2.25pm Hamilton Tips & Betting Preview 05/09/2017

A field of ten go to post for the second race of the day at Hamilton on Tuesday. See our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Fleetfoot Jack won a course and distance handicap on his latest start but more is needed off a six pound higher mark and so preference is for CARLOVIAN. He won twice in July and he ran better than the figures suggest at Catterick on his latest start, coming home strongly in a race that wasn’t run to suit. This extra furlong looks sure to play to his strengths and, with the in form Jason Hart taking over the ride, he can gain victory number three of the season.

1 MR COOL CASH – Five-year-old for the Richard Guest team who is in the handicapper’s grip at present. He last seen at Carlisle where he was a close fifth, never looking likely to challenge for victory. He remains on the same mark and a repeat of that performance won’t see him too far away, but he holds no secrets and he should find at least a few of these too good on this occasion under Connor Beasley.

2 TRINITY STAR – Last win came way back in October 2015 and he’s now on a ten pound lower mark, but the fact that he’s been a beaten favourite on his last four runs immediately sounds the alarm bells. He was a disappointing sixth on his latest start at Beverley and, although a drop back in trip to the mile should be fine, he needs a strong pace to aim at if he’s to threaten. That isn’t guaranteed here and others are preferred.

3 FLEETFOOT JACK – Improved significantly on his previous efforts to win a course and distance handicap 11 days ago, although that was on softer ground and his record on firmer surfaces doesn’t read too well. He is, however, relatively unexposed and a six pound rise is fair, so he does have sound each way claims if backing up that latest effort for David O’Meara. That is far from guaranteed, though.

4 RETRIBUTION – Has been much improved since switching to handicaps the last twice, finishing second on handicap debut at Lingfield when only beaten a head. A five pound rise did little to deter him as he was only denied by around a length and a half at Yarmouth on his latest start, going off the 5/4 favourite. He now drops back in trip though which isn’t sure to suit and which does temper enthusiasm somewhat.

5 CLIFF BAY – Won a course and distance handicap in June off a one pound lower mark, but he’s not been showing many signs of following up recently. He never looked like coming with a winning run when fourth over course and distance on his latest start, five lengths behind Fleetfoot Jack. He has an each way chance if settling better, however others make more appeal for win purposes.

6 GREEN HOWARD – Losing run now stretches back three years for this nine-year-old who clearly has the ability off this mark, but confidence cannot be high. He finished second on his latest start at Ripon, two lengths clear inside the final furlong before throwing it away late on after idling. He is only one pound higher here, but he’s hard to trust and others are readily preferred.

7 MIDNIGHT MAN – Made an encouraging reappearance at Southwell in March, but he’s failed to build on that in two subsequent runs, well beaten at both Redcar and Lingfield when upped to the 1m 2f trip. Karl Burke now reaches for the visor and drops him back in trip after a further break. However, with a record of no wins from nine runs, others are inevitably higher up the list. Each way claims but nothing more.

8 CARLOVIAN – Won twice in July for Mark Walford and he’s only five pounds higher than for the latest of those victories. He was last seen at Catterick over the seven furlong trip, running well in a race that didn’t play to his strengths and this step up to the mile looks bound to suit on the basis that he was doing his best work late at Catterick. The in form Jason Hart takes over the ride and he should be going close today.

9 SECRET CITY – Finished second four starts ago at Musselburgh but he’s gone off the boil again since then, well beaten at Redcar on his latest start. He was always towards the rear and never threatened to get involved, with the handicapper only dropping him two pounds. Others are easily preferred.

10 RED SHADOW – Losing run goes back four years and this eight-year-old mare’s record stands at two wins from 63 starts. She is six pounds out of the handicap and has offered little encouragement of late, so others are easily preferred.