Forster and Hughes eye more Perth success on competitive evening card

Sandy Forster is after the fifth win of her training career at Perth this evening when she saddles two runners from her Borders base.

Based at Kirk Yetholm, near Kelso, she is represented by Stowaway John in the Perth Fonab Castle Hotel And Spa Novices’ Hurdle and Morningside in the Perth Holiday Inn Express Staycation Handicap Chase.

A granddaughter of legendaryscottish handler ken oliver, Forster said :“we had eight winnerslast season which equal led the previous two occasions we had the same number, but we did it last year with a lot less runners, so we are really delighted.

“Morningside probably has the best chance, and he went close a couple of times at Kelso and Sedgefield last season. He stays well enough, and the ground should be fine.

“Stowaway John has limited experience in handicaps, but he was a wee better after we stepped him up in trip at Newcastle last time.”

Brian Hughes gained his second jumps jockeys’ title last term, and he has five rides at a venue that supplied him with 19 winners during his latest championship campaign which saw him become the first northern pilot to reach a double century, a feat which will be commemorated with a special presentation at Perth this evening.

He kicks off with Sunshine Girl in the Murrayshall Country Estate Maiden Hurdle and also has the mount on bob’ s bar, the likely favourite in the night’ s feature contest, the racing welfare Supporting Mental Health Awareness Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Matthew Taylor, Perth Racecourse Racing Manager, said: “We are delighted to welcome 63 runners over a competitive evening card. the ground is currently good, good to soft in places, after 10 mm rain on Monday which was the last wet day of the week, with the remainder looking cloudy and dry but rather cool.”

Meanwhile, Emily Upjohn made a huge impression on her reappearance at Sandown last month and is tough to oppose in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York.

A narrow winner of a novice event at Wolverhampton in November, the daughter of Sea The stars was a hot favourite for her three-year-old debut ines her three weeks ago.

What followed was a hugely impressive display as Emily Upjohn rocketed almost 10 lengths clear, with jockey Frankie Dettori revealing afterwards she had been lighting up the Newmarket gallops. John and Thady Gosden's filly was immediately slashed for the Cazoo Oaks at Epsom and she is expected to enhance her Classic credentials with victory on the Knavesmire.

Emaraaty Ana is given another chance in the 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes.

For whatever reason, Kevin Ryan's inmate ran poorly twice in Dubai in March, however he is the highest-rated horse in the field and at doublefigure odds it is worth taking a punt.

• For tickets for this evening’s meeting at Perth visit www.perth-races.co.uk. The first of seven races is at 5.40 pm–all live on Racing TV.