Moffatt hopes Royalty reigns at Perth
● Trainer says soft ground should suit his ‘ultra-reliable’ 11-year-old in feature race
Jimmy Moffatt is hoping for a big run from Morning Royalty as the 11-year-old makes his first appearance at Perth in today’s feature race.
The Cartmel raider, who will be ridden by leading northern jockey Brian Hughes, is the winner of eight of his 45 career starts and faces four rivals in the £30,000 All New Discovery River Tay Handicap Chase staged over 2m 4f.
Moffatt said: “He’s a pretty straightforward horse and he goes on soft ground.
“He’sneverbeentothecourse before but he’s ultra-reliable and should run his race as he always does.”
The opposition to Morning Royalty include Rebecca Menzies-trained course winner Pain Au Chocolat and recent Newbury winner Tiquer, a long distance raider for Somerset trainer Alan Jones.
Mixboy can give connections a boost ahead of a possible tilt at the Chester Cup with a victory in a different discipline in the Making Memories Handicap Chase.
The Keith Dalgleish-trained eight-year-old has had two spins on the Flat since winning over the bigger obstacles at Musselburgh in January and should have the speed to burn off the opposition.
Nick Alexander is doublehanded with Fly Rory Fly and Calivigny in the £13,000 MKM Building Supplies Balnakeilly Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
The Kinneston trainer’s daughter Lucy takes the ride on the former, while Hughes gets the leg up on Calivigny – who was fourth in the penultimate race at Perth yesterday.
Earlier in yesterday’s action, Calett Mad romped away with the Listed EBF Stallions Gold Castle “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.
The 8-11 favourite led at the second last flight before trouncing Scorpion Sid by 31 lengths under Daryl Jacob, who was in attendance for just one mount as he took his recent course strike-rate to five wins from just seven rides.
Jacob said: “He surprised us when he won at Musselburgh and I looked after him on the ground at Cheltenham. His connections spotted this race and, as you could see, he is a horse with a bit of class.”
Callet Mad’s trainer Nigel Twiston-davies had earlier initiated a short-priced double when Blue Flight landed the opening Joseph Perrier “The 0 Brian Hughes: Rides Morning Royalty in today’s big race. Party Has Started” Maiden Hurdle under Jamie Bargary.
Meanwhile, Lancelot Du Lac can get back to winning ways on the all-weather surface at Chelmsford today after coming unstuck on rain-softened turf at Doncaster.
Dean Ivory’s evergreen sprinter could not quicken up in his usual manner in last month’s Cammidge Trophy, although he was not disgraced in finishing fourth behind Perfect Pastures.
Having won earlier in March at Wolverhampton, Lancelot Du Lac is clearly in good form and can lift the Betsi Conditions Stakes for which he is top-rated.
Robert Cowell had Raucous in that race but has declared him instead for the Santander Consumer Handicap over the same six-furlong trip.
The five-year-old shaped well when fifth at Kempton on his first start since leaving the William Haggas stable and sprint king Cowell can work his magic on the son of Dream Ahead.
Both Alfa Mcguire’s victories as a two-year-old came at Beverley and the Bryan Smart-trained colt can continue the trend when he makes his seasonal debut at the East Yorkshire track in the Alan Mcguiness And Robin Lunness Memorial Handicap. This Class Three event is a big drop from the Group One Racing Post Trophy he contested on his final start last term when he was tenth of 12 behind Saxon Warrior. This is a more realistic assignment.
Dark Devil cut no ice in the consolation race for the Lincoln at Doncaster last month but the Roa/racing Post Owners Jackpot Handicap will be more up his street. Richard Fahey’s grey is in a grade in which he was last successful at Chester in September.