The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Treble for McCain at Perth
Dear Sire was an impressive winner of the feature race at Perth on Saturday.
In front of a bumper crowd, the Donald McCain raider saw off Caius Marcius by eight lengths in the £25,000 Spirits of Scone Stone of Destiny Handicap Hurdle.
Jockey Will Kennedy, who later completed a double on Valleyofmilan, said: “I rode him last time when he was second and we were worried about the ground today.
“It’s a brilliant prize for this time of year and the course deserve a pat on the back.”
Valleyofmilan’s trainer McCain had a treble after Secret Escape landed the bumper under Lorcan Murtagh.
The sell-out crowd of more than 10,000 was brought to its feet as dual champion jockey Richard Johnson struck in the opening novices’ hurdle with Gordon Elliott’s 4-7 favourite, Knockmaole Boy.
Bubbly will be the order of the day at Lucy Normile’s Glenfarg yard after Karingo and Grant Cockburn sprung a 20-1 upset.
Normile said: “We have a tradition of serving a Champagne breakfast for everyone at the yard the morning after a win, and this is our second successive Saturday winner.”
Sam Twiston-Davies also got a big cheer as he passed the post in front on Beau Bay in the novices’ chase. Trained by Dr Richard Newland, the 3-1 chance was impressive on his chasing debut as he beat Fenlon’s Hill by 10 lengths.
Next up in the racing calendar is Perth Racecourse’s Autumn Raceday on Monday September 11. For more information and to buy tickets visit perth-races.co.uk.