Perth Tips: Wednesday 22 April 2026

Perth Tips: Wednesday 22 April 2026

Perth stages a compact eight-race card on Good To Soft ground, and while the field sizes are small, the quality at the top end is real. Two Listed races headline the afternoon, with some interesting handicap angles underneath. Dan Skelton's yard is firing at 10/50 over the last fortnight, Nicky Richards is operating at a tidy 3/12, and Sandy Thomson's small string looks sharp at 4/11. Those numbers matter on a day like this.

2:40 British EBF Gold Castle Novices' Hurdle (Listed, 3m)

Six runners, two of them trained by Gordon Elliott, and the market is dominated by No Drama This End at 8/11. He's the form horse. Three wins from three starts over hurdles, including a Grade 1 Challow demolition at Newbury, and the step up to 3m is bred into him through his dam. The Cheltenham Turners flop is a worry, but a messy start explains plenty of that, and returning to calmer listed waters at Perth suits his profile.

The value, though, is with Tormund Giantsbane at 4/1 with Bet365 and William Hill. Harry Skelton rides for a yard in red-hot form, and this horse made all at Doncaster over today's exact trip and going in February, winning with plenty in hand. Yes, he was 12 lengths behind No Drama This End at Sandown in December, but that was a different race, shorter trip, and he's improved since. Dan Skelton knows exactly what this horse needs tactically, and if No Drama This End is still carrying any Cheltenham cobwebs, Tormund Giantsbane sits in a perfect market position at 4/1.

Selection: Tormund Giantsbane (4/1, Bet365/William Hill)

Angle: Improved form over today's trip and going in February, yard firing, and Skelton senior riding with a clear tactical plan. Better value than the market leader at this stage of the season.

3:10 Fair Maid Of Perth Mares' Chase (Listed, 3m)

Four runners, and this is essentially a match on paper. Panic Attack at 8/13 is the deserved favourite. Her Listed win at Newbury and two high-profile handicap victories last November represent the best form in the race, and the Grand National fall 11 days ago came through no fault of her own, badly hampered at the second fence. If she's bounced back fit, she wins this.

The interesting play is Apple Away at 5/1 with William Hill. She won this exact race two years ago on soft ground, the 3m trip at Perth is right in her wheelhouse, and Lucinda Russell knows this course better than almost any trainer operating today. Her only run this season was a solid third at Carlisle over an inadequate 2m4f, so there's fitness there and she's been freshened up for a track and trip combination that brought out the best in her previously. At 5/1 in a four-runner field, she's the each-way vehicle if Panic Attack shows any ill effects from Aintree.

Selection: Panic Attack (8/13, William Hill/Coral)

Angle: Best form in the race by a clear margin, the Aintree fall was not her fault, and Dan Skelton would not run her here if there were any fitness doubts. Lay the risk at short price if uncertain, but the form points one way.

3:40 Bedmax Capercaillie Handicap Chase (2m)

Seven runners, Good To Soft, and this is the race of the afternoon for value hunters. Aeros Luck Each-Way at 11/2 with Bet365 and William Hill is the angle here, and Sandy Thomson's record of 4/11 over the last fortnight is the number that jumps off the page.

This horse was a close second at Musselburgh in February over this exact trip and going conditions, beaten narrowly in a competitive handicap. He's been around 2m on good to soft before and handled it well. The booking of William Maggs may put some punters off, but Thomson's yard is clearly in a purple patch right now, and the horse has placed in five of his last six starts. At 11/2 each-way (3 places at 1/5 odds), the place terms alone make this an attractive proposition in a competitive seven-runner handicap.

Heltenham at 9/4 is the obvious market leader. Harry Skelton, Dan Skelton in form, and a track win at Perth last year all stack up. The concern is that all his chase wins have come at 2m4f or beyond, and today's 2m on a higher mark than he's won off is a genuine ask. Good horse, but the price doesn't compensate for those doubts.

The Other Mozzie at 9/1 is tempting given the first-time visor and Harry Cobden booking, and his Ayr win on identical ground a year ago is directly relevant. He's back down to his winning mark. The Cheltenham fall last month clouds his jumping confidence slightly, but if the visor sharpens him up, he's a live outsider.

Selection: Aeros Luck (11/2, Bet365/William Hill) Each-Way

Angle: Sandy Thomson's yard in scintillating form, course and distance form last time out, and going suits. Each-way at 3 places is solid insurance in a seven-runner field.

Today's NAP