Scottish success stories to be celebrated at BRAW! Raceday

Perth Racecourse’s BRAW! Raceday on Saturday will pay homage to singer/ songwriter Lewis Capaldi and the Scotland women’s football team, two of the big success stories of the last year.

Last year’s meeting featured a stunning 164-1 treble for trainer Rose Dobbin and Hawick jockey Craig Nichol while the showpiece Kilmany Handicap Chase went to Peter Bowen’s More Bucks.

The Welsh trainer is represented this year by Viens Chercher, runner-up at Kelso last month to Olly Murphy-trained Beau Sancy, who could also contend.

Big race entries also include Indian Temple, an all-the-way recent winner of the Sam Morshead Perth Gold Cup for Harry and Tim Reed, while leading course trainer Gordon Elliott has his eye on the trophy as the Irish handler is five-handed with Borice, Flaxen Flare, Ned Stark, Out Sam and Swingbridge.

The two Scottish entries are Havana Jack, trained in Ayrshire by Leonard Kerr, and Jim Goldie’s Rainy City.

Nicky Henderson has several entries in the opener, including Bold Record who was third on his hurdles debut at Worcester.

Four-time champion jockey Richard Johnson has already been booked for the penultimate race on Dinons, a hurdle winner at Perth who is already two from two over fences for Gordon Elliott.

The day will also see Perth celebrate two big Scottish successes with the Lewis Capaldi Gie’ing It Laldy Handicap Hurdle taking place at 4.10pm, while the SWNT Our Girls Our Game Handicap Hurdle is the final race at 5.25pm.

Punters will be welcomed into the venue by a lone piper and can enjoy an array of the finest fare – including haggis nachos – before a mass ceilidh with four-piece band Bahookie rounding off proceedings.

Course chief executive, Hazel Peplinski, said: “Perth’s summer programme is now in full swing and having enjoyed a sensational start to our season, we are busy turning everything around since our Gold Cup Sunday to welcome another large crowd to our first Saturday fixture of the year.

“Our new BRAW! raceday is in its second year and allows us, as the most northerly track in the UK, to give a wee nod to our Scottish heritage which makes us very proud – including Lewis Capaldi and the Scotland Women’s National Team, who have both achieved such amazing things in the 12 months since our first BRAW! Raceday.”

Gates open at 11.30am with the first race scheduled for 1.50pm.