Gordon Brown – Race Reporter
Gordon has a wealth of experience of racing through his background in the written and broadcast media. His current principle role is reporting and supporting the scene in Scotland on Racing TV and relaying the latest news with Scottish angles.
Maurice Barnes is looking forward to running Brian Hughes-ridden Saint Arvans for just the second time at Perth on Thursday.
The Cumbrian raider, who only cost £1,000 at the sales in 2019, faces five rivals in the Secure Air Parks Edinburgh Airport Parking Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
On his previous visit to the Scone track, in May last year, he finished a close third over hurdles to Minella Trump, who went on to win eight of his next nine starts.
Barnes said: “He’s been in good form and is very consistent. Two miles or two and a half miles is what he wants on nice ground and Brian was the fifth different won to have won on him!”
Scots-born Alan King is represented by Grisbi de Berce, third to Saint Arvans at Cartmel last month, as he bids to saddles his first winner at the track. Based in Wiltshire, he has had three previous course runners without success and Carlisle and Musselburgh are the only other British jumps venues where he has yet to record a winner.
Gordon Elliott is the most successful trainer of all time at Perth and he has six runners as he closes in on 200 winners at the track.
The Co Meath trainer has recent course winner Ash Tree Meadow up against Saint Arvans and company and begins the seven-race card with Noble Birth in the opening Generate Income From Horizon Parking Maiden Hurdle.