Iconic Code carries home hopes as Hamilton gets ready for off
Iconic Code carries the colours of Hamilton Park chairman Sir Ian Good as the track stages its first meeting of the season behind closed doors.
Co-owned by Sir Ian’s daughter Catriona, the Keith Dalgleish-trained five-yearold faces seven rivals in the Palmaris Services Fillies’ Handicap.
Carluke-based Dalgleish, who enjoyed a winner at Ayr on Monday, said: “She has been to Hamilton a few times and wasn’t beaten far about this time last year. She ran really well to finish second at Pontefract after the break so hopefully she can go well again.”
Among the opposition to Iconic Code are stable companion Bye Bye Euro, Sarvi, partneredbyjumpjockeylucy Alexander, and likely favourite True Believer, trained by Mark Johnston.
The eight-race card opens with the Toolsaver Maiden Auction Fillies Stakes, in which Aish is ridden by Kevin Stott, who opened his Royal Ascot account on Saturday with a memorable double.
However, Miss Milby looks another likely winner for inform Karl Burke on the back of her promising Beverley debut.
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Handicap, Stott’s partner Megan Nicholls – daughter of leading national hunt trainer Paul Nicholls – is on board B Fifty Two with seven-time Hamilton Park scorer Economic Crisis also in the line-up.
As is Pavers Pride, who was a runner-up at Beverley last time out and, equipped with a first-time visor, has prospects of going one better on his second start for Paul Midgley.
At Haydock, Midnights Legacy can reward those with patience and stamina by delivering in the final race of ten on a marathon card.
Alan King’s colt was put up 7lb for winning by just a head over this course two weeks ago, but was far from flattered by his margin of victory and finished strongly enough to suggest the extra two furlongs of the Billinge Handicap will be spot on.
The three-year-old hails from a famous dual-purpose family which has done King and the owners so proud over the years – and after consecutive victories in two of only three career outings to date, he could well be one of the best in the line.
If so, a rating of 88 looks feasible to keep the stable’s fine form going after their golden treble at Royal Ascot last week.
The Crank Handicap looks highly competitive, but Angel Power’s profile is compelling.
The King Power filly hails from the stable of Roger Varian, which was in near unstoppable form during last week’s Royal meeting, and was an easy winner of only her second career start at Chelmsford.