Golden day on course

May 30 2008 by Alison Anderson

THE team at Perth Racecourse are gearing up for their flagship day of the 2008 season – Perth Gold Cup day – this Sunday afternoon.

With a good weather forecast, some quality horses on the card and a variety of non-racing attractions, the scene is set for a great day out.

The main race is the Langvale Homes Perth Gold Cup Handicap Steeplechase with a total prize fund of £25,000. This is their fifth year of Langvale Homes’ sponsorship at Perth Racecourse and their third year supporting the most prestigious day of the season.

There will again be a Hobby Horse Grand National prior to racing with children of 10 and under taking part on the racecourse itself. Any child wanting to take part will need to contribute a small donation to compete for the Hobby Horse Silver Cup. All funds collected will be given to the charity MacMillan Cancer Care.

Special four-legged guest will be champion Highland Pony, Trowan Moulin, owned and bred by Robert Davidson from Carse of Trowan, Crieff.

Moulin, the ridden champion at the Royal Highland Show last year and Best of Breed at Olympia in December, will do a show prior to racing on Sunday and then lead the Parade of runners for the Langvale Homes City of Perth Gold Cup later in the day at 3.50pm.

Racecourse manager Sam Morshead said: “'I am delighted that we will have the opportunity to see our local breed champion beside some champions of the Thoroughbred breed. It will be a wonderful contrast. The Blairgowrie, Rattray and District Pipe Band, 18 strong, will add to the pre-race atmosphere while children will be well catered for with a range of activities, including face painting, ceramics and bouncy castles in the centre of the course.

“We are indebted to our main sponsors Langvale Homes for their support and look forward to another special Gold Cup Day.”

The feature race is being keenly contested by many of the top trainers from the south, who will be pitting their jumpers against an Irish contingent and northern-trained horses.

Top weight in the Gold Cup is David Pipe-trained Bueno Vista. Snoopy Loopy from the Welsh yard of Peter Bowen carries second top weight, and equal third in the weights list are horses trained in the south of England by Phillip Hobbs and Venetia Williams.

Irish runners include the strongly-fancied Newton Bridge, trained by Gordon Elliott. Local favourite Catch the Perk is entered as a Gold Cup runner by Lucinda Russell’s Milnathort yard.

The racecourse ground staff have been watering during the recent dry spell and this week’s rain has also helped produce good, safe jumping ground.

“We had a nice drop of rain on Thursday night so that will please the trainers, which is very important,” commented Sam. “There are going to be a couple of additional beer tents just in case of rain, but it looks like it’s going to stay fair.”

Gates will open at 11.30am, with the first race off at 2.20pm.