Keith Reveley reaps Secret success at Perth

A LATE change of heart from Keith Reveley reaped handsome dividends at Perth as Columbus Secret signed off for the summer in style.

The Saltburn handler was set to preserve the giant gelding for an autumn campaign following his authoritative victory at Southwell earlier this month. Reveley instead chanced his arm by running Columbus Secret in the Bill And Bunny Cadogan Memorial Intermediate Handicap Chase - and was rewarded in the best possible manner.

Despite being raised 12lb for that success in Nottinghamshire, the six-year-old easily accounted for Sotovik by ten lengths. Reveley said: "I was going to put him out in a field after Southwell, but the ground is always lovely here and there was a good bit of prize-money on offer. He was that well in himself I thought we'd have a go, and thankfully he's not let me down."

Columbus Secret stealthily moved into contention passing the stands for the first time, with a bold leap two out essentially sealing the deal. And, although he was a shade wayward along the run-in, James Reveley's partner still had more than enough left in the tank.

"He's only a six-year-old but he's a big horse and has done it really well," reflected Reveley snr. "He won a Catterick maiden really well and then he did the business in a small field at Southwell. I thought the handicapper had taken everything away from him by putting him up 12lb, but he's definitely still improving. The key to him is this fast ground - I ran him once on heavy at Hexham and he had to be pulled up. We'll definitely put him away now and hopefully I've got a smashing staying chaser for later in the year."

Gordon Elliott was in double form on Wednesday, and this time brought home an 83.5-1 three-timer courtesy of wins for Sounds Of Thunder, Western Bound and Martin Scruff.

The former firstly made no mistake in the Free Replays On attheraces.com Intermediate Hurdle. Jason Maguire's mount (11-4) jumped the second-last with a narrow advantage over the always-handy Rumble Of Thunder, and stretched that lead to 11 lengths at the line.

Elliott and Maguire made a swift return to the winner's enclosure when Western Bound (8-1) landed the Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer Intermediate Handicap Hurdle. Elliott and Maguire later put the gloss on another vintage afternoon when Martin Scruff (6-4 favourite) led home stablemate Hearthstead Dream in the concluding PJO Industrial Handicap Hurdle.

Howard Johnson is also enjoying a nice purple patch, and posted another decent winner when Door Boy (11-2) landed the Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer Handicap Chase.

The Perth Festival draws to a close this afternoon, and officials will be counting their blessing after two glorious days of sunshine so far and back-to-back bumper crowds.Tartan Snow is not always the safest of jumpers but when he gets it right he is decent and a clear round will make him the one to beat in today's Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer Handicap Chase. The 11-year-old was a ready winner at Kelso last month and is seemingly on the upgrade despite his advancing years.

Royal Wedding is sure to attract plenty of support in the Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer Handicap Chase at Fontwell and can provide a topical triumph. He has been touted for this for some time for obvious reasons and Nick Gifford can be relied upon to have him cherry ripe.