bet365 Gold Cup Racing Preview

Last year’s first and second, Statuario and Hang In There , are set to clash again in the bet365 Perth Gold Cup.

Twelve months ago the pair produced a grandstand finish for the big crowd with the former prevailing by a neck in the £34,000 three miler.

Hang In There, trained in Wiltshire by Emma Lavelle - and so far her only runner at the Scone track - again has top-weight and is ridden by Gavin Sheehan, while four-time course scorer Statuario is once more partnered by Sean Bowen for his brother Mickey.

The newly-crowned champion will be bidding for a fourth Perth Gold Cup as he was also successful in 2023 on Ballykeel and in 2018 aboard Henllan Harri. 

During his championship campaign, Perth supplied Bowen with 14 winners with only Uttoxeter (16) being a more fruitful venue. 

He said: “It has always been a decent track for me and I actually rode more winners there in the two seasons before I became champion! You obviously need the right kind of horses to start with and I’ve been lucky to get on them.

“Statuario clearly loves the place and we’d be hopeful of a big run again as it’s a good price to aim for. He nearly got his fifth course win at the Perth festival in April and it was brave effort to finish second.” 

Bowen’s other brother, James, could present the main threat as he rides Punchestown festival runner-up Riaan for Perth’s winning-most trainer Gordon Elliott.

The bumper-eight-race card also features the £20,000 bet365 Perth Silver Cup, a handicap chase over two miles.

This time it could be the turn of three-time champion Brian Hughes who rides Salamanca Bay on his debut for the Laura Morgan stable.

Nick Alexander doesn’t usually have a lot to do with summer jumping so his runners, including Mack The Man in the two mile handicap hurdle, are worth a second look.