Hamilton first evening meeting of 2013

HAMILTON – Friday May 10^th

Going – Good to Soft, Good in places

6.05 5f Follow At HamiltonParkRC On Twitter Apprentice Handicap (Round One Of The Hamilton Park Apprentice Series) (Class 6)

If anything in this field had a chance of progressing it would probably be DARTRIX who led inside the final furlong and won with a little to spare. A stiff five furlongs makes all the difference to this filly.

MANDALAY KING ran another decent race but once again found one too good.

WICKED WILMA broke well and showed up for a long way, keeping on into third. She’s never won before late June, so it’s encouraging that she ran well this early and she’s on a decent mark at the moment.

ROCK CANYON went well until the final furlong and is twice a winner here. He’s nothing special but might find a weak contest here in the coming months.

6.40 6f Thomson Open Maiden Stakes (Class 5)

Five in with a chance entering the final furlong and not a great event. SCRIPT ran on well enough to record a first win in 25 events. She’s only rated 48 but held off a 65 rated animal in A J COOK who was put in his place in a 5 furlong handicap at Beverley on Monday.

7.15 1m Alex Fergusson Memorial Handicap (Class 6) (Qualifier for the Betfair Scottish Mile Series)

After a successful series in 2011, Betfair have returned after a year break to sponsor the series once again. The Sprint, Mile and Stayers Finals will be split between Hamilton, Ayr and Musselburgh in the autumn.

Three broke clear in the final two furlongs. TED’S BROTHER, who has dropped steadily in the handicap of late, came to take up the running inside the final furlong and stuck on gamely. A stiff or galloping suits and he might be handicapped to go on from here.

TECTONIC’s form had been moderate bar a decent Kempton effort early last year. He was going well over two furlongs out and looked ready to go clear, but didn’t find quite enough in the final furlong and was headed.

RAAMZ came down the stands’ side in the closing stages and was making ground in the final two furlongs, just failing to gain second place. She showed some promise in bumpers, and has not been disgraced in maidens before this. She seems to have enough ability to find a handicap, particularly if upped in trip.

7.50 1m 1f Thomson.co.uk Handicap (Class 4)

Most hand a chance two furlongs out but two broke away from the remainder in the final furlong. This was the first time KARAKA JACK has won over further than seven furlongs, and he saw out the trip with no apparent problem, digging deep to hold off his nearest challenger.

SPES NOSTRA came here off a 499-day break and put up an excellent performance in second.
A winner at Ayr and Wolverhampton in 2011, he has clearly retained his ability and may well prove a bit better than his current mark.

BROWN PETE came from the pack to take third. He ran up a quick fire hat-trick last December and his two turf wins were recorded no slightly quicker ground than this at Yarmouth.

LE CHAT D’OR led two out but couldn’t muster an extra effort once headed. He goes well with cut in the ground.

8.25 1m 3f Thomson Claiming Stakes (Class 6)

JORDAURA made steady progress to take it up approaching the final furlong and burst clear from front runner ACTIVATE to land Paddy Aspell’s third winner of the evening.. The latter pulled hard early on and had nothing left when challenged two furlongs out, missing a decent opportunity as he seems quite high in handicaps off a mark of 74.

BOLD MARC made an effort two furlongs but ran out of stamina in the closing stages.

8.55 6f Ginger Grouse Braveheart Night Handicap(Qualifier For The 15000 Betfair Scottish Sprint Series Final)  (Class 5)

A winner here a few days ago, NASHARRA came away from five opponents in the final furlong here to record a third win in three visits to this course.

GREENHEAD HIGH went for home two furlongs out, was passed in the final furlong but kept on and is running creditably. FAIRY WING filled third and her recent wins have come off a significantly lower mark, while ECONOMIC CRISIS couldn’t repeat the effort from the last meeting.

Meanwhile at Ascot, KING OF THE DANES confirmed the form of his Musselburgh second with an all the way win in the closing 3yo mile handicap. I’ve got his Musselburgh conqueror ROMANTIC SETTINGS on my list of horses to follow and she will be well worth noting in upcoming engagements. She has an entry in the Musidora Stakes at York, which is a tough ask but does suggest she is very well regarded.