20:25 Hamilton

Friday 21 July 2017

All17:4518:2018:5019:2019:5520:2520:55

Route 74 Truckstop Handicap

Off time: 20:25 | Winning time: 2m 21.51s

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(4)

Falcon's Fire^t⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: P Mulrennan| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 69| CD

14/1

Enjoyed a great 2016, recording three wins, including over C&D (soft). 1lb lower today than the best of those successes and goes on any ground. Form has just dipped a little in his last three runs but if he could reproduce the sort of efforts that he was in April and May you wouldn't ruled him out.

Form: 337009

(1)

Optima Petamus¹⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: D Tudhope| T: P Holmes| OR: 66

10/1

Sole win was in a Wolverhampton maiden in 2015 when with Luca Cumani. Has occasionally threatened to add to that, most notably at Newcastle (1m2f, AW) in November. 2lb lower than that going into this but comes here fresh and yet to stake a claim in such an instance.

Form: 07962-8

(5)

Bonnie Arlene¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 69

2/1

1-16 so far, her sole win being at Pontefract (1m2f, good) in May. Made the frame from today's mark at Kempton (1m3f, AW) next time, but has looked exposed since and could run a nice race without being good enough to win.

Form: 321333

(2)

Mr Davies⁶⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: T Eaves| T: D H Brown| OR: 68

14/1

Well held in all five starts so far, the last two in handicaps from marks of 71 and 70. Drops 2lb today and acts on fast ground, so if returning a similar effort to the one he put up at Doncaster in April, he might have an each-way squeak.

Form: 64-748

(3)

Colour Contrast^b1¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Jamie Gormley⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 58| BF

4/1

Has returned five very similar efforts this term, two of them being good enough to make the frame at Carlisle (1m1f, soft) and Ayr (1m2f, good) last month. Not far away back at that venue from today's mark last time and with different headgear on today he could go well, though still needs to find a bit.

Form: 8-52634

(7)

Archibelle¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Nathan Evans⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 67

10/1

Made a nice enough start to her handicapping career at Doncaster in April (1m4f, good to firm), but was then well beaten when favourite back in maiden company at Ayr (1m2f) and again over 1m5f (soft) here last time, when the ground may have been the issue. Back at this trip and in these conditions she could resume progress.

Form: 863234

(6)

Schmooze⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: P Hanagan| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 50| C

28/1

Has won twice here over 1m4f from higher marks than today's, but this drop back in trip is probably not ideal, nor is her recent form. Eyecatching jockey booking nonetheless, so a precautionary market check is suggested.

Form: 276648

(8)

Regal Mirage¹²^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Rachel Richardson⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 50| C

5/2

Has been thriving in lower level handicaps, winning his last two here over 1m1f and at Ayr (1m2f, good) last week. Carries a 6lb penalty for the latter this time and steps up in grade, but the front pair were over 4L clear at Ayr and pedigree suggests that this trip could elicit a bit more improvement. Interesting.

Form: 00-0311

Forecasts

Bonnie Arlene (2/1), Regal Mirage (5/2), Colour Contrast (4/1), Archibelle (10/1), Optima Petamus (10/1), Falcon's Fire (14/1), Mr Davies (14/1), Schmooze (28/1)

If Falcon's Fire could return to the sort of form he was producing in the spring then he would have solid claims here, while Mr Davies might go well at a price now back on faster ground. Colour Contrast looks booked for another good effort, while Archibelle has to be taken seriously now back at this trip. However, stepped up in trip now, REGAL MIRAGE may well be able to defy both a penalty and a rise in grade to complete his hat-trick.