Perth, Thursday 14 May 2026 — Good To Soft

Perth, Thursday 14 May 2026 — Good To Soft

A seven-race card at Scone on good to soft ground. The ground suits staying types and honest gallopers rather than anything flashy, and with Olly Murphy dominating the entries from his Warwickshire base, the form of his string is the first thing to interrogate. Murphy’s overall numbers over the past 14 days are split across two yards, so watch how each individual stable return reads before piling in. Here are the races worth your attention.

1:58 — Edinburgh Gin Classic Maiden Hurdle (2m, Good To Soft)

Thirteen runners in a maiden hurdle at Perth is as open as it looks on paper, but the market has already done the work. Lexington Wood (Sean Bowen, Olly Murphy) is the evens favourite and the price reflects genuine ability rather than blind market confidence. The RPR of 115 stands out in a field where most of the rivals have either a blank RPR or a figure well below triple figures. Form of 7428 is modest in isolation, but the handicapper has seen enough to assign a mark, and this is a maiden, which means he’s almost certainly the most exposed and consistent horse in the race.

Murphy has Sean Bowen in the plate, which tells you this isn’t just a run for experience. When a trainer of Murphy’s calibre books one of the best jump jockeys in training for a maiden at Perth, he expects a result.

Scriabin (Patrick Wadge, Lucinda Russell) at 6/1 is the obvious dangers. An RPR of 114 and a TS of 105 suggests he’s in a similar bracket to the favourite, and with Russell and Scudamore running two horses, there’s a possibility of stable tactics at play. Worth a place on your racecard as a saver, but at even money Lexington Wood is the side to be on.

Selection: Lexington Wood — Evens (Boyle Sports, Betfred, LiveScore Bet)

2:33 — DM Hall Surveyors Handicap Chase (3m, Good To Soft)

Six runners over three miles and a strongly-run race on paper. Largy Force (Sean Bowen, Olly Murphy) is the 5/6 favourite and on raw form she deserves to be. An RPR of 130 is the highest in the field, the TS of 118 confirms she’s been running to that level recently, and a form line of 21212 shows a mare that keeps running her race. She’s consistent, she handles this sort of ground, and having Sean Bowen on board again suggests Murphy is sending her here to win.

The one to keep honest is Inis Oirr at 3/1. The form of 75591 shows a horse that found top gear when last seen and is clearly on an upward curve. Lucinda Russell knows this track well, the 10lb allowance claimed by Gregor Walkingshaw keeps the weight manageable, and if Inis Oirr is still improving the 3/1 could look generous in hindsight. The Russell and Scudamore yard has two runners, and this one looks the more interesting each-way proposition given the recent winning form.

Busty Boy at 9/2 has been running into places relentlessly (23332) without actually winning, and a nine-year-old that consistent is often destined to be a place specialist. Ignore at your peril for place betting but don’t back him to win.

Selection: Largy Force — 5/6 (Boyle Sports, Betfred); 4/5 LiveScore Bet

4:18 — Edinburgh Gin Seaside Handicap Hurdle (2m, Good To Soft)

Trust House (Sean Bowen, Olly Murphy) is 10/11 and the case for backing him is straightforward. A form line of 3/511 tells you this horse has won twice in his most recent completed outings, the RPR of 121 is competitive off this weight, and the going is in his favour. Murphy again trusts Bowen with the ride, and that pattern of trainer-jockey alignment across the card looks deliberate rather than coincidental.

The value angle in this race is Pure Gold Each-Way at 6/1 with Boyle Sports. A TS of 102 is the joint-highest in the race, the RPR of 121 matches the favourite’s figure, and the form of 11F75 includes two wins. The fall and subsequent below-par runs may have left her underestimated in the market. Lisa Harrison’s yard doesn’t run many but when they do travel to a meeting like this, it’s worth treating as significant. At 6/1 with two places on offer at 1/4 odds, the each-way case is real.

Just Dottie has the highest RPR in the field at 124 and a TS of 110, but no price is available, which makes her impossible to recommend. Keep an eye on the boards if she shows up with a price before the off.

Selection: Trust House — 10/11 (Boyle Sports, Betfred, LiveScore Bet). Each-way saver: Pure Gold at 6/1.

Today’s NAP