Tap Night fancied to waltz to success at Perth

Tap Night has been given a chance by the handicapper and looks to have leading claims of landing the feature race at Perth today (4.20) for local trainer Lucinda Russell.

The gelding developed into a useful novice chaser last season, finishing 3 1/4 length second to Captain Conan in a Grade 1 contest at Aintree off an official rating of 145 and a very good second Radjahni Express at Ayr off a revised rating of 153.

The seven-year-old has generally been disappointing this season, but has one piece of form which stands out in the context of today’s contest.

That run came at Cheltenham back in January, where Tap Night stayed on well to finish a 6 3/4 length third of 10 to Wishfull Thinking in a class 1 handicap.

The son of Pleasant Tap now gets into this class 2 affair off the same mark of 142, and a repeat of that effort would make him the one they all have to beat.

Russell also holds a big chance of landing the 2m 110y handicap hurdle (2.50) with Momkinzain.

The seven-year-old showed improved form over hurdles to land two handicaps over course and distance last summer, and went on to finish in the frame on his next three starts prior to disappointing when last seen in action at Musselburgh back in December.

Connections then wisely decided to give Momkinzain a well-deserved break, and off a mark just 5lb higher than when last successful the son of Rahy looks sure to go well in the hands of excellent 5lb claimer Craig Nichol.

Nigel Twiston-Davies is a trainer that loves to plunder this meeting, and Hollow Blue Sky boasts leading credential of providing him with a winner in the novices’ handicap chase (3.20).

The gelding showed improved form when scoring by 12 lengths in a class 4 contest at Huntingdon, and backed that up with a solid third of 19 in a class 2 contest at Haydock five days ago off an 8lb higher rating.

The seven-year-old now gets into this slightly lower grade 3m contest off the same mark of 117, and that makes the son of Turgeon look weighted to get back on the winning trail.