Horse Racing Tips
Perth Festival 2026: Olly Murphy Runner Tops Steve Mullington’s Best Bets On Wednesday
Held at the historic Old Scone course, every year the Perth Festival attracts leading trainers and jockeys from across the UK and Ireland and William Hill News preview the opening day of the 2026 meeting.
With over £146,000 in prize money on offer, Wednesday traditionally features the highest-quality contests of the meeting, with the prestigious £40,000 Gold Castle Novice Listed Hurdle (2.40pm) being one of the standout races of the early Scottish season.
Perth Tips Day 1:
- 1.40 – Expensive Emotion
- 2.10 – Barlovento (NAP)
- 2.40 – Sept Etoiles
- 3.10 – Apple Away (NB)
- 3.40 – Sunnyvilla
- 4.10 – Atlantic City
- 4.40 – Jeteye
- 5.12 – Kells Priory
Our horse racing expert Steven Mullington marks your Day One card:
1.40 – 2m4f Maiden Hurdle
Adrian Keatley knows the time of day when it comes to unleashing a relatively unknown horse, making his mare EXPENSIVE EMOTION of great interest in this maiden hurdle.
A winner of a 3m PTP at Lingstown in Ireland back in November, she’s clearly going to know what her task in hand is.
2.10 – 2m4f Novices’ Handicap Chase
Sean Bowen and Olly Murphy simply cannot be ignored when they team up and their runner BARLOVENTO (NAP) looks a good bet here.
The winner of a similar race at Kempton on Boxing Day, the seven-year-old should be bang there in the mix.
2.40 – 3m Listed Novices’ Hurdle
Gordon Elliott’s SEPT ETOILES has hit peak form at exactly at the right time and is a major player in this Listed affair.
Why he went off at 80/1 at Fairyhouse last time is beyond me as he is clearly Listed class, and he can put it up to the favourite.
3.10 – 3m Listed Mares’ Chase
I really think Panic Attack is showing the signs of a long season, so I will be taking her on with APPLE AWAY (NB) who is a course and distance winner.
Last seen finishing third at Carlisle in November, the Old Gold racing-owned mare can go well fresh and can seriously challenge the Skelton-trained runner.
3.40 – 2m Handicap Chase
The Nicky Richards-trained SUNNYVILLA has run some solid races this season and should be involved in the finish today under Danny McMenamin.
The lightly-raced veteran can make it 6 wins from 23 starts against the younger legs in this heat.
4.10 – 2m4f Mares’ Handicap Hurdle
ATLANTIC CITY ran a nice race at Haydock on her UK debut the other day for the Olly Murphy yard and can give Diva Racing something to cheers about on Wednesday.
The experienced James King takes the ride and claims a useful 3lbs too.
4.40 – 3m Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
JETEYE ran a cracker of a race behind the ill-fated Yummy at Wetherby last time and the nine-year-old can build upon that solid effort.
He’s an attractive looking each-way price in our sports betting.
5.12 – 3m Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
The second division of this amateurs’ event can go the way of the top-weighted KELLS PRIORY.
Prominent in a similar event one moth ago at Wincanton, James King is probably one of the best riders in the field which will help matters.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
