Less races meant less runners but it was no less competitive on day two of the festival. Pre-racing festivities included a visit to the RSPB site at Loch Of Lowes, which enabled two very important questions in the overall search for the meaning of life to be answered. 1: Who would win in a fight between a crow and an osprey? Well it was the osprey, as expected, but the crow definitely gave the impression of sounding out the defences, before finding a weak spot and devising a plan. 2) Are female deer attracted to albino stags? Yes, because the albino stag had a very healthy harem. And he did have a Stirling Albion tattoo. Also attempts to carry Birnam Wood to Dunsinane were foiled by not finding the latter on a map, and the excessive amount of wood at Birnam.

Attheraces.com Best Odds Novice Hurdle [2m ½f]

1: South O’The Border     2: Smart Street     3: Little Bob

Winner owned: Concertina Racing, trained: Venetia Williams, ridden: Sam Thomas

The better than usual prize money tempted out a better than usual field for an otherwise standard novice hurdle, but on the final bend only five were left in realistic contention. South O’The Border nosed in front approaching the final flight, only to blunder and be briefly headed by Smart Street, who went down with quite a fight. Little Bob keeps running well but has not got off of the mark. The danger is that he is too high in the ratings for a handicap and will keep finding one too nippy in novice races. Rinnwood Lass ran much better than on her debut at Plumpton, only losing fourth late on, to Palomar, who pulled far too hard to be able to do himself justice.

Bill and Bunny Cadogan Trophy Handicap Chase [2m]

1: Terlan     2: Lofty Leader     3: Guymur

Winner owned: I Bell, trained: Peter Monteith, ridden: Wilson Renwick

Peter Monteith fielded three in this race, and the outsider of them won, although his credentials for two miles on soft ground were a lot better than a 16/1 price implied. The crescendo of silence that greeted his cruise up the run-in suggested that the betting may have dissuaded quite a few potential backers. Despite being a stone above his last winning rating, Terlan had won a novice in between and after giving the oppo a hefty stuffing here, another voyage up the weights is on the cards. Lofty Leader was yet another from an out of form yard to run with encouragement, pinching second in the final yard from an exhausted Guymur. Having warmed up for this with a hurdle win, Shares managed only fourth after having been in the firing line most of the way. All in all, it was probably a decent race and some of the also rans might turn up some more competitive efforts against weaker opponents in the coming weeks.

EBF Future Champions Novice Hurdle [3m ½f]

1: Here’s Johnny     2: Major Oak     3: Jack The Blaster

Winner owned: Big Boys Toys Partnership, trained: Victor Dartnall, ridden: Tom O’Brien

A brave boast in the race title, but it might not be so far from the truth in time. Here’s Johnny finished miles in front of Sir Jimmy Shand at Cheltenham, but it was presumably deluded jingoism that made Here’s Johnny a much longer price until the money flooded in. He won, but surprise package Major Oak tried hard and prevented it turning into a lap of honour. In his last race, there was an enquiry into Jack The Blaster’s narrow defeat, where it was explained he was a tricky customer who had to hit the front as late as possible. Today that was deemed to be two from home, and as per the previous info provided by connections, he wandered about and jumped awkwardly when it happened. In fairness, he did not seem to see out the three miles either. Young Albert seemed to last the distance but was a bit short of toe. He should make his name as a chaser. Back in fifth, Lucy Lamplighter ran well beyond what she had managed before and if this was not a fluke, she should not be long in opening her account.

Stanjamesuk.com Perth Festival Handicap Chase for the Kilmany Cup [3m]

1: Dream Alliance     2: Lothian Falcon     3: Iron Man     4: Inaro

Winner owned: The Alliance Partnership, trained: Philip Hobbs, ridden: Tom O’Brien

Course specialist Kock De La Vesvre did not find his recent modest form rejuvenated by a visit to his favourite venue, and that helped Dream Alliance turn what looked a fiercely hard race into one of the easiest wins of the week. At the start of the season he looked the sort of horse who had retained a good rating by avoiding the biggest races, and although this was win number two, he has not swept all before him. Despite creeping up the handicap, Lothian Falcon keeps coming home first or second, but at some point that sequence must come to an end. Unconvincing chaser Iron Man avoiding dashing his rider to the ground for long enough to end up third. Rather like the earlier chase, some of the runners will seek out easier openings soon.

Weatherbys Chase Champion Stayers Hunter Chase for the Fife Hunt Cup [3m 7f]

1: Waking Ned     2: Lord Who     3: Iron Express

Winner owned: Kirbys, Fawcett and Holian, trained: P Kirby, ridden: Paul Callaghan

For much of the marathon trip this looked a fairly run of the mill long distance hunter chase (can there be such a thing?), but out of the blue it produced one of the finishes of the week. Lord Who had seized the advantage with a huge jump four out, and Iron Express began to give way on the run-in. This seemed to be the story written, but Waking Ned was aroused from his semi-slumber after the last to charge home and mug Lord Who late on. The winner rider was understandably ecstatic, the placed ones appeared astounded. At least Iron Express ran a bit better than he had been doing under Rules in low grade handicap chases before pointing served to liven his ideas up a bit.

On a day of bad snapping, only the hunter chases going out for the final lap inspired competence. Iron Express leads from Be My Manager, Waking Ned, True Temper, Lord Who, Tufty Hopper and Shanteen Lass

JF Kegs Handicap Hurdle [2m 4½f]

1: Sharp Reply     2: Khasab     3: Aston Lad

Winner owned: Mr HW Turcon, Mrs R Noel Patona & Sir S Dunning, trained: Sue Bradburne, ridden: Mark Bradburne

The last race of day two summed up the festival ethos. An unfathomable, bookie-benefitting handicap, which was won by a horse that was here because connections wanted to be represented at their local course on the big occasion rather than some cunning master plan. Indeed, he was nearly withdrawn when the ground eased. Under pressure at the last, Sharp Reply found Khasab staying on very heartily and the two both had to dig deep on the flat. Aston Lad was on their heels at the final flight but he hung badly on the run-in, when he appeared beaten anyway. Ma Yahab has made the first four in all runs this season and managed to do so again, without giving any great encouragement in the course of it.

Ones to Note

Rinnwood Lass: A big improvement on her debut

Kristiansand: Won a so-so race last year and has not been well handicapped since, he had a very quiet pootle round in the opener.

Lofty Leader: Has only won at two miles, but ran today as if he now wants further

Young Albert: Good run in the three mile novice hurdle augurs well for chasing

Ones to Avoid

Jack The Blaster: Looks a giant of the game, but is an mental pygmy, and although he may well win, some short price setbacks along the way seem inevitable