15:30 Hamilton

Tuesday 4 July 2017

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:0017:30

Almada Mile Handicap

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 1m 50.04s

(8)

Highland Colori^b⁶⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-13| J: Liam Keniry| T: A M Balding| OR: 96| D

22/1

Ended a lengthy barren spell winning at York in October (1m, good) from 1lb lower than today's mark. Acts well enough with cut in the ground and showed last time at Windsor that he still has the ability to get involved from this mark. Each-way claims.

Form: 165-044

(4)

Ionization²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: C Lee⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Shanahan| OR: 93| C| D

5/1

Beginning to look exposed in recent outings, but no disgrace in that and has gone close over C&D (good to firm) and then at Haydock (1m, soft) in her last two starts. Up 5lb for the latter, however, making this look a tougher assignment and improvement will be needed to win it.

Form: 41-9322

(13)

Lat Hawill^b¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: G Lee| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 90

28/1

His two wins were in 2014 and 2015. Has gone close three times since, but is proving frustrating to follow. A further 2lb drop won't do any harm, but otherwise he has plenty to prove and his CV suggests that conditions are not ideal.

Form: 020758

(3)

Nicholas T¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 90| D

5/1

2017 is proving to be a good year for this gelding, winning three of his last five starts and being placed in the other two. Raised 3lb for his most recent Ayr success, this is a slightly better raced, but he deserves his place in the line-up and you couldn't rule out a hat-trick.

Form: 812311

(1)

Gulf Of Poets¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Nathan Evans⁽³⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 90| C

4/1

Another runner in cracking form this season and he comes here trying to complete a five-timer. A 6lb rise for his latest Haydock success (1m2f, good) will ask further questions, but he did that with authority, he goes well here and on soft ground, so he should again have a big say.

Form: 88-1111

(5)

Weekend Offender⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 89| D

4/1

Seems to handle cut in the ground okay, although all three wins have been on good or faster. Returned to action with a very good effort to be third, beaten 1½L, at Nottingham (1m½f, good to firm) in April and from the same mark today he has claims.

Form: 31431-3

(2)

Masham Star¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 97| D

5/1

Yet to show his best with cut in the ground and well beaten when last seen in Royal Ascot's Britannia Handicap. This is not as competitive, but he is still 2lb higher than his last win and recent efforts have not strongly hinted at a return to form just yet.

Form: 725350

(12)

Hibou^b¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: D Nolan| T: I Jardine| OR: 87| D

16/1

Sole turf win was on fast ground (1m2f) at Redcar in October from 8lb lower. Ran his best race since from today's mark last time out at Ayr (1m2f, good) last month, but looks in need of improvement.

Form: 13-6683

(6)

Aardwolf¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 91

16/1

Another who looks better suited by good or faster ground. Won a 7f Doncaster handicap on good to firm in May, but well held from marks in the 90s since. 1lb drop going into this, but appears to be in the grip of the handicapper for the moment.

Form: 3-21006

(9)

Zoravan^v⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Rowan Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 81| D

66/1

Also scored over 7f at Doncaster (good) earlier in the season when 1lb lower, though well beaten in all runs since, including from this mark in the Carlisle Bell last week. This looks another tough assignment.

Form: 177680

(11)

Alexandrakollontai^b¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: J P Sullivan| T: A C Whillans| OR: 78| C| D

20/1

Most of her wins have been recorded from similar marks to this and she did show a return to form from this mark when a 3L fourth at Musselburgh (1m, good to firm) last time. Has won on soft ground, though needs to find more in a tougher race today but couldn't be ruled out on an each-way basis.

Form: 3-00284

Non-Runners

(10)

Lincoln Rocks¹⁷

Weight: 9-10| Age: 4

T: D O'Meara J: D Tudhope

(7)

Mutahaady¹¹

Weight: 8-11| Age: 3

T: K R Burke J: Jordan Vaughan

Forecasts

Gulf Of Poets (4/1), Weekend Offender (4/1), Masham Star (5/1), Ionization (5/1), Nicholas T (5/1), Lincoln Rocks (6/1), Mutahaady (12/1), Hibou (16/1), Aardwolf (16/1), Alexandrakollontai (20/1), Highland Colori (22/1), Lat Hawill (28/1), Zoravan (66/1)

Nicholas T and Gulf Of Poets arrive here in fine form and are proven at this level, so they are not taken on lightly. However, they will both have to improve further to win this and their presence might give us a better price about WEEKEND OFFENDER, who has been given time since a good comeback run. He remains unexposed and on a workable mark and looks the one with potential here. Ionization can't be ruled out in these conditions, while Highland Colori is very much respected from top weight.