3:50 Perth Tips

Pacemaker, Malangen, will go out on his shield again and is an each way bet, but surely something will catch him. The strong Elliot yard has a first time in a handicap runner but he has shown nothing so far. The Murphy yard brings a runner without that didn't win in 6 point to points and is also a handicap debutant. That leaves in-from Betteryouthanme from the more local Mike Smith stable that had a recent flat winner at Musselburgh. Against a lack of evidence elsewhere, that is the percentage call.

He is aggressively handicapped on his best form and possesses a massive speed and class advantage over this field. Crucially, he is a dedicated front-runner mapped to get an uncontested lead in a race severely lacking early speed. He should be able to dictate his own fractions, put his inferior rivals under pressure swinging for home, and exploit his significant leniency in the weights without being harassed.

Bayonetta ran well here two starts ago and is dropped 1 lb since that race. She ran really well last time, finishing 2nd. Expecting a good run here at big odds.

Lizzie Quinlan and Sean Quinlan have come north to Perth with Fourofakind, who is handicapped to be of significant interest with a rating mark of 97. Conditions look perfect. The pace of the race can be to his liking, with Malangen in the field, which could see Fourofakind being a finisher.

TOP FLIGHT CENTURY could bounce back at a circuit where he's got good previous form at (competitive at least, finishing in the top five in all five runs here). Only a pound above last winning mark now, which was on Boxing Day at Sedgefield and could be one that reverses the fortunes soon. Big return if that's in this race.