Racecards
16:35 Hamilton Park
Raeburn Group Handicap (Class 5)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 6f 5y
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
- Form 234-035
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey Dale Gibson
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
Royal Engineer
133- Form 516/09
- Age 4
- Weight 9-13
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey Greg Fairley
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out and weakened final furlong
- Form 761021
- Age 5
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 55
- Trainer D W Barker
- Jockey T Hamilton
made all, ridden over 2f out, kept on
- Form 615471
- Age 7
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 58
- Trainer J & S Quinn
- Jockey Jamie Moriarty
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
- Form 68-8330
- Age 4
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 53
- Trainer W M Brisbourne
- Jockey J Quinn
slowly into stride and soon tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
- Form 827504
- Age 6
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 50
- Trainer I Semple
- Jockey Matthew Lawson
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on to chase winner final furlong, no extra inside
- Form 301047
- Age 4
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 49
- Trainer R C Guest
- Jockey Paul Eddery
held up, ridden over 2f out and soon chased leaders, kept on one pace inside final furlong
- Form 652314
- Age 5
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 57
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
Lake Chini can provide the key to this tricky handicap, while Balakiref and Winthorpe are also respected as live dangers on these terms. Winthorpe rediscovered winning ways last time out and, as is the case with Brut and Katie Boo, comes here with the benefit of confidence boosting performance to launch from. However, he can be hard to get right and, as he has struggled off this sort of mark recently, a 4lb rise in the weights leaves him vulnerable today. Balakiref is a tough and reliable character that has more than paid his way for Michael Dodds over the years. His style of running will always keep you on the edge of your seat and, although he appears vulnerable on these terms, he is entitled to be in the shake-up if he runs true to form. Nevertheless, we take a chance with Lake Chini, who has indicated that he on the way back with a couple of solid runs of late. Mick Easterby's gelding has relatively few miles on the clock for a five-year-old sprinter and, with his fitness now proven, this son of Raise A Grand gets a confident vote to come out on top in this company.
Formwatch
Lake Chini (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) With leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 9, 5l behind Desert Commander (9-11) at Ripon 6f hcap (3) gf.
Balakiref 3-1fav (9-1) Held up in rear, ridden 2f out, ran on hung left inside final furlong, led post, won at Leicester 6f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in May beating Cornus (8-13) by a hd, 12 ran.
Royal Engineer 20-1 (8-11) Tracked winner to over 2f out, soon ridden and weakened 2f out, last of 9, 15l behind Super Frank (8-4) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Brut 5-1 (11-0) Made all, stayed on well, won at Hamilton 6f amt hcp (6) gf beating Whozart (10-10) by 1l, 14 ran.
Winthorpe (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Held up behind leaders, ridden to lead entering final furlong, ran on, just held on, won at Catterick 6f hcap (6) gf beating Observatory Star (9-13) by a shd, 8 ran.
Memphis Man 7-2fav (9-2) Slowly into stride, always behind, last of 14, 22l behind Stamford Blue (10-1) at Chepstow 6f app hcp (6) gd in May.
Local Poet 12-1 (10-7) Held up, ridden from over 2f out and kept on, 4th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Brut (11-0) at Hamilton 6f amt hcp (6) gf.
Katie Boo (IRE) 9-1 (9-2) In touch, ridden and effort when not much room over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, 4th of 14, 1/2l behind Compton Classic (8-6) at Carlisle 5f hcp 0-70 (5) gs.