Lanark Silver Bell Tips & Betting Preview

The Lanark Silver Bell is one of the feature races of the season at Hamilton and 15 runners have been declared for this year’s renewal. Read our full race preview for our experts’ betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: With a large chunk of the field coming here in good form, this looks very open. The suggestion is ENGLISH SUMMER, who has plenty of miles on the clock but has been running well in recent months and will be seen to very good effect on this stiff track if, as expected, this race is strongly run. Azzir may not have been suited by soft ground when a beaten favourite on his latest outing and might still have more to offer for Karl Burke. Dark Ruler may need soft ground to be seen to best effect but he likes this track and still enters calculations. Hillgrove Angel has done well for Iain Jardine this season and completes the shortlist.

1 English Summer – Suited by a stiff test over 1m4f and won off today’s mark at Leicester (1m4f, good) just under a year ago; not getting any younger but recent efforts have been very respectable and there’s a god chance he’ll be in the thick of things.

2 Time Of My Life – Formerly trained in France; gained first British win at the fourth attempt when coming from off the pace to reel in Lord Yeats here (1m5f, good) last month; subsequent 6lb rise will make things tougher but further progress not out of the question.

3 Salmon Sushi – Produced new career-best performance to win readily by 5l at Wolverhampton (1m4f, AW) recently; 1lb ahead of the handicapper under 6lb penalty here and not yet fully exposed over 1m4f but 0-11 turf strike-rate reduces his appeal.

4 Carbon Dating – Back from a spell in Dubai in good form in recent months and was suited by the strong pace when belatedly gaining his first career win, here (1m3f, good) last month; might build on that performance but was probably flattered by the way the race panned out and is 7lb higher now.

5 Dark Ruler – Suited by this track and ran a big race when close second in a fairly valuable contest here (1m5f, soft) on latest outing in May; today’s 3lb higher mark is probably not beyond him but he’d make more appeal on softer ground.

6 Top Of The Glas – Generally consistent this year and just pipped Mukhayyan to prevail in three-way photo-finish at Carlisle (1m3f, good to soft) last month; only been nudged up 1lb for that but will probably find at least a couple of today’s rivals better handicapped.

7 Multellie – Has reached the frame three consecutive times this summer and may have found the ground a bit too lively when a beaten favourite at Haydock (1m4f, good to firm) on the most recent occasion; however, the handicapper hasn’t budged.

8 Mukhayyan – Drew a blank in 2015 for Sir Michael Stoute and is yet to hit the target for new stable this season; deserves a change of luck after finishing second three consecutive times and will be suited by today’s trip/ground, but others make more appeal.

9 Biff Johnson – 3-6 on the AW but 0-10 on turf; travelled well for a long way when fourth at Ayr (1m2f, good to soft) last month but finish last on latest outing; needs change of headgear to help him bounce back from that.

10 Indian Chief – Struck from and gained wide-margin wins over 1m2f on soft ground this summer; however, last couple of runs suggest the handicapper has quickly regained control and today’s combination of trip and ground is unlikely to show him in his best light.

11 Azzir – Built upon promising seasonal/stable debut when scoring at Pontefract (1m2f, good) last month; only third off the same mark at Ayr (1m2f, soft) a few days later and is 4lb higher now but will probably be better suited by today’s ground and has untapped potential over this trip.

12 Lord Yeats – Made all on handicap debut at Ripon (1m4f, good) in June and last month’s clear second to Time Of My Life here (1m5f, good) was also a good effort; went off too quickly when down the field at Ascot last time and still has low mileage.

13 Cape Of Glory – Sold out of James Tate’s stable after a moderate run in first-time blinkers last month but, without headgear, finished second for new yard at Ripon (1m2f, good) recently; might have more to offer for Keith Dalgleish over today’s trip.

14 Hillgrove Angel – All three wins for David Evans last year came in plating company but he’s 2-5 in handicaps for Iain Jardine this season; last month’s win at Musselburgh was gained over 2m and he’s on a new career-high mark now but today’s trip won’t be a probably and he’s not ruled out.

15 Renfrew Street – Looked in excellent nick when a clearcut winner at Pontefract (1m2f, good) in June but was beaten under a 6lb penalty twice soon afterwards, despite being allowed to set a steady gallop on both occasions; full 9lb rise has now taken effect, so something extra is needed.

myracing Forecast Prices: 7/1 Cape Of Glory, 8/1 Salmon Sushi, Dark Ruler, Azzir, Renfrew Street, 10/1 Time Of My Life, 10/1 Lord Yeats, 12/1 English Summer, Carbon Dating, Top Of The Glas, Multellie, Mukhayyan, 12/1 Hillgrove Angel, 20/1 Biff Johnson, 33/1 Indian Chief