, ridden by Nico de Boinville.

Gordon Elliott, who earlier this week recorded his 1000th winner after opening his account at Perth in 2006 with Arresting, is represented by Right down the middle.

The Irish trainer landed the 2009 renewal with Backstage and has booked champion jockey Richard Johnson for the ride.

Tom George, another winning trainer with Kilbree Kid in 2015, relies this time on Roc D’Apsis and he also has Always On The Run in the Mackie’s World Class Indulgence Handicap Chase.