Hobbs looking for Presence to be felt at Perth

Trainer has a fine record at Scone track and that can continue today

IMPERIAL PRESENCE flies the flag for top West Country trainer Philip Hobbs in the feature race at Perth today.

The in-form Minehead raider, who has won his last three starts at Uttoxeter, Stratford and Kempton, faces six rivals in the £25,000 Sodexo Prestige Venues And Events Killiecrankie Handicap Chase over 2m 4f.

Hobbs, the winner of 50 races from 190 runners at the Scone track since 1988, said: “He won well in the soft at Uttoxeter last time considering we thought he preferred better ground. He’s creeping up the weights but hopefully he is still progressive and should have a decent chance once again.”

Among the opposition to Imperial Presence is Charlie Longsdon’s topweight Hammersly Lake, an impressive winner of the race 12 months ago before going on to finish fifth in the Grade 1 American Grand National at Far Hills.

Others in the line-up include Gordon Elliott’s Rightdownthemiddle, who scored over hurdles at Perth in late July, and Marracudja representing Dan and Harry Skelton – the brothers currently heading the 2018-19 season jumps tables for leading trainer and jockey respectively.

Charlie Longsdon also saddles royal runner Forth Bridge, owned and bred by the Queen, in the Prestige Venues and Events Handicap Chase.

After combining for a five-timer at Perth’s last fixture on August 18, Gordon Elliott and Richard Johnson team up in six races while Elliott has a total of 11 runners on the seven-race card.

DREAM CATCHING was not winning out of turn when opening his account at Brighton three weeks ago and he can follow up on his return to the Seaside venue.

Andrew Balding’s youngster did not see the racecourse as a juvenile and was gelded before his debut in the spring of this year.

The son of Dream Ahead came mighty close to making the perfect start when beaten just half a length at Lingfield in April and has run well in defeat on a few occasions since, most notably finishing second in a decent handicap at Newbury in July.

He looked to have been found a giltedged opportunity when reverting to maiden company here last time and did not pass it up, making all the running on his way to a facile success.

SELECTIONS: BRIGHTON: 2.00 Flora Tristan, 2.30 Barbarosa, 3.05 DREAM CATCHING (NAP), 3.35 Sauchiehall Street, 4.10 Wilson, 4.40 Nyala, 5.15 Imbucato.

PERTH: 2.10 Global Jackpot, 2.40 Arizona Bound, 3.15 Miro, 3.45 Imperial Presence, 4.20 Cold Shoulder, 4.50 Cooking Fat. 5.25 Carrie Des Champs.

DOUBLE: Dream Catching and Imperial Presence.

Picture: PA. The Tin Man, right, ridden by Oisin Murphy, wins the 32Red Sprint Cup Stakes during 32Red Sprint Cup Day at Haydock Park on Saturday.