20:50 Hamilton

Saturday 4 August 2018

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

MacGregor Flooring Co Ltd Handicap

Off time: 20:50 | Winning time: 1m 47.57s

(4)

Iron Sky⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 82

5/4

Dual winner this year taking a 6f maiden and going one better than his handicap debut to take a 7f event at Thirsk (improving and well backed). Won that race with a little in hand under a quiet ride and should cope with the 6lb rise stepping up to 1m

Form: 7-1421

(6)

Oriental Tiger^h⁷⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: D C Costello| T: R M Smith| OR: 75| C

25/1

Back from a long absence the market may be the best guide as to his race fitness. His last start did result in a win here over a longer trip but he returns off a mark that is still 5lb above that win; best watched for now.

Form: 053101/

(5)

Fivehundredmiles^v1¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: R J Osborne| OR: 73| CD

12/1

The introduction of first-time blinkers sparked the C&D win at the start of last year off a 2lb lower mark and connections will be hoping the first-time visor does the same. No win threat at all this year and finished 6 of 6 last time here.

Form: 087436

(2)

Chinese Spirit⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 67| BF| D

11/4

Much better with soft conditions and showed that last time when making late headway under quicker conditions at Ayr. Has been back on or near a winning mark for a while now and with conditions more in his favour looks of interest now.

Form: 0-42446

(7)

Sioux Frontier¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: J Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 70| CD

13/2

Turned in an improved performance to record his first win over C&D (soft) in June hunting down a rival that had got first run on him and turned out to be an improving type. Firmer surface against him last time and these conditions suit far better.

Form: 728-515

(1)

Dalawyna⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S A Gray| T: K A Ryan| OR: 68

4/1

Showing progress from race-to-race in handicaps and is generally ridden prominently although there could be a slight doubt the trip. Handles most ground although the worry is she's edging up the handicap without winning.

Form: 64-2423

Non-Runners

(8)

Inglorious⁵

Weight: 9-1| Age: 4

T: K Dalgleish J: Connor Beasley

(3)

Indie Groove¹⁶

Weight: 8-11| Age: 3

T: Miss L A Perratt J: Rachel Richardson

Forecasts

Iron Sky (5/4), Chinese Spirit (11/4), Dalawyna (4/1), Inglorious (5/1), Sioux Frontier (13/2), Fivehundredmiles (12/1), Indie Groove (20/1), Oriental Tiger (25/1)

Just the eight go to post but that doesn’t mean that this is an easy puzzle to solve with Iron Sky being the obvious improver although he has to prove he can get this fairly stiff mile having so far having won on sharp tracks. Neither Sioux Frontier nor CHINESE SPIRIT will want the ground to dry out that much but if the ground stays on the soft side both will be dangerous off their marks with the latter given the edge. Connections will be hoping that a first-time visor works as well as the first-time blinkers did for Fivehundredmiles this time around despite the fact he’s not been in good form. Inglorious is also knocking at the door but may need a lesser test to be seen at his best.