Hamilton on a sunny September Sunday

HAMILTON Sunday September 22^nd

Going – Good to Soft

Just over a week to go to the end of the season, but the course was shown off to its best in early autumn sunshine. The going was good to soft, but it would have been drying out throughout the day and not sure that many runners would have been inconvenienced.

2.20 6f totejackpot nursery Handicap (50-71)

An exposed bunch of two-year-olds and nothing noticeably progressive.

DONNY ROVER showed promise early in the season, but had not gone over the summer. On his best form he was arguably well treated here and had clearly been showing something extra because he was backed from 10/1 into 11/2 joint favourite in an open market. This was a good deal easier than the Doncaster Class 2 event ne contested last time and, taking it up a furlong out, he burst clear to put the race out of range of his opponents. This could be a case of everything falling right on the day and I’m not sure a repeat will prove so easy.

Bottom weight showed plenty of promise, staying on nicely for second and hinting that there’s a small nursery within his compass this autumn. He should stay seven furlongs in this company.

PIFEON PIE was well held in third after having every chance. He looks a good deal leaner than his stable companion OVERSTEP (well held seventh in first time blinkers), but looks the better performer at this stage.

2.50 totequadpot Handicap (3yo) (60-75)

BARON RUN was taken down to start early for this contest. Making all the running in the centre, he stayed on under driving to add to a previous maiden victory here.

KHELMAN chipped away at the winner in the final furlong but was always just held. Try as I might I can’t find a pattern with this one who has run creditably on stiff and flat tracks.

CHASING DREAMS had every chance a furlong on and kept on if held. She ran well in better company last season and may be one to bear in mind if the rains turn the ground properly soft.

ALEXANDRAKOLLONTAI once again threw away her chance with a slow start. Julie Burke bided her time, putting the filly into the race up the hill, but she lost by the distance she gave away at the start. Connections are apparently considering a race here on September 30^th but she needs to hit the boxes if she is to win.

The remainder were beaten with a furlong to go.

3.20 6f totepool Flower Of Scotland Fillies’ Handicap (67-91)

A competitive contest for the biggest prize of the day.

DANCHEUR has done all here previous winning on ground faster than this. She tends to blitz it out in front and then hopes to hang on, but she was clear a furlong out and won with something to spare.

PEARL SEA is a strong impressive looking filly, but she hadn’t really progressed in recent runs. However, she kept on quite nicely to hold second having been near the pace throughout. She shouldn’t go up more than a pound for this a looks a potential autumn winner.

ATHENIAN came here off a break and there looked something to work on. She disputed two out but couldn’t offer enough to go with the winner though keeping on for third. The race will likely do her good and there should be opportunities in the coming weeks.

DUSKY QUEEN seemed to have the worst of the draw up the near rail. Racing prominently on this side she kept on into fourth and this may turn out to have been a creditable effort.

AVON BREEZE is probably as high as she would need to be in the handicap. She had every chance but could only find the one pace to finish fifth. Five furlongs or a sharper six plays more to her strengths.

TARTIFLETTE put in some good performances in early season but her form has tailed off a little of late. She had every chance and was held form a furlong out.

SMALL FURY was on her toes in the paddock and raced keenly. Predicatbly she fell away and would need a drop in class to have a chance.

3.50 1m 65yds EBF British Stallion Studs Maiden Stakes (2yo) (Class 5)

A closely fought maiden with any of three in with a chance in the last fifty yards.

MR GALLIVANTER has the look of one who will benefit from further than this in time. He built on an encouraging Beverley debut, staying on up the far rail and getting his head in front on the line.

Held in Group 2 company at Doncaster, VIVERE led over two out and kept finding for driving. She looked to have done enough but was foiled in the shadow of the post. She certainly has the right attitude and there should be race for her before long.

RANGI CHASE loomed up on the outside from two out, and looked the likely winner at the furlong pole, but was held in the closing stages. A good effort, stepping up on a Haydock third place.

INEVITABLE is a big strong colt who used up too much energy in the preliminaries. He was on his toes and had two handlers in the paddock. In the race he was fast away and led until two out but was one paced from that point.

4.20 1m 1f 36yds totepool Handicap (51-70)

JORDAURA has been there or thereabouts on a number of occasions recently. Having dwelt at the start, he worked his way into the race two out and stayed on to collar the long time leader inside the final furlong. A nice effort and a follow-up is possible.

LORD FRANKLIN set the pace and his tenacity saw off the majority only to get collared in the closing stages. Admirably consistent, although he’s not won at the trip he sees it out well enough and softening ground would be no problem.

HIGH RESOLUTION made headway three out but couldn’t make any impact in the latter stages. This was as good as any effort he has put up this season.

SIZE looked very fit. He couldn’t make an impact on the leaders in the last two furlongs.

ICY BLUE chased the leader until weakening from the furlong pole. He’s not the easiest to catch right.

NORTH POLE, with decent form at Brighton and Bath behind him, found the finishing hill too much here and weakened over a furlong out.

4.50 1m 5f 9yds toteexacta Handicap (66-78)

A race where the winner was gifted an early lead and only two ever looked like winning.

KING OF PARADISE set a decent pace without overstretching himself. He had a five length lead three out and dug deep in the closing stages to hold his only challenger. This was his fourth win, all at Hamilton, and he saw out the trip albeit with only a neck to spare. Eric Alston commented that hold up tactics had been tired with this one, but they didn’t work and he’s much better allowed to do his own thing in front.

DISCAY chased the winner all the way and wound him back up the final hill, just being held in the final reckoning. He’s proving quite consistent and ran to his best here. It could be argued that his jockey just misjudged things, but I guess he expected the leader to come back to him.

SWINGING HAWK was reported as hanging throughout the race, staying on from a long way off the pace. He needs holding up and would have received little cover if he had chased the pace. His jockey was caught between a rock and hard place and this run can be ignored.

GETABUZZ led the chasers to the main group, but didn’t close when asked and wasn’t good enough on the day.

CALEDONIA is proving disappointing on the flat and was beaten over three out.

CAPTAIN BROWN was making a first flat appearance for 800 days and was the first beaten.

5.20 5f totepool Handicap (45-64)

A very ordinary handicap but won by one of the few who is consistently in the mix. PULL THE PIN was fast away and led, responding well to pressure in the final furlong to hold on all out. He has a good attitude and it’s worth noting for the coming months that he has a fair record at Southwell.

ROCK CANYON stayed on late and just failed, but he’s had plenty of chances this season.

CHESTER’SLITTLEGEM is consistent and was never far away, finishing a close third.

SAXONETTE kept on from the rear for a never nearer fourth place.

DISTANT SUN notched up a hundredth run but didn’t look like winning while WICKED WILMA took her run tally to 106 without threatening. CHLOE’s DREAM couldn’t repeat Beverley form faded in the final furlong having raced prominently.