As You Like top pick on Gold Cup day

RACING: O’neill team sure to have nineyear-old ready for Perth’s main feature

It is a big day at Perth tomorrow, where a classy card is headlined by the bet365 Sam Morshead Perth Gold Cup Handicap Chase.

Perth racecourse chief executive Hazel Peplinski said: “The support of ITV Racing and bet365 of this delayed Gold Cup card has given us a real boost and I am thrilled with the quantity and quality of runners throughout the nine races.

“I’m thinking it would be a fitting winner of the bet365 Sam Morshead

Gold Cup if Jonjo O’neill Jr could bring home As You Like in front as this promising young jockey is one of Sam’s son Henry’s closest friends.”

AS YOU LIKE has got his head in front since racing resumed, and he looks to have every chance again in the threemile feature.

Before reappearing at Southwell last month, the nine-year-old had not been seen since disappointing at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day, but he put that lacklustre effort well behind him with a cosy four and three-quarter length win.

Confidently ridden by O’neill Jr that day, As You Like impressed in what appeared to be a tight event, and a 4lb rise certainly does not look insurmountable while he is in such good heart and remains relatively unexposed.

There are four Scottish runners in the line-up – Lucinda Russell pair Fortune’s

Hiding and four-time course winner Boy’s On Tour; Trongate, trained by Mike Smith; and Keith Dalgleish’s Amalfi Doug, also a four-time scorer at the Scone venue.

The bumper nine-race card gets under way at 1pm behind closed doors.

All eyes will be on Benbatl today as the Group One winner returns to action in the Ladbrokes Celebration Mile, but REGAL REALITY can make his racing edge count at Goodwood.

Benbatl is miles ahead of the field on the official ratings, with his mark of 125 ranking him among the best in the world, but he is returning from a lengthy lay-off here on ground that may not be ideal, so it perhaps makes sense to give him a swerve this time in favour of Sir Michael Stoute’s charge.

Regal Reality experienced a bit of a spell in the doldrums after winning the Brigadier Gerard and finishing a fine third in the Eclipse last year, but a switch down to Group Three company at Salisbury saw him get back on track this month.

The application of a visor probably had plenty to do with Regal Reality’s return to form because, with his mind fully focused on the task, he ran out a thoroughly impressive three-and-a-halflength winner of the Sovereign Stakes.

SELECTIONS GOODWOOD

(TODAY): 1.15 Flotilla, 1.50 Pomelo, 2.25 Milltown Star, 3.00 Cabaletta, 3.35 REGAL REALITY (NAP), 4.10 Dance To Paris, 4.45 Junkanoo, 5.15 Porto Ferro.

PERTH (TOMORROW): 1.00 Fern Owl, 1.30 Mrs Hyde, 2.05 Global Tour, 2.40 Imperial Elysian, 3.15 As You Like, 3.50 Lady London, 4.25 Calliope , 5.00 Grumpy Boots, 5.30 Tara Kay.

DOUBLE – Regal Reality and As You Like

Jonjo O’neill Jr: Would be a popular winner in the Gold Cup with As You Like.