'He scores highly on course form and will like the ground' - analysis and quotes for Perth's feature handicap chase

The progressive Olivers Travels, who seeks a hat-trick following good-ground wins at Worcester, will need a career-best but could prove up to the task if he can maintain his rate of improvement.

Raised 15lb for those two victories, he has looked a much more focused performer since cheekpieces were fitted, but he does have to prove he likes Perth as much as Worcester and he has been beaten in two previous visits to the Scottish track, including when sent off 10-11 favourite for a maiden hurdle last August.

Gordon Elliott boasts a fine record at Perth, having sent out 35 winners from 103 runners over the last five seasons for a 34 per cent strike-rate and punters who backed them all to a £1 level stake would have recorded a profit of £25.51.

The trainer is represented by the six-year-old Sea Aster, who remains relatively unexposed after just five starts over fences. She won easily at Clonmel in June, but looked beaten when a last-fence Wexford faller last time out.

The Evan Williams-trained The Gypsy Davey, who travels up from Glamorgan, is admirably consistent. He faced a tough task at Cartmel on his penultimate start attempting to give 10lb to improving local Cuzco Du Mathan, form which has been franked since.

Wasdell Dundalk, comfortable winner of this race last year off 103, is now 13lb higher, but he scores highly on course form, will like the ground and is likely to have been primed for this £15,000 prize once again.

He ran a blinder two starts ago when third to Cap Du Nord, which suggests he is capable of winning off a mark of 116. You can put a line through his last run at Cartmel as he didn't appear to handle the very testing underfoot conditions that day.
Analysis by Richard Birch

Going and weather

The going was described officially as good to soft, good in places on Sunday but clerk of the course Matthew Taylor warned that could change to good, good to soft in places by the time of racing.

"The forecast has changed," he said. "We were originally due to get 5mm-8mm of rain on Sunday but now we're expecting a maximum of 2mm. We're watering the home straight because that is a different soil pattern - it is good and getting quicker, whereas the back straight is good to soft."

What they say

Michael Bowen, joint-trainer of Olivers Travels
He's been in good form and should be suited by Perth even though he has been beaten there twice – he goes well right handed and this is a nice, galloping track. He's another 8lb higher but he's from a late-developing family and is improving all the time. His jumping was great last time and if he runs like that again he should go close.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Sea Aster
She's okay after her fall last time. She's in good form, she likes the trip and should run well.

Stuart Coltherd, trainer of Universal Folly
We haven't had him long and this is his first run since June but he's had a break and been freshened up. He's working well at home.

Evan Williams, The Gypsy Davey
He's been running very creditably but he's found one too good and his running style helps other horses as he does the donkey work and sets it up for them. He's run well on the track and stayed the trip last time. He's up in grade in a competitive race.

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