A competitive staying handicap hurdle where proven stamina, current wellbeing and suitability to Perth’s sharp but fair track are more important than raw ratings alone.

Race Assessment

Going Suitability

Going is officially good. This places emphasis on:

Horses proven over staying trips on sound surfaces.

Those able to travel and quicken rather than merely grind.


Strong positives:

Maillot Blanc

Creadan Grace

Leader Wing

Dalileo

Watchoutitscookie


Field Size Suitability

With 14 runners:

Hold-up performers may require luck.

Consistent racers who hold a position can gain an advantage.


Potential traffic concerns:

Leader Wing

Reagrove Lord

Myfavouritesister


Forecast Pace

Likely pace looks honest rather than frantic.

Possible pace angles:

Our Girl Sal has made the running before.

Maillot Blanc races prominently.

Shighness can sit handy.


This should suit:

Maillot Blanc

Creadan Grace

Leader Wing


Draw Bias

Not applicable over hurdles.

Pace/Position Interaction

Perth often rewards horses that maintain position turning for home rather than those coming from a long way back.

Positive:

Maillot Blanc

Creadan Grace


Slight concern:

Reagrove Lord

Myfavouritesister


Class Suitability

Most are exposed Class 5 performers.

Well treated or competitive:

Leader Wing

Creadan Grace

Reagrove Lord

Maillot Blanc


Track Suitability

Course winners:

Maillot Blanc (won this race last year)

Stiletto (C&D winner)

Dalileo (three Perth wins)

Burgundy Man (Perth winner over fences)


Perth specialists deserve respect.

Distance Suitability

Strong stayers:

Creadan Grace

Leader Wing

Maillot Blanc

Dalileo


Question marks:

Breaking Ground (first attempt at this sort of trip)

Burgundy Man returning to hurdles


Temperament Suitability

Reliable:

Maillot Blanc

Leader Wing

Dalileo


Less reliable:

Shighness

Jakana

Burgundy Man


Trainer/Jockey Angles

Dan Skelton / Harry Skelton

Obvious major positive.

New yard, wind operation, retains ability.


Gordon Elliott

Sends only one.

James Smith’s 5lb claim useful.


Sean Bowen

Significant booking for Stiletto.


Have We Weighted The Race Correctly?

Yes, but a few factors deserve extra emphasis:

1. Perth course form matters greatly here.


2. Stamina at a genuine 3m is crucial.


3. Leader Wing’s trainer switch and wind surgery may unlock improvement.


4. Reagrove Lord is potentially overlooked after returning from a 400-day absence.


5. Our Girl Sal returns from a year off and requires market scrutiny.




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Runner Ratings (Out of 10)

1. Leader Wing (P) – 8.8/10

Strong staying handicap form, new stable, wind surgery, top jockey booking. Hasn’t won over hurdles but this looks a very realistic opportunity. Promising profile for new connections.

2. Maillot Blanc – 8.5/10

Defending race winner. Arrives in form and handles conditions perfectly. Carries top weight but extremely solid.

3. Our Girl Sal – 6.5/10

Capable if retaining ability. First run for new yard after a year off. Market highly informative.

4. Creadan Grace (p) – 8.4/10

Progressive staying mare. Strong Irish handicap form and receives useful claim. Major player.

5. Stiletto – 7.0/10

Course-and-distance winner. Dangerous if rediscovering 2025 form but recent efforts have been disappointing.

6. Myfavouritesister – 5.8/10

Maiden but has bits of Perth form. Place possibilities only.

7. Reagrove Lord – 7.4/10

Well handicapped. Encouraging comeback after 400 days. Interesting outsider with scope to improve second run back.

8. Dalileo – 6.9/10

Veteran Perth specialist. Often improves second run after a break. Each-way claims.

9. Burgundy Man – 5.5/10

Good Perth chase win last year but hurdle record remains a concern.

10. Shighness – 5.3/10

Capable on best form but unreliable and recent jumping issues are concerning.

11. Watchoutitscookie – 6.8/10

Consistent enough and weighted to compete. Each-way possibilities.

12. Luminaries – 4.8/10

Four-time hurdle winner but recent profile weak.

13. Jakana – 3.8/10

Needs major revival.

14. Breaking Ground (P) – 3.5/10

Handicap debut and trip increase could help, but evidence so far is limited. Promising only in the loosest sense.


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Strongest Contenders

Leader Wing (P)

New Dan Skelton recruit.

Wind surgery since last run.

Proven stayer.

Consistent ratings profile.

Still relatively unexposed at staying trips.


Maillot Blanc

Defending champion.

Arrives in excellent form.

Loves good ground and Perth.


Creadan Grace (p)

Progressive Irish mare.

Strong recent Punchestown fourth.

Stays thoroughly.



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Main Dangers

Reagrove Lord

Second run after a long absence.

Career-low mark.

C&D placed form.


Stiletto

C&D winner.

Sean Bowen booked.

Capable if bouncing back.


Dalileo

Perth specialist.

Well treated on old form.



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Interesting Outsiders

Reagrove Lord

Looks the most interesting at bigger odds.

Dalileo

Track specialist whose profile fits a second-start-after-break revival.

Watchoutitscookie

Consistent enough to sneak into the frame.


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Timeform/Profile Notes

Leader Wing – consistent staying handicap form; wind surgery and stable switch are notable positives.

Maillot Blanc – arrives after a dead-heat win and has previous race-winning credentials.

Creadan Grace – solid Irish handicap efforts in stronger races than many of these have contested.

Reagrove Lord – comeback run better than bare result suggests.


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Each-Way Angles (14 Runners)

1. Reagrove Lord


2. Dalileo


3. Watchoutitscookie




—

Private Tissue

Horse Tissue

Leader Wing 11/4
Maillot Blanc 9/2
Creadan Grace 5/1
Reagrove Lord 10/1
Stiletto 12/1
Dalileo 14/1
Watchoutitscookie 16/1
Our Girl Sal 16/1
Myfavouritesister 20/1
Burgundy Man 25/1
Shighness 25/1
Luminaries 33/1
Jakana 40/1
Breaking Ground 66/1



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Summary

The race revolves around Leader Wing, Maillot Blanc and Creadan Grace.

Leader Wing looks the most likely improver. The switch to the Skelton yard, wind surgery and his established staying form make him the percentage call.

Maillot Blanc is the safest option from a consistency perspective and has already won this race.

Creadan Grace brings solid Irish staying handicap form and should be competitive throughout.

ChatGPT Smart Plays

Win Bet

Leader Wing (P)

The strongest combination of proven ability, suitability to conditions, trainer upgrade and potential improvement.

Each-Way Saver

Reagrove Lord

Well handicapped, likely to improve for his comeback run and has enough staying form to outrun market expectations in a race where several rivals have questions to answer.