16:35 Hamilton

Wednesday 20 June 2018

All13:4014:1014:4515:2015:5516:3517:1017:45

Bothwell Castle Handicap

Off time: 16:37 | Winning time: 1m 49.19s

(5)

Strong Steps²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: J P Sullivan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 80| D

10/1

Bounced back to form having slipped sown the weights when a close up third of 10 at Ayr on Monday. All three career wins have come at a mile so step back up in trip is a plus and no reason why he won't run well again.

Form: 407-063

(4)

Vive La Difference²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 76| BF| CD

6/4

Winner over C&D off a 6lb lower mark two starts back. Went very close to adding to that at Beverley last time and is clearly in rude health. This race requires a touch more, but should go well all the same.

Form: 24-3212

(2)

Fivehundredmiles^b³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: T P O'Shea| T: R J Osborne| OR: 76| CD

33/1

Tends to go pretty well here and is a C&D winner. Has looked a little out of sorts though so far this year having spent the winter in Dubai and may need to come down a few more pounds to be competitive.

Form: 3-82087

(11)

Edgar Allan Poe¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Hart| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 68| CD

12/1

Tends to need a couple of runs to be cherry ripe and shaped quite nicely at Beverley last time trying to come from off the pace. This previous C&D winner is now on a really nice mark and should be a major player here is getting a good run.

Form: 622-077

(9)

Moltoir^v¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 77

7/1

Took advantage of a sliding mark when winning really nicely at Beverley (7½f, good) 11 days ago in the first time visor. That was his first success and although more is needed up 5lbs, still has room for improvement.

Form: 23-3841

(10)

Amy Blair^h¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Connor Beasley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 67| CD

14/1

Absolutely loves it round here with all five career victories coming at this venue including over C&D. Has dropped back to his last winning mark having struggled of late but a return to front-running tactics here would give him a big shout.

Form: 170-695

(7)

Forever A Lady¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: T Hamilton| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 66

25/1

Hasn't won for over a year now but has dropped to a mark 3lb below her last winning one. Showed a bit more at Musselburgh (7f, good to firm) last time and could be in the mix if she can build on that.

Form: 437-753

(6)

Wedding Breakfast³⁰⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Kevin Lundie⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 64

66/1

Previously with Hugo Palmer she only managed one start last year for Richard Ford. Starts life with a new yard again here after almost a year off and is probably best watched unless the market screams her name.

Form: 25290-

(3)

Austin Powers¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 73| BF

3/1

Running well without winning and did so again at Goodwood (7f, good to firm) when sent off favourite last week. The three-year-old allowance brings him right into the picture here for a yard that won this last year.

Form: 445-233

(8)

Global Exceed^b¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: T Eaves| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 73

20/1

Came on a bundle for his first run of the season when finishing well for second at Beverley (7½f, good) last time just behind Moltoir. Step up in trip looks a good move and a player for sure with the allowance.

Form: 1216-72

Non-Runners

(1)

Waarif⁴

Weight: 9-13| Age: 5

T: D O'Meara J: S A Gray

Forecasts

Vive La Difference (6/4), Austin Powers (3/1), Waarif (4/1), Moltoir (7/1), Strong Steps (10/1), Edgar Allan Poe (12/1), Amy Blair (14/1), Global Exceed (20/1), Forever A Lady (25/1), Fivehundredmiles (33/1), Wedding Breakfast (66/1)

There is a good chance this race will go to one of the three-year-olds in the field. Both AUSTIN POWERS and Global Exceed have pretty strong form claims and with their allowance here they should both go very well with preference for the former who's yard won this last year. There are plenty of dangers however headed by Amy Blair who loves it here and is back on an attractive mark. Edgar Allan Poe is another previous C&D winner who has dropped to an decent and completes the shortlist.