Racing tips: Reach for the Sky at Perth

David Pipe’s inmate turned in a much-improved effort at Newton Abbot last month when he resolutely stuck to his task to finish third in a handicap hurdle over an extended two and a quarter miles.

Skylander takes a sizeable leap in distance at Perth, but this is a ploy which has served Pipe well over the years and he remains competitively handicapped on a mark of 115.

Meanwhile, Major Crispies can lead by example in the Weatherbys Bank Foreign Exchange Handicap at Leicester.

Trained in Newmarket by James Eustace, punters usually get a good spin for their money with this four-year-old, and this should be no exception. The gelded son of Pastoral Pursuits has capably held his own in solid handicaps this summer, and once again looked a reliable operator at York on his last outing in July.

Major Crispies kept going with trademark zeal to finish third, beaten just over four lengths, behind Salateen, who has since done well in Listed company. Despite that effort, the handicapper has removed another 1lb, which takes him to just 3lb higher than when he won at Windsor in May.

With the drying conditions likely to help his cause at Leicester, now is probably the time to get involved again in what is a far less daunting task than the one he faced at York a few months ago.

Bizzario similarly has a little less on his plate when he competes in the Hold Your Christmas Party Here Handicap at Redcar.

Mark Johnston’s three-year-old found the combination of soft ground and two miles a bridge too far at Goodwood last month, but he should be much happier over this shorter trip. His third-placed finish at Ascot on his penultimate visit to a racecourse now reads really well as the winner that day, Duretto, jointly landed a big pot at the weekend.

Thatcherite returned to form on his last two starts at Beverley in August and can thrive in division two of the Market Cross Jewellers Handicap.