Thursday tips: Dave Nevison's best bets at Perth

This is a seriously competitive, tight handicap, with several runners arriving off the back of a win. A King Of Magic is making his handicap debut and trainer Paul Nicholls evidently thinks he is well-handicapped as he runs him off top weight, 2lb above the ceiling in a 0-115.

His two recent runs certainly show his potential, a win at Taunton followed by a good second at Sedgefield under a penalty in March.

Both those runs were over the minimum distance and the five-year-old definitely looks as though he will be suited by a step up in trip which he gets this afternoon. Jay Tidball has ridden top weight winners for the yard in the last few days and seems to be the go to jockey Nicholls is currently using to reduce a horse’s burden.

After winning a point-to-point, it was understandable after also winning a bumper and a few quiet runs over hurdles, that Gentleman Bill would go chasing, but after four modest runs, that path looks to have been abandoned - at least for now.

He returned to hurdling last time out over three miles which might well have stretched his stamina reserves. He wasn’t knocked about unduly and has been dropped 2lb for that run and had blinkers applied today instead of the usual cheekpieces.

Gentleman Bill is just 6lb higher than when looking pretty useful bolting up at Doncaster in December 2024 and this race looks an opportunity. Toby McCain-Mitchell is one of the best value 5lb claimers around.

Slanagaibhgoleir might be a slightly tricky customer (certainly tricky to spell), but could be the ideal horse for Harry Cobden to show off his brilliance to his new employer. The Gordon Elliott trained eight-year-old didn’t stay in the Ulster National last time out, but probably should have won on his previous start when beaten half a length in a warm race at Downpatrick.

He hit the front too early on that occasion and wandered close home before getting collared. Cobden will hold on to him longer this afternoon and that should bring about improvement.