Perth Tips: Chichester to make mark over hurdles

There are six meetings on Thursday, with day two of York's Dante Festival the star attraction. There's also plenty for National Hunt fans to enjoy, with meetings at Clonmel, Fontwell and Perth.

My focus is on the latter, with three Perth Tips up for consideration.

14:18 - Chichester @ 10/3

The opening Edinburgh Gin Classic Maiden Hurdle should offer a decent chance to The Last Cloud for trainer Patrick Neville.

He has had three starts over hurdles and made the frame in the last two, both at Catterick in February, firstly over 3m1½f and then at 1m7½f. He did everything but win last time after coming clear with well-backed Ballyvango, the pair a long way clear of the rest.

He has claims but so too does CHICHESTER for Lucinda Russell. The Dansili gelding was rated 110 in his pomp on the Flat and won the Listed Ganton Stakes at York in 2023.

He faced some tough challenges in his first season with Russell on the Flat and was given his first hurdle spin at Kelso over Christmas, shaping as though he would improve for it.

He did that at Musselburgh (1m7½f, good to soft) in February by finishing fourth and, with some smoother hurdling now, this good ground promises to suit him well. He's capable of upsetting the forecast market leader.

15:21 - Frisby @ 9/2

The hat-trick seeking Summergrounds is respected but may come a cropper this time, with FRISBY capable of collecting for the Patrick Neville and Brian Hughes combo.

The 3m point winner was second to smart novice hurdler Derryhassen Paddy in a bumper at Ayr last year on his rules debut and has run with credit in three starts over hurdles since Christmas.

He finished third in a course-and-distance maiden three weeks ago, clear of the remainder as the consistent Kevin's Pride was denied by an improver in Scarlet Jet.

An opening mark of 109 could prove manageable for this Flemensfirth gelding as he moves into handicaps over a track and trip that suits.

15:53 - Kinbara Firstdraft @ 4/1

Bel Amigo has won three on the bounce, all at Carlisle, since being pulled up at Ayr in January and isn't overlooked in haste. Just Dottie is a regular winner here, but has gone up 9lb for last month's success and, therefore, KINBARA FIRSTDRAFT gets the nod.

Stuart Crawford's charge was fourth in that Ayr race Bel Amigo pulled up in at the start of the year, then finished second to the same winner, Timmy Tuesday, in a 2m4f good-ground handicap at Down Royal on St Patrick's Day.

The Gordon Elliott-trained winner was second in a Premier Handicap at Aintree's Grand National meeting from 13lb higher on his next start.

Kinbara Firstdraft is 5lb higher now but has winning form over course and distance and could be ideally suited dropping back in trip.

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