15:00 Hamilton

Thursday 6 June 2019

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:00

Macroberts Solicitors LLP Handicap

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 2m 57.41s

(10)

Auxiliary^p²⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: D Tudhope| T: L Bailey| OR: 67| C

8/1

First start for new yard, stays well and acts with plenty of cut in the ground, so has his plus points, but needs to overcome an near nine month absence. Did win first time up last season though, so that may not be an issue. Has chances.

Form: 165242-

(1)

Qasr²³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: T Eaves| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 66

14/1

Only 1lb higher than last win, which came at Ayr in August, but best form has come on better ground and he's still yet to convince this trip is what he wants. Absence to overcome as well, and all in all, others make more appeal.

Form: 319407-

(3)

Deinonychus^h⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: George Buckell⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 65

9/1

Has run twice in the last month, coming back from a long absence, and although not disgraced either start, hasn't given the impression he's about to strike either. Best form to date has come at shorter too, and he's not hard to pass over here.

Form: 2216/54

(2)

Pammi⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 56| C

13/2

Only turf win came here on soft ground last August when staying on strongly to score over 12f, and this extra furlong shouldn't pose any problems. Yet to really hit form this year but could easily do better under ideal conditions today.

Form: 15-5268

(7)

Battle of Issus^b²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: S De Sousa| T: D Menuisier| OR: 55

11/1

Shown very little in four starts and was well beaten on handicap debut at Yarmouth last month, but De Sousa an interesting booking for a yard having it's first runners here. Could easily do better and any market move needs heeding.

Form: 060-0

(6)

Give Battle⁶¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: G Lee| T: C Byrnes| OR: 55

6/5

No win in 16 starts and normally that would be enough to dismiss him, let alone the huge absence (2017 last run) but Irish yard can land gambles with these types, and if there's any money around for him, it needs noting strongly.

Form: 265730/

(4)

Elite Icon⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: Sean Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 50

11/1

Winner over 14f at Musselburgh in May, so clearly stays this trip, but needs to bounce back after a poor effort at Ayr last time. Handles this ground though, so has chances if he can put that behind him.

Form: 003139

(5)

Excalibur^p⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-2| J: Nathan Evans| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 45

22/1

Not really going anywhere quickly at the moment and the addition of cheekpieces seems to have made little difference; hard to fancy.

Form: 122/30-7

(8)

Onda District^p⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-2| J: P Mathers| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 45

7/1

Refound some form when beaten a nose at Carlisle last time (soft ground), caught final strides after trying to make all. The cheekpieces tried there seemed to make the difference, and if they work again, he has every chance.

Form: 98-4082

(9)

Wise Coco^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-2| J: Andrew Breslin⁽⁵⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 45

100/1

Nothing much in her form, either over hurdles or on the Flat, to suggest she's up to throwing down a challenge here.

Form: 89080-7

Forecasts

Give Battle (6/5), Pammi (13/2), Onda District (7/1), Auxiliary (8/1), Deinonychus (9/1), Battle of Issus (11/1), Elite Icon (11/1), Qasr (14/1), Excalibur (22/1), Wise Coco (100/1)

Battle Of Issus is something of an unknown quantity in this race, and the notable booking of De Sousa makes you sit up and take notice, so if the market speaks in his favour, he needs a second look. Auxiliary looks one of the more solid options, as he's guaranteed to stay and won't mind however deep the ground gets, but a chance is taken on PAMMI, who is another that will appreciate these conditions and may well leave her previous form behind now she encounters slower ground again. Give Battle is another for whom a market move would need to be noted.