Kapono’s last three runs, all over 6f at Haydock reads like pretty nice form, with winners galore coming from the races. His victory under Ben Curtis in May saw the third-placed horse win twice since, most recently on Sunday, off a 1lb higher mark. Roger Fell’s charge then finished a length third to subsequent Stewards’ Cup Consolation race winner Mr Wagyu, with the second winning his next two. The trend of bumping into one continued on Merseyside, with a head second off a career high mark last time out. Sure enough, that winner doubled up again next time. If he avoids one on the up, this progressive charge surely has to go close again.
The step up to 6f probably wasn’t the only reason for the disappointing performance at Lingfield last time out, but it’ll be worth giving this one another chance. Liam Bailey’s gelding has been beaten less than a length in a trio of 5f handicaps this term, twice off a higher handicap mark than he runs off today. The pattern of his form seems to be one good run followed up by a below par effort, so if keeping that up, should bounce back again from a favourable mark over a more suitable trip. He looks a value each-way bet for all that the hat-trick seeking Jordan Electrics looks pretty solid.
There are lots in here with a chance, but with the form Hughie Morrison is in right now, his charge has to be near the top of most shortlists. The Lambourn handler has seen seven of his 14 runners oblige in August and with his representative here in sparkling form when last seen, that’s a match made in heaven. Legendary day has finished in the frame on all four starts this year, with two wins and a second in his latter trio of outings. He failed in his hat-trick bid runner off the same mark he runs off today, and while he was 3l off the winner that day, the runner-up went closer off a higher mark next time, so it might be a fair piece of form.
A change of scenery and a step back up in trip was just the ticket for this 9yo who was beaten just a neck on stable debut at Beverley last time out. That run can be marked up considering the son of Rip Van Winkle was slowly away, didn’t get the clearest of runs and hung in the final stages. He lines up off an unchanged mark of just 47 which still looks lenient. In the frame off a figure as high as 68 in his heyday, a disappointing spell in Ireland saw that figure plummet. With a bit more dig in the ground than he encountered last time, and a bit more luck in running, he has to be respected.
Only 12 miles south of Glasgow, Hamilton Park is one of five racecourses operating in Scotland. Racing has taken place at the track since 1782 and in 1947 became the first course in Britain to host an evening meeting.
In 2006, the Glasgow Stakes moved from York to Hamilton and the Listed race became the course’s premier event. Punters should place an emphasis on stamina at Hamilton, with a stiff, uphill climb for horses to overcome three furlongs out.
