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14:10 Hamilton Maidens aren’t usually races where I go to find winners. However London Protocol caught my eye on his first start at Redcar. He was very green early on and was off the bridle from a long way out. Ben Curtis definitely earned his riding fee, as he had to get to work very early. When the penny dropped he stayed on well, doing his best work late to finish 3rd in a truly ran race, which looked as if winners would come from it. He should come on for that experience, which usually proves vital, so might take some beating here. Trainer Karl Burke has a 27% strike rate in this sort of races so far this season having saddled three winners from 11 starters. At Hamilton it is better to be drawn low over this 6f trip therefore drawn in stall four wouldn’t be a concern. It will be interesting to see how the bookies price this one up considering Island Flame was 4th in a good maiden at Newmarket. The 5th from that race Cobana Sand won at Leicester on Monday but he was stepped back down in trip to 5f. The 8th from the Newmarket maiden was Sir Theodore. Again he was stepped down in trip to 5f on his second start and was 2nd at Nottingham last Thursday, so the form is there. Island Flame raced on the far rail and was taken on for the lead early on and kept on at one pace. At a more conventional track such as Hamilton he is no doubt going to go close for Richard Fahey. Looking at the draw bias it could be worse, in truth, as stall seven has produced winners over this trip. Luvly has finished 3rd on both starts at Southwell over 5f, so the step onto turf should suit, as should the step up in trip. Of the newcomers Livella Fella could be worth a market check for Keith Dalgleish. Star Focus comes here on debut for Mark Johnston. His are usually fit first time out and with Franny Norton taking the ride he might look to take him out in front. London Protocol (E/W if 9/2+) 17:45 Thirsk This is quite frankly lowest of the low stuff to finish the card at Thirsk. It probably won’t take much winning and to win it you look for a horse with that suggests they can win and aren’t afraid to get their neck in front. For that Wimboldsley gets my vote. He has been off the track since he won at Southwell in December where he grimly clung on over the 7f trip. He has two wins in nine starts and this four-year-old could still be improving. For that Southwell win he has gone up 5lb to 55 and dropping back in trip to 6f he could make a mockery of that if everything goes to plan. After that win trainer Scott Dixon said he expected him to be better this year. On top of that it is an advantage at Thirsk to be drawn high, so being drawn in stall ten of a 12-runner race is an added bonus. Knockamany Bends is still a maiden despite 19 starts. His best efforts have come off this mark of 50 and he is another drawn highly. He could be one at a price that may be worth backing each-way. Iggy and Dancing Maite both have wins next to their names, both two starts ago, however they both came over 5f.  Wimboldsley (E/W) 21:10 Kempton The final race of the patent and it’s the final race of the day. Currently 11 runners down to start for this 2m trip. Frederic Chopin made his seasonal reappearance at Goodwood at the start of the month finishing 3rd of 12 over 1m6f. The front two in Thunder Pass and Gavlar pulled away from him. The 4th from that race was Fitzwilly and he won at Goodwood last Thursday franking that form. He is back up in trip to 2m here and in August he beat Moscato at Goodwood over that trip. Following that Moscato won his next four showing he was highly progressive. The selection should come on for that run and be fitter for it. He has raced on the all-weather before however from his five starts on it he has two 2nds and two 3rds to his name. Oakbank steps up in class. He won over this distance at Lingfield in April off a mark of 48. He runs here off 50 with Cam Hardie able to claim 3lb and he is a jockey in a bit of form at the moment. He looks the most obvious threat to Frederic Chopin. The nine-year-old Topolski is a very interesting runner. He returns to the flat after going over hurdles more recently. Back in 2010 he won a Class 3 Handicap at Chester over this trip off a mark of 86. His best flat mark was 91 but will be running off 59 here. His form in recent times isn’t very good, neither is it on the all-weather but with what he showed in his younger days on the flat to his rating now, he could potentially be one to watch. Frederic Chopin (E/W if 9/2+)
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