Day 2 Review and Day 3 Preview Perth Festival 2026

Preview of Day 3

BUSTY BOY attempts to go one better than last year in the £30,000 QuinnBet Highland National on the final day of the Perth Festival.

Trained in Dumfriesshire by Daragh Bourke, he was only pipped by a length and a quarter twelve months ago by Fairlawn Flyer.

The likely favourite, Fever Dream, was a comfortable winner at Worcester in March and has been first and second in his two previous trips to the Scone venue with both those runs coming over hurdles. 

The other Scottish runner in the 3m 6f marathon is Breeze Of Wind, trained near Selkirk by Stuart Coltherd. First-time blinkers have been added to the usual tongue-tie as he tries to build on a close third at Kelso 34-days ago.

And recent Sedgefield winner Stratagem makes his first appearance at Perth for Mickey Bowen with Shane Fenelon in the saddle.

Soon-to-be champion trainer Dan Skelton will fancy his chances with Coumeenoole in the Perth Racecourse Racing & Events Handicap Hurdle. He has been raised 9lbs for a breakthrough Rules success at Bangor on the last day of March.

 

Review of Day 2

The Bowen brothers took centre stage at Perth on Thursday when they produced a dead-heat for the second time in their careers.

With Sean aboard American Mike and James riding Statuario, they were inseparable as the flashed across the line in the Join Racing TV Now Handicap Chase.

Sean said: “We also dead-heated at Cheltenham in December, 2024 in a hurdle race and I might have won this one if James hadn’t knocked my whip out of my hand!”

His brother added: “I did that on purpose! It’s incredible as I said when had the first one that it would definitely never happen again.”

Gregor Walkinshaw recorded his first winner as a professional when Inis Oirr landed the Every Race Live On Racing TV Conditonal Jockeys’ Handicap Chase.

He had previously won twice over course and distance in hunter chase company as an amateur rider on his own horse Shanroe Street in 2023 and 2024.