Hi all,
I’m back after a quiet week on the tipping front. The Lanark Silver Bell Handicap at Hamilton is the highlight of Friday’s racing. It’s reputedly one the oldest sporting trophies in the world. Although the present trophy dates to the 17th century.
As the name suggests the race used to be run at the now defunct Lanark Racecourse which closed its doors for the last time in 1977. For over 30-years there was no race until it was restarted at Hamilton in 2008.
With guaranteed prize money of £100,000 and the upgrading of the race to a Heritage Handicap means a maximum field of fifteen runners have been declared for Hamilton’s richest race of the season.
Today I have previewed the Lanark Silver Bell and I have selections from that race also a couple from Thirsk.
Hamilton
6:53 – Phoenix Utilities Ltd Lanark Silver Bell Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) – 1m 4f
The ante post betting is headed by Pride Of Priory who completed the hat trick when winning at the Shergar Cup. He’s trained by William Haggas who thinks he might be even better with a bit of juice in the ground and given he’s by Pivotal it adds credence to that thought. Up a further 6lb for his latest win but might be capable of better.
Haliphon bids for the hat trick after good ground wins at York and latterly Chester. He beat stablemate Alfred Boucher by ¾ length that day and that one had gone onto win at York and finish runner-up in the Ebor. Using that one as guide Haliphon looks well treated off a mark of 94. He ticks the distance box and if he’s as effective on good to soft is big player.
Recent Chester winner Cormier (1m 2 ½ f)won’t have any issues with the return to 1m 4f. The recent ease in the ground is another plus to his chance. He’s been raised 8lb for his Chester success but looks nicely treated compared to last season’s improved handicap hurdle form. Must be high on the shortlist if soft is in the going description.
Forza Orta has developed into a useful handicapper and was back to winning ways at York last month, Up 4lb for that success but he’s 2-2 at Hamilton so ticks the box marked course form and should give his running although I don’t think he would want the ground to ease further.
Haveyoumissedme a useful staying handicapper is 1-1 over C&D (soft) and the recent ease in the ground is very much in his favour. A good 2nd of 18 to Zoffee in the Northumberland Vase before finishing a 1 ¾ length 3rd 7 to Pride Of Priory last time. Gets an 11lb pull in the weights with that improver today. The softer the ground the better for him.
Wickywickywheels goes very well at Hamilton and gained a course hat trick when successful over 1f furlong further last month. Up 6lb in a much hotter race but the improving filly has plenty in hand last time and the suspicion is we haven’t seen the best of the 4-year-old yet.
At a huge price there’s Faylaq. Talented but quirky when trained by William Haggas. The 6-year-old showed what he’s capable of when a 3 ½ length 5th of 13 to one of today’s rivals Dark Jedi at Ayr three starts back. He’s got an 8lb pull with that one here and yet is a much bigger price. Granted he’s since finished well behind Pride Of Priory and Haveyoumissedme at Newcastle. And then completely missed the start when a plugging on 5 ½ length 6th of 9 to Glam De Vega when dropped back to 1m 1f here last time. This is his more his trip and although he’s likely to be the complete outsider of the field isn’t without a chance if on a going day.
Verdict: A competitive race as you would expect for the money on offer. Of those at the front end of the market preference is for Haliphon. Cormier won’t be far away back on easy surface. Wickywickywheels has become a real course specialist and although she’s in a better race here we might not have seen the best of the filly yet. At very big odds don’t rule out the well Faylaq who is well handicapped if on a going day.
1pt win – Haliphon – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt each way – Faylaq – 40/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (paying 4 places 1/5 odds)
Thirsk
2:55 – The first two home in Ripon’s Great St Wilfrid Handicap Intrinsic Bond and Good Earth are back in action here. Both should go well again but I fancy Intrinsic Bond can finish ahead of his old rival again.
Connor Beasley who rode Intrinsic Bond last time is Pendleton for his boss Michael Dods. He’s nicely treated on his best form and was back to form when last seen in action in June when a 1 ¾ length 2nd of 8 to Snash over C&D 56-days ago. He needs softer ground to be at his best though but should the ground ease he’d be a contender.
Asadjumeirah beat Ghathanfar a nose over C&D in April and bounced back from lack lustre few runs when a 2 ¼ length 2nd of 17 to Devil’s Angel at Haydock last time. He had a good draw that day but he’s 1lb below his last winning mark and very much one to consider.
Runninwild came up against the well handicapped Alligator Alley here over 5f last time. Just as effective over 6f and shouldn’t be far away again.
Parisiac looked improved when gaining a first handicap success at Doncaster last month. He’s up 3lb for his latest win but there could be more to come from the 3-year-old.
Music Society took advantage of a falling handicap mark when beating Good Earth at Catterick in June. Much better at the weights with that one here. Hasn’t been totally disgraced since his last success and was respectable 2 lengths 4th of 13 at Doncaster 22-days ago.
Verdict: Another competitive handicap. Both Parisiac and Runninwild have claims but my two against the field are Music Society and Asadjumeirah.
1pt win – Music Society – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt win – Asadjumeirah – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John