THE PERTH FESTIVAL RACE MEETING 20TH 21ST AND 22ND APRIL 2005
My Will
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11,500 racegoers enjoyed glorious sunshine and three days of top-class jump racing at a memorable 2005 Perth Festival at Scone Palace Park from 20-22 April.
Paul Nicholls (four winners) and Martin Pipe (three victories), engaged in the battle royal for the jump trainers' crown, and Grand National-winning jockey Ruby Walsh (three winners) captured the headlines.
Three-time Irish champion Walsh (25) excelled in winning on the Nicholls-trained My Will (7/2) and Almost Broke (5/2 jt fav), scoring by a head and neck respectively for a 15/1 brace in the S.B.J. Nelson Steavenson Novices' Chase and williamhillpoker.com Handicap Chase on the 20th.
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Venetia Williams' Kock de La Vesvre (11/2), ridden by Sam Thomas, repeated his 2004 victory in the Betdaq Perth Festival Handicap Chase.
"He dug really deep for me and battled really well at the finish," said 20-year-old Thomas following his three-quarter length defeat of the gallant Grand National fourth It Takes Time.
Martin Pipe's Commercial Flyer (Evens fav) and 7/4 fav won twice at the meeting under Tom Malone and the David Johnson-owned six-year-old is surely destined for major honours over fences in the 2005-06 season.
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Kid'Z'Play
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Somerset trainer John Ryall's Sir Frosty (7/1) and Joe Tizzard lifted the Press & Journal Highland National in front of a bumper 4000 crowd on the 22nd.
"He travelled superbly well for me and when he led two out, he pricked his ears," said 25-year-old Tizzard.
Robert Bewley's Aberdare (7/1), Jim Goldie's Kid'z'play (8/1), Lucy Normile's Trisons Star (33/1), Harriet Graham's Lofty Leader (10/1) and Susan Bradburne's Powerlove (12/1) sealed a tartan five-timer at the three-day fixture.
Kid'z'play secured Graham Lee's first century of winners and Nicky Richards' Muckle Flugga (5/1) won for Dr Ken Fraser to give the Penrith trainer his 50th success of the season.
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Perth Racecourse, Scone Palace Park, Perth PH2
6BB
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