_edited.png)
15:50 Hamilton
Delighted to see the Sunday Series back and glad to see it start at Hamilton this year. The course itself has made an attempt at increased prize money and I’m glad to see the course supported.
A 2yo race to start the day and the Kevin Ryan trained Pride Of Yorkshire will take all the beating after a promising debut at Thirsk where he knew his job but beaten by a potential smart one in Fix You. With experience and race fitness on his side he will be the one for me. Away from him Mark Johnston’s colt Kind Spirit will not be far away after but interesting to see how he gets on with turf and the Hamilton hill after his debut at Chelmsford.
PRIDE OF YORKSHIRE (WIN)
written by Michael Taylor
16:18 Hamilton
Nordhalla arrives here looking to make it a hat-trick of recent victories and although has gone up 3lbs for a hard-fought win last time out the front two pulled clear of the rest of the field and she finishes her races strongly so shouldn’t be too inconvenienced by the extra furlong she has to cover today.
Thunder Queen and Lasting Legacy are two others that also look to have each way chances but for the winner we turn to Alpha Cru who was a three-time winner last summer and is also a prior winner here at Hamilton. She looked a little outpaced before staying on for third at Doncaster when last seen so the step up in trip should suit and she is re-united with the in-form Danny Tudhope who boasts an excellent record at the course so all things considered should be capable of a bold bid for victory today.
ALPHA CRU (WIN)
written by Dean Kilbryde
16:48 Hamilton
Gweedore is certainly respected under top weight here. He has won four out of his last five races, and the defeat in that sequence was a credible run behind the talented Rogue Bear. He’s also only up ten pounds for that good run, so he’s still feasibly handicapped.
Cosmos Raj will appreciate a stronger gallop here after winning a tactical affair last time.
Eilean Dubh is another that comes here in good heart. Both have place chances.
Harswell Duke is a definite contender. His run at Redcar behind Hortzadar and Boardman looks decent in the context of this race.
King Triton is the selection. Trained by Grant Tuer now after being purchased out of Roger Varians, has done well since joining his new connections.
His seasonal debut at Ripon was full of promise and that should have him primed. He also looks the type to improve and a mark of 85 should be well within his abilities.
KING TRITON (WIN)
written by Matt Polley
17:18 Hamilton
Zim Baby had threatened to win when finishing a close third at Doncaster earlier in the season and she duly built upon that effort when making all under Sivestre De Sousa at Windsor the time after. Sent to Bath the last day, she lost very little in defeat when fourth and this represents a drop-in class. Drawn in stall fourteen today, one suspects she will attempt to blast out and make all the running and she is hard to discount from her handy stall despite having top-weight.
Nothing really went for Rayong last season though he dropped to a handy mark as a result and he made no mistake when scoring with authority at Pontefract on his comeback. Nudged up seven pounds for that, he arrives here with plenty in his favour and he ought to enjoy the likely strong pace.
Soul Seeker is unbeaten in two visits to the Course and he can be forgiven for flopping at Wetherby last time as he never really settled. Prior to that he had been in fair form and one suspects better will be forthcoming here, however, his current mark makes life very tricky (One Pound above his last winning one) and the presence of other front-runners could scupper his chances further.
Ava Go Joe completed the double when beating his re-opposing stablemate, Showalong, at Ripon. Discounting in-form sprinters is never a great idea though this will take a clear career best and Showalong in theory, ought to turn the tables.
Dave Dexter would be interesting if the rain came heavily and the likes of Huddle Up, Sound Reason and Candescence are others with decent claims however, Rayong looks well handicapped and is taken to follow-up his victory at Pontefract.
RAYONG (WIN)
written by Chris Connolly
17:48 Hamilton
Aasser is rather unexposed for Karl Burke and Sam James and makes his debut on turf after being rather progressive on the All-Weather. He’s been given a handy rating and there isn’t anything to suggest that he won’t be able to translate his form onto turf. He will have to improve again and overcome an inconvenient draw but nevertheless, he stands a chance.
Ballet Steps is the charge for Clipper Logistics, Kevin Ryan and the inform Daniel Tudhope. She won on her debut but was slightly disappointing at York, the time after. She didn’t take to the All-Weather at Wolverhampton in December but made her three year old debut a victorious one. She won he five lengths that day and was rather impressive. She warrants interest but the main concern would be the step back up to six furlongs.
I’m A Gambler has only won three times in his career but two of those victories have come over course and distance, whilst Ben Curtis has been aboard. He’s been handed a nice draw and shouldn’t be deterred by the ground, despite preferring it a touch firmer. He has the form for this race and a chance can be taken on him, at a more generous price than expected.
I’M A GAMBLER (E/W)
written by Kieran McHugh
18:18 Hamilton
As with all of this evening’s Hamilton action this looks just as competitive with a case to be made for the majority of these runners.
Baileys Derbyday finally found his way to the winners enclosure at the nineth time of asking when successful at Chelmsford. A really consistent type who looks sure to be in the mix once again however the handicapper may have put pay to his chances in what looks one of the most competitive contests he’s ever taken part in his ten race career to date.
Emaraty Hero racked up back to back victories last summer and aims to return to winning ways tonight however the handicapper looks to have him in his grasps and purely based on weight alone this looks a tough ask for the current market favourite.
The first of two selections for me hails from the Emerald Isle as Irish raider Uncharted aims to go one better than she did at Navan last time out. That looked a very tough ask on paper and she still produced a solid performance to finish 2nd and it’s safe to say connections won’t have sent her all this way if she didn’t have a reasonable chance of going close. Based on her most recent performances this step up in trip should suit and she looks a solid each way contender.
Of the remainder I’m quite taken with the five year old, Paul Mulrennan ridden Grand Canal. He returned to action here earlier in the month in what was a lacklustre performance however now upped in distance I expect a better performance. Scottish based trainer Jim Goldie has bagged a couple of recent winners and seems to have his horses doing relatively well of late. If this trip can be the key to an improved performance he could do far better than his odds might suggest.
UNCHARTED (E/W)
GRAND CANAL (E/W)
written by Rory Paddock
18:45 Hamilton
A competitive handicap to close the action out for Sunday sees Life On The Rocks as the probable favourite here given his very game performance up at Ayr two weeks ago. He is probably good value for the 4lb rise considering he may come on even further for that run. He didn’t particularly look like he was crying out for the extra furlong there though and he doesn’t look value for money at his odds.
Another who won first time up this year was Happy. He broke his duck in a novice event at Beverley in a race he was fully entitled to win, the second in that race has disappointed since though - so the true value of that line of form remains to be seen and again his price doesn’t look overly tempting given the risks that come with him.
Strawman was a progressive horse last year for Karen Tutty and though he was a little disappointing on his return to action, now trained by daughter Gemma - a lot didn’t go his way that day and I’m happy to put a line through that run and he would hold every chance in this race. He’s a strong finisher over a mile and a quarter and I’m sure he will get this trip just fine.
Tilsitt and Howzer Black also rate as outsiders with a chance, if they run up to their best lines of form.
In an open contest, Magna Moralia is the one that makes most appeal to me in this contest. The likeable grey is a course and distance winner and will love conditions here today. He will likely get a decent pace from the Mark Johnston horse and he could be the one to finish strongest here. He is selected for this event along with Strawman at a double figure price with Jonny Peate taking off a very valuable 5lb to aide his cause.
MAGNA MORALIA (WIN)
STRAWMAN (E/W)
written by Tom Bates