4.00pm Hamilton Tips & Betting Preview 28/06/2016

A £10,000 prize pool race on a quiet Tuesday afternoon but this race has been well supported by trainers and ten go to post. Our race preview thinks the favourites lack value but the value lies in a double figure price wearing a first time visor who we hope will return to form and land us a big price betting tip.

IN SUMMARY: Birkdale comfortably won a C&D maiden on his debut for David O’Meara this month and has obvious potential to progress in handicaps but it could be worth giving another chance to DARK DEFENDER (10/1 Each Way), who can be rather headstrong and spoiled his chance by racing too keenly in first-time blinkers on his latest outing but is still quite lightly raced and can overcome his current mark if more settled in different headgear today. Barkston Ash has a point to prove after a below-par effort last time but was in good form beforehand and is next on the list. Cosmic Chatter was beaten only a nose by Born Innocent over C&D on Thursday and is now 6lb better off with that rival, but his resolution can sometimes be questioned.

1 Barkston Ash – Disappointed at Thirsk on latest outing but been given a six-week break since then and was placed off today’s mark four consecutive times beforehand, once over this C&D; goes on any ground; no surprise if he bounces back to form with a big run from the front.

2 Nonno Giulio – Built upon reasonably encouraging seasonal/stable debut when forging clear to score at Wetherby (1m, good to firm) last month; comfortably held off today’s 7lb higher mark on both subsequent outings but showed enough speed over 7f last time to suggest he might be suited by this drop back in trip.

3 Spirit Of Zeb – Only 1lb higher than when scoring over C&D (good to soft) a year ago and returned here with another good effort when third three weeks ago; seems gradually to be losing his tactical speed but is happy enough to force the pace himself if required; in the mix.

4 Cosmic Chatter – All three of his wins were gained over 5f but he has finished second over C&D twice this month, and lost out to Born Innocent only by a nose on the more recent occasion (Thursday); obvious claims off the same mark today, but it’s worth noting he’s not always the hardiest of batters in the closing stages.

5 Ticthebox – Gained the second of his two 2yo wins over C&D and left his moderate seasonal debut behind when close second back here last month; been raised 3lb for that and faces likely competitive for the early lead today but has some scope to make progress this season.

6 Sunraider – Usually seen to best effort when ridden patiently on a stiff track such as this and, with with a decent early pace on the cards today, things could pan out well for him; however, current losing run stretches back to September 2014 and he hasn’t been firing on all cylinders this year.

7 Dark Defender – Certainly not disgraced when seventh in hot race at Newmarket (6f, good to firm) on seasonal debut in May and was respectable sixth after making the running over C&D a fortnight later; took too keen a hold in first-time blinkers when a beaten favourite on his latest outing but can do better if more settled in a visor this time.

8 Birkdale – Reached the frame in both 2yo maidens for Richard Fahey and didn’t need to improve to make winning reappearance for David O’Meara over C&D this month; faces tougher assignment now switched to a handicap but could easily have a lot more to offer.

9 Baltic Raider – Won his maiden at Newcastle (6f, good) last summer; may not have been suited by heavy ground when well beaten on seasonal debut in April but was also very disappointing when back on a sound surface last month; has a huge amount to prove now.

10 Born Innocent – Irish-trained 3yo filly who has won two C&D handicaps in recent weeks, the more recent when prevailing narrowly in three-way finish on Thursday; remains lightly raced but has 6lb penalty to shoulder today, so needs to find something extra to hit the target again.

myracing Forecast Prices: 4/1 Birkdale, 5/1 Cosmic Chatter, Born Innocent, 6/1 Spirit Of Zeb, 7/1 Ticthebox, 8/1 Barkston Ash, Dark Defender, 12/1 Nonno Giulio, 14/1 Sunraider, 25/1 Baltic Raider