20:20 Hamilton

Saturday 4 August 2018

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

Margaret Smith Memorial Handicap

Off time: 20:24 | Winning time: 1m 59.28s

(11)

Natajack^b²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: P Makin| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 61| BF| C

6/1

Course winner under a good ride (made all) here recently over a slightly shorter trip taking advantage of a drop in the weights. Failed to back that run up under a penalty next time (ridden too aggressively); still quite nicely weighted on old form.

Form: 036317

(13)

Crazy Tornado^h¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Connor Beasley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 53

14/1

Losing run continues to grow and although he showed signs of a revival a few starts back that promise hasn't been built upon. Well below his best on his latest run and hard to recommend even off a much reduced mark (10lb below last winning one).

Form: 007886

(4)

Highwayman^h¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: A Elliott| T: D Thompson| OR: 53| CD

5/1

C&D winner who appreciated the drop to this trip when winning here in June off a 1lb lower mark to double his tally for the season. Not the most consistent though and rather predictably failed to back that run up back on the AW last time.

Form: 186815

(5)

Colour Contrast^v¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: D C Costello| T: I Jardine| OR: 51

15/2

Not a resolute sole and one who has long been known for his flatter only to deceive performances (taken plenty of runner-up slots). Looks to have rather gone off the boil in his last two starts though; now back in trip with visor on again.

Form: 222267

(1)

Kenmare River^h¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 58| BF

11/2

Growing into handicaps run-by-run with his best effort coming last time (his 3rd start in this sphere) at Beverley although he still looked to have something to learn. Travelled well throughout that contest and another forward display expected here.

Form: 70-5973

(7)

Musbaq³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Paula Muir⁽⁵⁾| T: B Haslam| OR: 57

9/2

Only lasted a couple of runs with Mark Johnston as a juvenile before showing only modest form in handicaps on turf/AW for this yard. Yet to be tried at this trip (should be suited by it) and now off a career-low mark; note any market moves.

Form: 465676

(3)

Jack Blane^p¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 47

16/1

Mostly runs on the AW and his two latest two turf runs have been rather unimpressive; finished well held on both occasions. Upped in trip here he would need several of these to falter to have a chance of breaking his turf maiden.

Form: 000038

(6)

Mama Said¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 55

25/1

Handicap newcomer who so far has shaped with little promise in three runs although now a transfer to this sphere may well bring about some progress. Any positive signs in the market should be noted but hard to back on form.

Form: 684

(9)

Mount Cheiron¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: P Aspell| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 45| D

40/1

Losing run now stands at 27 so you need to be brave to support him with that sort of record. Ran a respectable race last time but on the whole looks limited and exposed even off this mark.

Form: 373064

(2)

Cool Run Girl¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: C Lee⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 45

33/1

Not really helped by an unreported breathing operation prior to her last run at Newcastle over 1m4f where she only beat one rival home. Now down in trip but has plenty to find on form.

Form: 89059-9

(10)

Flying Focus¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Shane Gray| T: R J Osborne| OR: 50

6/1

Still looks relatively unexposed having shown up well on his last two starts (both here) on back-to-back days last month. Looked to have a tougher test on the second start in a 0-70 but ran well and should be more than capable off this mark.

Form: 000973

(12)

Ayton¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 49

10/1

Lightly-raced sort who comes from a stable that are going well at the moment although she was very easy to back on her handicap debut on the AW over 7f. Now upped in trip (longest she's tried) she may be capable of better yet.

Form: 99-46

Non-Runners

(8)

Hernando Torres³⁷

Weight: 9-12| Age: 10

T: M & D Easterby J: Non Runner

(14)

Templemary Boy⁶⁶

Weight: 8-13| Age: 5

T: P W Flynn J: Patrick Vaughan

Forecasts

Musbaq (9/2), Highwayman (5/1), Templemary Boy (5/1), Kenmare River (11/2), Flying Focus (6/1), Natajack (6/1), Colour Contrast (15/2), Hernando Torres (8/1), Ayton (10/1), Crazy Tornado (14/1), Jack Blane (16/1), Mama Said (25/1), Cool Run Girl (33/1), Mount Cheiron (40/1)

For a low-grade contest there are one or two interesting ones in this and the market should be informative. FLYING FOCUS certainly caught the eye on his last two starts (both here) showing that he had the ability to win off this mark and he looks versatile enough to cope with the drop in trip. His fellow Irish raider Templemary Boy needs noting in the market with conditions more in his favour and with the headgear back on. Kenmare River is another three-year-old who looks capable at this level although not quite the finished article with Natajack and Highwayman two of the older bunch that could cause a threat.