Horse Racing Tips
Perth Festival 2026: Steve Mullington’s Best Bets On Highland National Day
William Hill News tipster Steve Mullington had a couple of winners on Wednesday, and he hopes to carry his momentum into the final day of Perth’s April Festival.
The eight-race card builds towards the feature contest of the week, the £30,000 Highland National Handicap Steeple Chase.
This stamina-testing highlight is a true crowd and punter favourite, with the Highland National regularly producing top class finishes and unforgettable stories on the Scottish track.
Perth Tips Day 3:
- 1.30 – Mr Maximillian
- 2.05 – Stratagem (NAP)
- 2.40 – Gwennie May Star
- 3.12 – Bo Cruz
- 3.47 – Go Dante (NB)
- 4.25 – Pepite De Saphir
- 5.00 – Kap De Triomphe
- 5.35 – Kill Vanhowe
Our horse racing expert Steven Mullington marks the full card:
1.30 – 2m Novices’ Hurdle
Tor Side Racing-owned MR MAXIMILLIAN will have learned plenty from his racecourse debut in a bumper at Wetherby.
I was in attendance that day, and the five-year-old was making late headway in the piece after being held up early. He should shape much better with some flights in front of him.
2.05 – 3m6½f Highland National Handicap Chase
STRATAGEM (NAP) won at Sedgefield in early April under jockey Shane Fenelon and the pair are reunited once more for this marathon event.
The drubbing he handed out came on the back of a very good run in a hotly contested Veterans’ race at Doncaster, which is the best form on show in this line-up, this term.
2.40 – 3m2½f Handicap Hurdle
Staying is the name of the game in this contest and GWENNIE MAY STAR has already shown his liking for this kind of trip.
His first run for Christian Williams at Bangor a month ago was highly satisfactory, but you could tell he was crying out for further that day.
3.12 – 3m Handicap Chase
BO CRUZ is the stand out runner in this race in terms of consistency and he should be a factor once more.
Donald McCain’s horses are going well at the moment and this seven-year-old has just had a well-deserved one month break. He’s also a nice each-way price too.
3.47 – 2m4f Handicap Hurdle
This is the lowest class/grade GO DANTE (NB) has competed in for some time and I would like to think the ten-year-old can make hay under Sean Bowen.
This is his second run after wind surgery too which is often a good statistic to follow.
4.25 – 2m4f Handicap Hurdle (Div I)
The mare PEPITE DE SAPHIR has been off the track for over 12 months but returns today for her new trainer Rebecca Menzies.
Menzies won’t be taking any chances with the six-year-old, and under the decent claimer Charlie Maggs, I can see Pepite de Saphir going well at decent odds in our sports betting market.
5.00 – 2m4f Handicap Hurdle (Div II)
KAP DE TRIOMPHE showed enough at Warwick last time to be a live contender in a Class 5 such as this.
The six-year-old finished just 3½ lengths behind multiple scorer El Rojo Grande at the end of March, which will be form good enough to take this particular prize.
5.35 – 2m National Hunt Flat Race
Irish raider KILL VANHOWE can make the journey worth while by landing the closing bumper for the Tony Martin stable.
This Ivanhowe-gelding is pretty experienced already as a former young pointer in Ireland, and will have much more racing knowledge than most of his opponents.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
