16:50 Hamilton

Thursday 13 September 2018

All15:4516:1516:5017:2017:5518:2518:5519:25

Sodexo Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 2m 0.83s

(2)

Island Song¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Jason Hart| T: T Davidson| OR: 62| BF| D

2/1

Enjoying a great run of form with a hat-trick and a second. Lost little in defeat when not getting the clearest runs trying to run on off a slow pace and looks set for another bold bid.

Form: 891112

(4)

Motahassen²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: D Nolan| T: D Carroll| OR: 58| D

9/4

Put in a much improved performance when making all and breaking through on his seventh start. Up 4lb but should have more to more to offer with cut in the ground and looks a leading player.

Form: 78-5091

(5)

Metronomic^p¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: D Allan| T: P D Niven| OR: 57

33/1

Last win came in selling company but well below that in four starts since and hard to recommend at present.

Form: 018873

(10)

Highwayman^h⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 53| CD

18/1

Just two wins from 25 starts, the latest of which came over this C&D but has failed to replicate it in two starts since. Got badly outpaced here last time and others preferred.

Form: 868157

(1)

Phebes Dream^h¹⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: R P Downey| T: J C McConnell| OR: 48

8/1

Irish raider and a 10-race maiden who has plenty to find on the balance of form. Withdrawn after being unruly in the preliminaries here last month and remains best watched.

Form: 620/3-69

(9)

Stardrifter^p⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: J P Sullivan| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 46| D

80/1

Has struggled since winning off this mark at Ayr in July. Drop in weight will help and stays this trip fine but needs to find extra on balance of recent form.

Form: 417988

(7)

Jack Blane^p¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 46

16/1

In good enough form to be competitive again based on recent two runs here and on an attractive mark. However is hard to win with and just two wins from 33 starts.

Form: 003843

(3)

Optima Petamus^p¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 46

10/1

Has run well enough on his last three starts for his new trainer to again be competitive in this company but just one win from 35 runs tells a story.

Form: 357235

(8)

Lucky Ellen^p1²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: J Fanning| T: J Candlish| OR: 45

11/2

10-race maiden who wasn't disgraced over further following a three month absence. Drop in trip should help and can be competitive.

Form: 3650-03

(6)

Poppyinthepark²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Robert Dodsworth⁽⁷⁾| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 45

50/1

Yet to finish in the first three in 13 starts under all codes. Recent efforts have been very poor and easy to dismiss.

Form: 606057

Forecasts

Island Song (2/1), Motahassen (9/4), Lucky Ellen (11/2), Phebes Dream (8/1), Optima Petamus (10/1), Jack Blane (16/1), Highwayman (18/1), Metronomic (33/1), Poppyinthepark (50/1), Stardrifter (80/1)

Things didn't pan out for the progressive ISLAND SONG in her bid for a four-timer and with a stronger pace likely she looks the one to beat at this lowly level. This will be the softest ground she has encountered and if she fails to act on it then Motahassen is the most likely beneficiary after showing a definite progression with a front-running success. Jack Blane and Optima Petamus are both hard to win with but in good enough form to be in the mix again while Lucky Ellen is open to improvement and may come on for her recent run.