7.30pm Hamilton Tips & Betting Preview 19/05/2017

This is a Class 3 handicap over a mile and four furlongs, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: KENSINGTON STAR just failed to get the better of Corton Lad on handicap debut but he’s 8lbs better off with that rival here and he can land the spoils today. This drop back in trip and slightly softer ground shouldn’t pose any issues and he can progress again making just his fourth start today. Sam Missile may give him the most to think about now he steps up in trip with the benefit of a recent run under his belt.

1 YORKIDDING – Narrowly denied in the Chester Cup last week having looked to be on top at one stage. She arrives here off the same mark and the drop back down in trip shouldn’t be an issue given she’s won over short previously and she is likely to be prominent here to make use of her decent stamina. The stable are in moderate form with an 11% strike rate in the past fortnight and she is respected here although she doesn’t look to have much in hand at the weights.

2 SIR CHAUVELIN – Returns to the scene of his last victory having completed a double by winning this contest last year. That came off a 12lb lower mark and he struggled last week at Chester, finishing behind Yorkidding in the Chester Cup. He should do better over this shorter trip for a stable that have sent out 4 winners from their last 28 runners and this C&D winner enters calculations today off a fair mark.

3 CORTON LAD – Attempts to complete a hat-trick today under a 6lb penalty. He beat Kensington Star by a head that day but he’s going to struggle to confirm the form here now he’s much worse off at the weights and he may be worth taking on today given he may be reaching the end of his upward curve off a career high mark. Rowan Scott continues to claim 5lbs but others are preferred.

4 SAM MISSILE – Ran a respectable race on his seasonal reappearance last month when beaten just half a length by Fidaawy. He’s been raised 3lbs for that effort but James Fanshawe’s runner looks like the sort to do better as a 4yo and this longer trip will certainly bring about more improvement. The fact he’s been gelded and kept in training is a clue in itself and he is respected today with Daniel Muscutt aboard.

5 AMAZING RED – Lightly-raced 4yo who has had several issues which has restricted him to just three racecourse appearances. He wasn’t beaten far at Wolverhampton last month over 1m 4f and he was more than likely in need of that run and he should strip much fitter and sharper here. He hasn’t been gelded yet and he’s by Teofilo so there’s obviously some potential there and he’s worth close attention in the betting.

6 MASTER OF IRONY – John Quinn has sent out 3 winners from his last 20 runners and it would be a small surprise to see his runner better that record here. He’s spent his winter hurdling and won at Market Rasen in January off a mark of 129 although he couldn’t justify a mark of 87 on his first run of the flat this season at Catterick. He’s only been dropped a pound for that effort and he doesn’t look to have much in hand today. Opposed.

7 CODE SHARE – (Non-Runner)

8 FOOTLIGHT – Won a low-grade handicap at Southwell in February and she hasn’t been beaten far since in tougher races. This is another hard race and the handicapper has left her on a mark of 78 which she doesn’t look to have much in hand off in this company and she’s worth taking on today. The ground shouldn’t pose a problem although she may appreciate a bit of rain having won on Good to Soft previously.

9 KENSINGTON STAR – Lightly-raced 4yo making his fourth career start today. He was just touched off on handicap debut earlier this month when beaten a head by Corton Lad over 1m 5f on Good to Firm ground. He should reverse the form with that runner today given he’s 8lbs better off including his rider’s claim and he should take all the beating here before he is reassessed by the handicapper. Respected today.