20:55 Hamilton

Friday 20 July 2018

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

Heineken Handicap

Off time: 20:56 | Winning time: 1m 56.54s

(3)

Zealous²⁹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: D Nolan| T: A C Whillans| OR: 72

25/1

Now with a new yard having been sold for £12,000 in May having turned in mainly below-par efforts last season. Now back from a long absence its two years since he last visited the winner's enclosure and may well need this outing.

Form: 872540-

(9)

Rebel Cause²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: P J McDonald| T: J R Holt| OR: 70| D

12/1

This will be just his second run for this yard having shaped as though he would be better for the run last time over 1m2f at Ayr. Lightly-raced for one of his age he only has a maiden win on the AW to his name and runs of a career-low mark here.

Form: 2/9578-6

(8)

Take A Turn⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: S Donohoe| T: D R Lanigan| OR: 69

17/2

Picked up a couple of 0-60 handicaps last year over 1m2f both with cut in the ground before finding quicker conditions not to his liking at Salisbury. Two runs since that below-par run (one this year); may need softer conditions to show his best.

Form: 16145-2

(4)

Quoteline Direct^h¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Rob J Fitzpatrick⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 68

5/2

Winner of his last two starts (suited by the way the race developed both times) at Pontefract and unpenalised for the last one; mark due to rise 7lb. In good form and well handicapped but does need a strong pace to aim at to be seen at his best.

Form: 738211

(2)

Ninepin Bowler²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: J Fanning| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 65

9/1

This will be just his second run for a yard that has found a little bit of form of late and he's quickly dropped to a lower handicap mark. Would have needed the run last time out (been off 9 months) and this run should tell us more about him.

Form: 3468-6

(6)

Scrutiny^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: K A Ryan| OR: 64| D

16/1

Looks a better type on the AW and a return to the Tapeta saw him score for the second time this year recently. Back on turf last time he ran above expectations off this mark (struggled before off marks this high); needs to back that run up.

Form: 258313

(1)

Spray The Sea²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Connor Beasley| T: R A Fahey| OR: 70

5/2

Still a maiden but a useful one he needs to bounce back here from a poor run last time at York in a much higher (0-90) grade; this should be more suitable. Had shaped well the time before on AW and not written off down in grade on ground that suits.

Form: 5325-59

(7)

Chikoko Trail¹⁰^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: G Lee| T: M R Channon| OR: 64

9/2

Form has a gently progressive look this year and he took a big step forward when winning last time (2nd handicap) at Pontefract; promise of more to come. Up 6lb here but with the increased trip looking to suit he has a leading chance of following up.

Form: 87-431

(5)

Here In The Dark^p¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: P Makin| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 67

25/1

Looked to be gradually getting the hang of handicaps last year in nurseries but would have needed his first try in this sphere as a three-year-old after 9 months off. Went with little fluency last time (never on terms); this run to reveal more.

Form: 40342-5

Forecasts

Spray The Sea (5/2), Quoteline Direct (5/2), Chikoko Trail (9/2), Take A Turn (17/2), Ninepin Bowler (9/1), Rebel Cause (12/1), Scrutiny (16/1), Here In The Dark (25/1), Zealous (25/1)

CHIKOKO TRAIL takes on older horses for the first time in a handicap having won well against his own age group last time and looking as though the 1m1f trip would suit him well and despite a 6lb rise in the weights he’s taken to repeat his Pontefract victory. Spray The Sea needs to bounce back from a below-par run last time but had run well the time before and deserves another chance to show what he can do here. Of the older performers Quoteline Direct bids for a hat-trick although he will need a strong pace to run at again in order to be seen at his best. Scrutiny needs to show more to win off this mark with Take A Turn looking as though he could do with a softer surface to show his best.