Linda Perratt talks us through her team she is priming for when the new season gets under way.
Our Friends in Scotland - Linda Perratt
Stable star: Hard Nut
Horse to follow : Grandads Best Girl
Handicapper to follow: Retirement Beckons
Beignet
She’s an ex-Richard Hannon filly who ran for us once last season. She actually ran well in a Musselburgh nursery, finishing fifth but not beaten that far. We subsequently found that she’d picked up an injury. She’s back to full health now and we’d be hopeful of her running some nice races once the season gets going.
Chinese Spirit
He had a really good season for us last year and was extremely consistent. He hit the frame a good few times and managed to get his head in front at Hamilton in June under Ben Robinson. He’s a really likeable horse who I hope will do well for us again this year.
Grandads Best Girl
She only had three runs last year and encouragingly her last run was the best. After two runs at Musselburgh, she obviously learnt a lot, as we took her to Newcastle where she ran a really good race, finishing third beaten just over two lengths. She’s had a nice break and we’ll look at some handicaps against her own age at places like Hamilton.
Hard Nut
He’s another former Richard Hannon horse who is an exciting recruit to the yard. Looking back at his form he was a nice winner at Newbury in the summer in a novice race and then ran some really good races at the back-end of the season including finishing fifth in a really competitive York nursery. He’s rated 85 which gives us options and we're really looking forward to getting him out on the track.
Indiaro
He’s a home-bred who ran well at Hamilton, finishing fourth in a novice event. Unfortunately, he picked up an injury to his back at Ayr and wasn’t quite the same afterwards. He’s had a good break since and has come back looking really well. It would be lovely to get a winner for his owner, the Hon Miss Heather Galbraith.
Lucky Violet
Had a smashing season in 2018, winning three races and being placed a good few times. Although she was unable to get her head in front last year she still ran some good races including a second at Newcastle back in November. She loves fast ground and although she’s not getting any younger, I still hope she will be able to get her head in front this season.
Popping Corks
She had a good season for us last year, winning at Hamilton and being placed four times including a second at Hamilton, where she tends to runs well. She likes soft ground, so again I’d be keen to follow the rain. I’d be hopeful of getting a couple of wins out of her this season.
Retirement Beckons
He was wonderfully consistent last year. He won twice at Hamilton and Ayr on totally different ground. He was also placed six times including being beaten a nose at Ayr. He seems to be improving with age, so I’d be very hopeful that he will be able to have another good season once we get going.
Unnamed two-year-old
We have a nice strong filly by Bated Breath who we’ve done a little bit of cantering with. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for her.
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