16:10 Hamilton

Wednesday 7 June 2017

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:15

Weatherbys Hamiltonian Handicap

Off time: 16:12 | Winning time: 2m 1.89s

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Selected odds by:

(7)

Alexandrakollontai^b¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Rowan Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 82| C

20/1

A course regular here (five-time winner all over shorter) she was a dual winner last year at Newcastle and Leicester (both off a mark of 77) and she's started this season in moderate fashion on turf. Showed a little more life last time back on the AW at Newcastle but has yet to win off a mark this high or over a trip this far.

Form: 613-002

(1)

Carnageo¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 81

11/4

Winner of three handicaps last year at up to 1m2f he usually needs a strong pace to run at and got that style of race when winning twice at Ripon last year. Looked to have needed his first two runs this year (started favourite on reappearance) but got back on track last time out at Thirsk over a mile on soft ground with the race not really panning out for him at all. Should be suited by a return to this trip.

Form: 171-874

(13)

Gulf Of Poets⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Nathan Evans⁽³⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 78| D

9/2

Showed much improved form when winning at Pontefract in April over 1m2f and followed up that win (unpenalised) at Wolverhampton over slightly shorter when a long -odds on favourite. Mark is now 8lb higher but the style and manner of the Pontefract win suggested that he could cope with a mark such as this although the softer conditions will be a bigger test.

Form: 2088-11

(8)

Archie's Advice⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Jason Hart| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 77| C| D

11/2

Doesn't look the easiest ride at times and his profile is rather in-and-out despite winning here and at Ayr last year (both in soft conditions). His three runs this year have all shown him to be rather awkward and he probably needs to drop a few pounds in the handicap (still 3lbs above his last/highest winning mark).

Form: 179-466

(4)

Poetic Choice²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: R P Downey⁽³⁾| T: K H Clarke| OR: 76

12/1

Often starts slowly and need the race to come back to her as happened in her last win at Dundalk over a mile in December off a mark of 72. Her form since there has been consistent enough and her mark remains fair enough and she may well be suited by this trip although the softer conditions do leave slight doubts.

Form: 268904

(6)

Fivehundredmiles^b¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: T P O'Shea| T: J P Shanahan| OR: 74| C

9/2

Started out his career here with three runs in maidens before running overseas during the winter but has returned to his current trainer to continue his career and got off the mark last time out over a mile here off a mark of 71 on good to firm ground (wore first-time blinkers). Beat Amy Blair (ran in previous race) and looked suited by the good pace but steps up in grade here off a 3lb higher mark.

Form: 336-041

(14)

Cosmic Ray^h¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: J Fanning| T: J L Eyre| OR: 72| D

5/1

Has started the year in the form of his life winning three of his last four races with his last two wins coming at Musselburgh winning in good style on both those occasions. Now up to a mark of 72 he's still 1lb below his highest winning mark which was gained at Windsor on heavy going so conditions should be no problem here. Hard to ignore in his current form.

Form: 721411

(12)

Tectonic^p⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: Connor Beasley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 66| CD

16/1

The sole C&D winner in the field he's a horse for whom the phrase flatter only to deceive was made for as he frequently comes there with a chance and fails to deliver. Showed that he still has ability when finishing fourth on his seasonal reappearance at Ayr over 1m2f but basically was just running on when everything was over and this is a better grade than he usually runs in.

Form: 32034-4

Non-Runners

(9)

Toboggan's Fire¹⁹

Weight: 9-11| Age: 4

T: Mrs A Duffield J: Joey Haynes

(5)

Spes Nostra¹⁴

Weight: 9-7| Age: 9

T: I Jardine J: T Eaves

(10)

Haraz⁷

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: D O'Meara J: D Tudhope

(2)

Gerry The Glover²²

Weight: 9-4| Age: 5

T: B Ellison J: B A Curtis

(11)

Desert Ruler²³

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: Jedd O'Keeffe J: D Nolan

(3)

Senatus¹

Weight: 8-10| Age: 5

T: Karen McLintock J: G Lee

Forecasts

Carnageo (11/4), Gulf Of Poets (9/2), Fivehundredmiles (9/2), Cosmic Ray (5/1), Archie's Advice (11/2), Gerry The Glover (8/1), Haraz (10/1), Desert Ruler (10/1), Poetic Choice (12/1), Senatus (12/1), Toboggan's Fire (12/1), Tectonic (16/1), Alexandrakollontai (20/1), Spes Nostra (25/1)

As you would expect for a competitive handicap there are a few that can be fancied to run well in this with all the last time out winners coming under consideration. Both Gulf OF Poets and Cosmic Ray are looking to complete hat-tricks and must be respected while Fivehundredmiles looks capable of further improvememt. Gerry The Glover has threatened on more than one occasion to go close and needs watching in the market and race while Desert Ruler would be interesting if his form could be guaranteed in the conditions. Toboggan’s Fire acts on the surface but would be winning off a career high mark and overall the vote goes to CARNAGEO who looked a little unlucky last time out and will love the return to this trip and surface.