Abbaye winners at Hamilton

another very uninspiring day, but there is one really interesting race - the 5 furlongs conditions event at Hamilton at 16.45 CET. Unfortunately two runners have been pulled out, but we are still left with a field of 5 - and two of them are past winners of the Group One Prix de l´Abbaye, France´s top race over this distance. Quite a surprise in a race worth just under 10,000 GBP to the winner! Move In Time (David O´Meara/ David Nolan) won the Longchamp race last October, while Tangerine Trees (Bryan Smart/ TomEaves), now a 10yo, scored in 2011. The former has a hefty penalty for that win and has not raced since, but is still preferred to the latter, who seems no longer capable of running at that level; in fact he looks well held by Pipers Note (Richard Whitaker/ George Chaloner) on their latest Beverley form. PIpers Note is a much improved sprint specialist who has won 3 of his 4 starts this year, and in view of the weight concession and his probable fitness advantage, he must be the selection. There is another good sprint here half an hour later, this time a handicap over 6 furlongs. Scott Dixon clearly wanted to win this as he declared 4 runners, but he has now taken two of them out, including our fancy, leaving the way possibly clear for top-weight Stonefield Flyer (Keith Dalgleish/ Phillip Makin), who has run two excellent races over this CD.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Fast And Furious - St Georges Cross - Avenue Of Stars
2. Race: Cheers Buddy - Rioja Day - Coreczka
3. Race: Kerrymerry - Latin Rebel - More Mischief
4. Race: Move In Time - Tangerine Trees - Silvanus
5. Race: Stonefield Flyer - Jubilee Brig - Danot
6. Race: Postulant - Jillanar - Gathurst
7. Race: Henry Morgan - Fujin - Desire