15:40 Hamilton

Monday 23 September 2019

All14:0014:3015:0515:4016:1016:4517:1517:50

Alex Fergusson Memorial Handicap (Div 2)

Off time: 15:41 | Winning time: 1m 51.57s

(6)

Spark Of War^b²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Shane Gray| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 54

5/1

Second over 1m4f here two starts ago, has since run well again at Catterick (fourth) and should be in the mix back here down in trip.

Form: 835624

(5)

Midnight Vixen^p⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: A Mullen| T: B Haslam| OR: 53

22/1

Winner on the AW at Newcastle in April, form in that sphere and on turf more recently is less promising however.

Form: 410350

(7)

Retirement Beckons^h¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Ben Robinson| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 52| CD

5/1

Previous C&D winner, head in front again at Ayr last month and recent Musselburgh run a rare poor one. Capable of bouncing back.

Form: 213130

(1)

House Call¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 51

13/2

First run for Gordon Elliott was at Laytown (beach) 12 days ago, finishing fifth and providing hope there will be a win for him somewhere.

Form: 4-00005

(9)

The Mekon²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Connor Beasley| T: N Wilson| OR: 50

20/1

Hasn't improved for the switch to handicaps at Thirsk and Beverley. Will have to do so to get on the board here.

Form: 8-0969

(3)

Cliff Bay^b⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 49| CD

5/2

C&D winner, scored over shorter at Carlisle in June but has three poor runs most recently to put behind him.

Form: 123997

(2)

Snooker Jim^t²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: D Allan| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 48

4/1

Maiden, decent fourth at Carlisle (1m, good to firm) last month and has been eased another 2lb by the assessor for his contest.

Form: 240794

(8)

French Flyer⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 47

11/1

Runner-up over C&D in July, just 1-17 however and that run at odds with most of his 2019 form before and since. Opposable.

Form: 800207

Non-Runners

(4)

Tarnhelm²

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: W Storey J: Rhona Pindar

(10)

Optima Petamus¹⁹

Weight: 8-12| Age: 7

T: L Bailey J: Phil Dennis

Forecasts

Cliff Bay (5/2), Snooker Jim (4/1), Retirement Beckons (5/1), Spark Of War (5/1), House Call (13/2), Tarnhelm (7/1), French Flyer (11/1), Optima Petamus (14/1), The Mekon (20/1), Midnight Vixen (22/1)

RETIREMENT BECKONS put in a rare off-day at Musselburgh last time out. He has already scored over C&D this season however and could well bounce straight back at a track that clearly suits. Spark Of War continues to run well and joins the likes of House Calland Snooker Jim in the mixer.