4.10pm Hamilton Tips & Betting Preview 20/07/2017

Seven handicappers go to post for the fifth race of the day at Hamilton on Thursday, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: X Rated is back up in the handicap after a comfortable win at Bath but still has to be respected as he’s unexposed, but this can go to FIVEHUNDREDMILES. He has run two good races here the last twice, winning over the mile before a good second over course and distance when behind a rival who completed a four-timer subsequently. If in the same form again under Tadhg O’Shea it’s very hard to see him getting beaten with conditions to suit.

1 HIDDEN REBEL – Course winner for Alistair Whilans who has been performing well of late without managing to trouble the judge, last seen here over course and distance where she was a well beaten fourth in the end. She is only down one pound in the handicap and there is a strong suspicion that she is too high in the weights at present to show her best. Paul Mulrennan retains the ride which is positive but she’s likely to be settling for minor honours.

2 MOHAB – Becoming very frustrating to follow with only one win from fourteen races for Kevin Ryan, though he did come close to gaining a second career victory when narrowly denied at Beverley back in May. The rise in class clearly didn’t help when he was well beaten at York subsequently and he will appreciate this step back down in class for this run. He’s hard to rule out entirely but he’s more than likely to find at least one too good owing to his poor record and others make more appeal.

3 MARAAKIB – Five year old who continues to tumble down the weights for David O’Meara, but that is only due to five incredibly disappointing performances this season. He was last seen at Ayr when only eighth and although a return to better ground should suit on paper, it’s hard to give him any realistic chance on what we know this season. Danny Tudhope takes the ride and his current purple patch gives some hope, but it’s not hard to look elsewhere on balance.

4 FIVEHUNDREDMILES – Blinkers have worked the charm the last twice for this son of The Carbon Unit, winning on his penultimate start over the mile before a narrow defeat to a rival who was in blistering form. If in the same form again it’s hard to not see him winning this under Tadhg O’Shea, not least as these connections tend to do very well here. After only nine runs further improvement looks likely and he looks set to take all the beating in this.

5 DESERT RULER – Form figures of 232 since returning this season for the in form Jedd O’Keeffe yard and this four year old was last seen finishing second at Wetherby in May. He split two subsequent winners on that day and has only gone up one pound in the handicap since, which leaves him potentially very well treated. Jack Garritty takes the ride and with further improvement likely from this unexposed sort, he looks set for a big run.

6 RASHFORD’S DOUBLE – Three time winner as a two year old but he hasn’t progressed since returning this season for Richard Fahey and he has something to prove. He has been soundly beaten on both his starts this season, including a similar assignment at Newmarket in May where he was struggling from an early stage. He is impossible to rule out due to his two year old exploits and a return to better ground should suit, but others look far more likely on this occasion.

7 X RATED – Back down the weights for his latest run at Bath and he made use of his low eight when making all comfortably, only needing a hands and heels ride to shoot clear late on. He has however been upped six pounds in the handicap and he’s now back into tougher company, so this is unlikely to be another easy race for him under Joe Fanning. Hard to rule him out as he could kick on again.