A southern raider making the long trip north is the stand-out selection of the Daily Star chief tipster as the Perth Festival gets underway
IT’S HARD TO KNOW (2.10, nap) looks easy pickings for punters on day one of the Perth Festival.
Ben Pauling sends the seven-year-old on the long trek north and the journey can pay for itself.
It’s Hard To Know showed plenty of ability in novice hurdles and even ran in the Grade One Challow Hurdle.
He ran okay on his chasing debut at Aintree in December where the ground may have been too soft.
I think today’s track and better surface will suit and he can land the Balnakeilly Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
Nicky Richards’ yard continues in stellar form and SUNNYVILLA (3.40, nb) is fancied to take the Bedmax Capercaillie Handicap Chase.
He won well at Uttoxeter over two miles before failing to stay at Newcastle over half a mile further. Back at 2m, he will be hard to beat.
It will be disappointing if NO DRAMA THIS END (2.40) fails to put his Cheltenham flop behind him in the Listed novice hurdle, while APPLE AWAY (3.10) is a value alternative at 6-1 to the odds-on Panic Attack in the Listed Fair Maid of Perth Mares’ Chase.
OFF THE JURY (1.40) has been found a good opportunity to get off the mark over hurdles, while PURE SIRLOIN (4.40), who has the excellent Heidi Palin in the saddle, will go close if he can build on his latest effort at Hexham.
At Catterick FREE PIC (5.00) looks a stand-out bet if she can repeat her course victory of two weeks ago while VINCE LE PRINCE (3.52) can go one better than his recent second at the track.
Good ground performers should be sought out over the jumps at Ludlow and Taunton.
LADY CARO (5.30) and GASMANI (7.00) both won easily at Taunton on their latest starts and are primed to follow up. At Ludlow the Twiston-Davies team can strike with UN SENS A LA VIE (2.30) and THE EGYPTIAN GINGE (3.00) while PETTY CASH (3.30) will enjoy the ground.
Finally, at Gowran Park, watch for ZEPHRON (7.18) who caught the eye on his latest run.
JASON HEAVEY’S WEDNESDAY TIPS
PERTH
1.40 Off The Jury
2.10 It’s Hard To Know (Nap)
2.40 No Drama This End
3.10 Apple Away
3.40 Sunnyvilla (nb)
4.10 Just An Artist
4.40 Pure Sirloin
5.12 Maura Jeanne
CATTERICK
1.52 Birkenhead
2.22 Rotokura Belle
2.52 Cranachan
3.22 Borjina
3.52 Vince Le Prince
4.25 Yorkshire Glory
5.00 Free Pic (trb)
LUDLOW
2.30 Un Sens A Vie
3.00 The Egyptian Ginge
3.30 Petty Cash
4.00 Shes All Pride
4.30 Meliden Mountain
5.05 Est Illic
TAUNTON
4.53 Kilnew Supreme
5.30 Lady Caro
6.00 Bobbarelli
6.30 Little Lady Lucy
7.00 Gasmani
7.30 Modern Style