Perth Tips: Russell set for Scottish success

There is racing action from north of the border on Wednesday with a bumper eight-race card taking place at Perth, beginning with a maiden hurdle contest at 13:48 and finishing with a handicap hurdle race at 17:32.

Among our three selections is a mare that looks capable of striking for trainer Lucinda Russell following a six-month absence from the track.

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

13:48 - Mary Stanford @ 5/1

The opening race on the card is the Class 4 Welcome To The Perth Festival Maiden Hurdle, which will see 12 runners battling it out over the 2m 4f 35y trip.

Kevin's Pride looks like a promising sort and will be expected to put in another strong effort after three runner-up finishes in a row, but it could be worth taking a chance on the Lucinda Russell-trained Mary Stanford to get the job done.

The six-year-old looked sharp when finishing second at Hexham in October last year in a mares' maiden over 20.1 furlongs, ending up just shy of two lengths behind Rockola Vogue, who has gone on to strike at Musselburgh since.

Mary Stanford has not been seen for six months but she is respected with more improvement expected and is fancied to pick up the win in Scotland.

14:48 - Horaces Pearl @ 15/2

Race number three is the Listed National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle and 14 runners will be vying for glory over 2m 7f 207y, with the smart prospect Mister Meggit likely to garner plenty of attention.

Trained by Jonjo & AJ O'Neill, the seven-year-old won at Doncaster and Aintree in 2024 and put in a promising display when taking fourth in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices' Hurdle.

However, it may be worth taking Mister Meggit on with Horaces Pearl, who made it five victories in a row when landing the Class 3 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle at Newbury in February.

Romping to a five-and-a-half-length win that day, the seven-year-old was a little disappointing when surrendering his unbeaten record in Grade 1 company at Aintree earlier this month.

Horaces Pearl is back up in trip for this outing and that should bring about an improvement. He can bounce back with a sixth victory.

17:00 - Maggies Boy @ 15/2

The penultimate race at Perth is the Division 1 Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle and there will be a field of 11 going down to post for the event over 2m 7f 207y.

Olly Murphy's Henrysbrotherjack will be a dangerous contender after returning to winning ways last time out at Bangor in February, while Wee Alki is another that could put in a strong showing.

However, preference is for the Jennie Candlish-trained Maggies Boy, who disappointed in his first four starts before finishing runner-up at Sedgefield in March on handicap debut.

Improvement was expected at Stratford last time out, only for the six-year-old to be badly hampered at the end of the back straight and then colliding with the rail before crossing the line in ninth.

There are several mitigating factors for that effort and Maggies Boy looks capable of producing a better run at Perth.

Horse Racing Tips from Betfred Insights.