3.35pm Hamilton Tips & Betting Preview 20/07/2017

A field of five go to post for an intriguing handicap at Hamilton on Thursday afternoon, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Hochfield is fancied very strongly by the market to follow up under a penalty for Mark Johnston, but this can go to SINDARBAN for Keith Dalgleish and Graham Lee. Although soundly beaten on his latest two starts, those were in better company than this and his last venture into Class 4 company back in June 2016 resulted in a victory off just two pounds lower. Graham Lee is bang in form at present and so is the stable, so he looks set to make a bold bid for glory.

1 SINDARBAN – Six year old for Keith Dalgleish who has been soundly beaten on his last two starts, last seen at Haydock when he never looked likely to be involved. That said, he is now down a further two pounds in the handicap and the last time he dropped into Class 4 company, it resulted in a win at Carlisle back in June 2016 off a two pound lower mark. Conditions will suit and the in form Graham Lee takes the ride, so he looks to be on against the short priced favourite in Hochfield.

2 BE PERFECT – Inconsistent sort for Ruth Carr who returned to form on his latest start to win a handicap here over slightly further on his latest start. That was his third win of the year and he’s two pound higher here as a result, but this race could be run to suit and if in the same mood again this mark shouldn’t be beyond him by any means. Conditions are to suit and the in form Jack Garitty retains the ride, so he looks a solid contender.

3 WARP FACTOR – John Shanahan inmate who tends to always run his race, usually hitting the frame but he doesn’t win very often at all. His only win came at Ripon back in August off a one pound lower mark and he’s run well in defeat since, last seen here over the 1m 4f trip where he was behind Be Perfect. That rival is painfully inconsistent so a turnaround would be no surprise and this step up in trip looks likely to be in his faovur. Tadhg O’Shea takes the ride and he’s a possible each way player, but he’s more than likely to find at least one too good with a strike rate of one win from twenty-two.

4 HOCHFIELD – Has taken his form to a new level the last twice for Mark Johnston, making all in two races at Chester and his latest victory over 1m 6f was impressive. He won by eight lengths and as a result he’s been raised eight pounds, but this looks like an easier race and he remains with potential after only eight runs. He is unexposed at this distance and he’s more than likely to be able to dominate this field from the front, so he has very strong claims Joe Fanning.

5 TOR – Lightly raced three year old for Iain Jardine who has finished second and third twice off this mark the last thrice and needs more to make it a second career victory. He kept on well for third at Ripon ten days ago, but he never looked likely to take victory and he looks vulnerable to a progressive sort as his improvement looks very stagnated at present. Jamie Gormley takes off seven pounds which will help but others make far more appeal on this occasion.