Johnston bidding for sixth Silver Bell with Sapa Inca

● Trainer’s high hopes with Fanning aboard

Mark Johnston bids for a record sixth win in the Ladbrokes Silver Bell at Hamilton Park tonight.

Having landed the historic 1m 4f handicap in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014 & 2015, the Kingsley House trainer saddles likely favourite, the Galileo filly Sapa Inca – partnered by Joe Fanning.

“She’s a nice type and we liked her as a two-year-old but she kept getting beat,” said Fanning, who rode his 2,500th British winner on Saturday.

“Her form is still okay and she should have a good shout. She has won at Newbury and, more recently, at the Shergar Cup this season and hopefully she’ll run well again.”

Of his career haul, Fanning has ridden 178 winners at Hamilton Park which is his highest number at any of the UK’S Flat turf racecourses.

Rivals to Sapa Inca include last year’s scorer Archi’s Affaire, attempting to become the first horse in the modern era to win consecutive runnings of the £36,000 contest, while Multellie, the 2016 winner, is also in the 14-strong line-up.

J abba a rand The glasgow warrior, the runner-up and third from 12 months ago, reoppose for Iain Jardine and Jim Goldie with Lariat representing Andrew Balding whose Hamilton Park strikerate of 27 per cent is his best return on any British venue, turf and all-weather.

At Sandown, Dargel is the pick in the Betway Live Casino Handicap.

Trained by Clive Cox, the three-year-old has progressed with racing and was narrowly denied a hat-trick under a penalty at Kempton earlier this month. He has another 2lb to carry but tries a mile and a quarter for the first time and that could bring about a bit more improvement.

The lightly-raced Seascape is the one to be with in the Betway Heed Your Hunch Fillies’ Handicap. Henry Candy’s runner does not have many miles on the clock, but does have ability and will be sharper for her return at Leicester at the end of July.

A bit of a chance is taken on Marhaban in the Play 4 To Score At Betway Handicap.

Charlie Appleby’s gelding has not been seen since a disappointing effort at Newmarket in April, a run which came after a gelding operation.

He had, however, looked a useful sort in the making when winning twice at the beginning of the year and should not be written off yet.

Divin Bere can notch only the second win of his career on the Flat when he goes in the Ladies’ Day At thirskraces Saturday 7th September Book Now Handicap. The talented six-year-old is now with Iain Jardine, having been second at both Cheltenham and Aintree in 2017 for Nicky Henderson, before joining Paul Nicholls.

He ran below par at Doncaster in June, but had performed well in a couple of runs for Jardine before that and the break might have freshened him up.