Perth Festival Wednesday with Bollin Matilda

Perth 24th April : 4.55 pm 3m 0-105 Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle (Class 5)

After her thrilling victory at Newcastle 11 days ago, Bollin Matilda makes a quick (-ish) reappearance at Perth today in the closing race of that track's 3 day fixture. She is up 4lb for that win.
And as long as that dreaded 'bounce' factor doesn't come into play, the mare should be able to give another good account of herself.

Probably her stiffest competition will come from Olly Murphy's Heard That who is trying this 3 mile trip for the first time. First time under Rules, that is, for this ex-Irish Pointer was a £23k purchase last May after finishing 2nd sandwiched between a couple of subsequent hurdle winners over the Fairyhouse Point-to-Point course.

However, coming in for the ride for our yard is Murray Dodd, a young man who used to work and ride out at Dodlands until a few seasons ago, when leaving Hawick to seek his fortune in the south. And just to prove it, here is a photo of Murray, albeit from about a decade ago.

Good luck Mr Dodd, and also to owner-breeder Callum, another who worked at Dodlands as a teenager.......