Hamilton 7.20

Hamilton 7.20 3 Flying Pursuit @ 12/1 + 8 Classic Seniority @ 8/1 - 1 point each way both with Lads / Coral / SkyBet all offering odds to 4th place.

Added side bet -: Tricast Perm with 6 Mobsta + 1/2 point each way single @ 12/1(see write up)  

A proper race to get my teeth in to and with rain already falling North of The Border and the forecast indicating a good dollop for the morning at least I think it is sensible to assume Good Ground by race time and a bit softer in parts. The draw at Hamilton has been all over the place this season, historically after rain you wanted to be middle to high but this year middle to low has been a better bet, so I want to hedge my bets in terms of the draw with a couple draw middle and the chance to find the preferred side and one drawn higher who will appreciate any rain. Pace is an important asset here and in Flying Pursuit I have one that likes to get on with it and with Classic Seniority a horse with Course form, won this last year; looks aimed at this race again by a wonderful Trainer and in Mobsta a horse who is very well handicapped, relatively fresh and will likely be back IF the heavens have opened, so we will take the early price.

I think the admirable Poyle Vinnie and locally Trainer Dark Defender will be big dangers but PV is too much of a bridesmaid too often and I think better at shorter whilst Dark Defender, who was runner up last year with optimal conditions and draw is just not quite up to this Class consistently exough in my opinion. A win of either would be no huge surprise.

FLYING PURSUIT likes to race prominently, can dictate the pace of the race and probably have pick of where it wants to go in terms of which part of the track, rain will be a help, a nice handicap mark having won off 96 last season and runner up off 101, the mark of 96 with the in form Rachel Richardson taking 3 lbs off is very appealing. CLASSIC SENIORITY won the race last year off a mark of 90, runs off 87 here for the admirable Marjorie Fife and the more you look at its runs this season and especially the last one, you get the feeling that this is the PLAN A and it has been prepared specifically for it. I wanted a Tricast Perm and MOBSTA fits the bill in terms of a higher draw and preference for rain and the longer I studied, the more I also convinced myself of a small 1/2 point each way poke, carefully placed and lightly raced and off a very nice mark when you look back at marks well north of 100 in the not too distant past.