The William Hill Perth Festival has made a landmark return to Perth Racecourse.
The much-anticipated comeback saw thousands of spectators welcomed to a full year of fixtures for the first time since 2019.
The three-day William Hill Perth Festival kicked off on Wednesday.
The day saw Brian Hughes becoming just the fourth jump jockey in history to reach 200 winners in a season whilst riding on Dreams of Home in the Bob Nelson Capercaillie Handicap Chase.
It is an exclusive club with only Peter Scudamore, Richard Johnson and Sir AP McCoy, who witnessed the action, previously reaching the double century milestone.
Hughes was applauded into the winners’ enclosure and said: “I’m not the type to get emotional but that reception was very touching and totally unexpected.
“It’s been an unbelievable season and I’ve so many to thank including my family, my agent and all the trainers, especially Donald McCain.”
Both featured Listed went to Ireland. The John McConnell-trained Mahler Mission took the British EBF William Hill Gold Castle ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle.
And Gordon Elliott’s Daphne Moon landed the William Hill Fair Maid Of Perth Mares’ Chase.
COVID had KO’d the last two years of the festival so it was great to see the crowds back in force.
The remaining fixtures of this year’s William Hill Perth Festival will take place on April 22.
•Pictures taken by Perthshire Advertiser staff photographer Richard Wilkins.
