Hamilton
2.45 Class 6 Handicap – Brutalab 9/2
A 5 race maiden that started his race career as a 3yo this season, he’s shaped very well in his last 2 handicaps both placing 3rd, the latest in a 0-70 at Carlisle over a 1m3f trip, he travelled superbly well and hit the front 2 out but couldn’t keep up the gallop and was taken close home, while a drop to a mile maybe not his optimum, I believe a testing 9f or sharp 10f ideal for him but either way this testing 8f not far off and will certainly help him build on his last effort, also this is a much easier 0-60 race and David Allan takes over the reins and is by far a better jockey than Rachel Richardson who was on the last twice, he also rides Hamilton well with a nice 20% strike rate the last 5 years.
4.15 1m Class 2 Handicap – Coolagh Forest 5/1
Won a 3yo class 2 handicap at Musselburgh in April with the form very hot with the 4th winning a strong class 2 NTO, and the 5th, 6th and 7th also winning since, from there he went up 4lbs and raced against his elders in a class 4 again at Musselburgh, not only winning but smashing his rivals when the gap opened up for him, he powered away under hands and heels and was eased down but still won by 6 lengths looking like potentially a black type contender, he’s hit by a huge 12lbs rise in the weights but is helped by Sean Davies 3lb claim who is worth it and in great current form with a 7956/1 hat trick yesterday.
Brighton
5.00 5f Class 5 Handicap – Essaka 10/3
Trainer Tony Carroll is in great current form and is on course to have his best season to date, his best chance of a winner comes from this gelding whose won at Brighton 3 times in the past, the most recent when bolting up by 4 lengths last month he ran again twice since and was a little unlucky not to catch the King Crimson who had a easy lead and made all, Essaka travelled very well and looked to have another win up his sleeve, he does go up another 2lb and jockey Sophie Ralston loses 2lbs of her claim which isn’t ideal but running anything like last time he has big claims.
Russell Blair
