Perth treble seals century for Maguire

Trained by Maguire's best friend Gordon Elliott, Nedzer's Return (3-1 favourite) made short work of his rivals as he came home five lengths clear in the [email protected] Handicap Chase.

Maguire, whose previous best score had been 76, said: "It is great to reach 100 and great to do it here because we are back where we started, with Gordon giving me great support here at the start of the season and Donald (McCain] having his horses in top form all through.

"Things have gone really well with two Grade One wins on Pedler's Cross being the highlights – he is unreal. Even when I had a couple of suspensions, Donald said 'we will still get you there (to the century]'."

Maguire had earlier moved on to the 99-mark at the Scone track aboard Elliott's Meath All Star (11-1) in the EBF Future Champions Novices' Hurdle.

The trainer said: "Jason's win on Nedzer's Return means more than anything to me, I wanted that (to provide his 100th winner of the term].

"We have been the best of friends since we were 10 or 11 and I think he has ridden more than 20 winners for me this time."

Maguire celebrated his landmark century by completing a treble in the second division of the attheraces.com With Timeform Maiden Hurdle aboard Caulkin. The 9-4 favourite was completing a double for trainer Ian Ferguson after the Keith Mercer-ridden Kilbrannish Hill (7-1) landed Division One.

David Pipe is still hoping he might saddle his 100th winner before the season ends on Saturday following the success of 100-30 favourite Sure Josie Sure in the stanjames.com Handicap Hurdle.

Nigel Twiston-Davies has a fine record at Perth and he made yet another trip from Gloucestershire pay off when Diablo (5-4 favourite) gained a deserved success under Paddy Brennan in the Lonmar Global Risks Novices' Chase.

Diablo finished out of the frame for the first time this season last time out, but Twiston-Davies explained: "He did not take to the National fences (in the Topham at Aintree], though to be fair, he did not have much luck in running.

"He schooled well on Monday so we decided to take a chance. It is not the best time of the season to win a race with a novice, so we will try to run up a little sequence before he has a holiday."

Elliott is fancied to land another success with Backstage at Perth today. The stayer was travelling with promise in the Grand National before unseating his rider late on. The eight-year-old must have returned unscathed from his Liverpool exertions and really ought to be winning the [email protected] Festival Chase in the manner of a very stylish horse.

Meanwhile, Mark Bradburne is reported to be making good progress following his horrific fall at Kelso earlier this month.

The jump jockey damaged one of the vertebrae in his spine on 11 April when unseated from Soldiers Tree, trained by his mother Sue.

Although he remains in hospital in Glasgow, his family hope it will not be too long before he is allowed home. "It's unbelievable how kind everybody has been. People have been to see him, texted him and e-mailed him. It's been absolutely brilliant," said his mother. "He's done his T9. He's burst the front bit which is good because it goes away from the spine as opposed to towards it, so they don't have to operate.

"He's been on his back since it happened but they actually got him sat up this morning as they shoved his brace up which wasn't very comfortable.

"They are hoping he might be able to get his feet down and maybe stand him up.

"If all that goes well, then hopefully he might be able to go home."