SUNDAY SELECTIONS
CURRAGH: 2.20 Gale Force Ten, 2.50 Flying Doha, 3.20 Little Village, 3.50 Sharestan, 4.20 Steel Toe Cap, 4.50 Tibet, 5.20 Rising Wind.
PERTH: 2.10 Hurraboru, 2.40 Rob Conti, 3.10 Kai Broon, 3.40 Noble Scholar, 4.10 AURORAS ENCORE (NAP), 4.40 Locked Inthepocket, 5.10 Piper Hill.
WORCESTER: 2.00 Sams Lad, 2.30 Grand Article, 3.00 Eastlake, 3.30 Lamboro Lad, 4.00 Blue Hills, 4.30 My Viking Bay, 5.00 Aqualung.
DOUBLE: Auroras Encore and Locked Inthepocket
Scottish Grand National runner-up Auroras Encore is fancied to go one place better and defy top-weight in the Aviva City Of Perth Gold Cup.
High-class jumping action is not the usual order of the day in early June, but this three-mile contest has attracted a decent field, which is not a huge surprise given the full prize fund of £30,000.
The Sue Smith-trained Auroras Encore faces no easy task giving upwards of 10lb to each of his opponents, but must have every chance of doing so if reproducing that superb run at Ayr in late-April.
Although the 10-year-old was a big price for the extended four-mile marathon, he had been running some good races previously, finishing third at Sandown before showing his adaptability regarding trip by winning a valuable race at Haydock over two and a half miles.
He was beaten just a head by Ayr specialist Merigo in the Scottish Grand National, giving him 9lb, and was some 15 lengths clear of the remainder.
The rain that has been forecast for the rest of the country looks set to miss Perth, which is good news for Auroras Encore, who appears to excel on a sound surface.
Locked Inthepocket has already registered two victories this year at the Scottish circuit and goes in search of a hat-trick in the Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer Handicap Hurdle.
Trained by Pauline Robson, the eight-year-old was given a three-month break during the winter months and that appears to be paying dividends.
He made a winning return here in late April and then followed up in a more competitive heat a little over three weeks ago.
He is on a career-high mark now but looks certain to go close once again.
Irish bumper winner Piper Hill is another worth an interest on the card as he makes his debut for Donald McCain in the Better Prices On Betfair Mobile Standard Open NH Flat Race.
It is jumping all the way in Britain on Sunday, with National Hunt fare also coming from Worcester.
The Jonjo O'Neill-trained Eastlake has not done much wrong in his first two starts over fences and should complete the hat-trick in the Ladbrokes At The Cross, Worcester Novices' Chase.
The six-year-old was a bumper winner at this venue and also showed a decent level of form over hurdles.
He made a winning start to his new career at Uttoxeter a month ago and showed good determination to follow up at Wetherby.
He will not need to improve hugely to get himself back in the winner's enclosure.
The best race on the card is the Local Parking Security Novices' Handicap Chase, which represents a good opportunity for Lamboro Lad to secure an overdue success.
Although he has won just once from 17 appearances, he has been placed on eight occasions, including when second at Bangor when last seen on the racecourse.
That was his best effort in quite a while and suggested his winning turn may not be far away.
