19:50 Hamilton

Saturday 4 August 2018

All17:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:2020:50

Dickies Bar Dumfries Handicap

Off time: 19:50 | Winning time: 2m 23.04s

(1)

An Fear Ciuin¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Connor Beasley| T: R M Smith| OR: 75| CD

9/2

Confirmed that he does stay this trip with a C&D win on his penultimate start when winning off a 2lb lower mark. Found life tougher back in a better grade and off a higher mark last time and looks to have a place chance at best here.

Form: 660-515

(6)

It's Never Enough¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: D C Costello| T: J Ewart| OR: 69

11/1

All his runs this year have come over trips short than this (1m furthest) and his form rather than progressing appears to have stalled since he went into handicaps. Now dropped to a career-low mark he needs to find some progress to get involved.

Form: 63354

(5)

Rare Groove³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: C Lee⁽³⁾| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 76

4/1

Failed to stay 1m4f last time after possibly failing to stay over 1m2f on his handicap debut and doesn't look an obvious sort for these sorts of trips on that basis. Faces some stronger stayers here and may need a return to shorter in handicaps.

Form: 432-256

(2)

Firlinfeu²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: A Elliott| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 76| BF

7/2

Yet to win a race but typically for one from this stable likes to go forward and shaped better than the distance he was beaten last time (raced close to a strong pace). If he can settle better has every chance in handicaps off this mark.

Form: 472634

(3)

Mac O'Polo^v1⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Shane Gray| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 63

16/1

Still a maiden (nothing wrong with his attitude) and has some creditable runs to his name; just looks to need a race to fall his way. Should stay a little further than this and can travel well; now wears a visor for the first-time (not out of this).

Form: 32-4520

(7)

Monaco Rose⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: J Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 62

8/1

She looks to be on a good mark and has given a couple of hints that she ought to be able to win off a mark such as this (won off higher in the past). Last couple of runs haven't given as much encouragement though and more required.

Form: 395546

(8)

Granite City Doc¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L B Normile| OR: 60| CD

5/2

C&D winner; showed improved form to get off the mark in a weak race here but unsurprisingly failed to follow-up under a penalty in a better contest (had run of race). Faces some pace pressure here and up in the weights again.

Form: 29-2312

Non-Runners

(4)

Regal Mirage³⁰

Weight: 9-11| Age: 4

T: T D Easterby J: Rachel Richardson

(9)

Stanley³⁴²

Weight: 9-11| Age: 7

T: K Dalgleish J: P Makin

Forecasts

Granite City Doc (5/2), Firlinfeu (7/2), Rare Groove (4/1), Regal Mirage (4/1), An Fear Ciuin (9/2), Stanley (7/1), Monaco Rose (8/1), It's Never Enough (11/1), Mac O'Polo (16/1)

Trainer Keith Dalgleish won this last year and his new recruit Stanley is an interesting sort on his debut for the yard despite not having won last year, the market may provide some clues to what is expected from him. Of the two three-year-olds Firlinfeu is the pick with this trip expected to suit although he may face some pace pressure here and needs a more controlled pace-setting ride to play a part this time. Granite City Doc faces a tougher task but Mac O’Polo deserves respect in this sort of contest having looked a little luckless so far. REGAL MIRAGE will appreciate a return to Hamilton where he is 3-3 having run some sound enough races of late at other venues.