Illusionist to weave Hamilton magic
Illusionist can conjure another course-and-distance success in the Hampton By Hilton Hamilton Park Clyde Handicap tomorrow.
The four-year-old struck last week over this six-furlong trip at Hamilton, for the inform combination of trainer Grant Tuer and jockey Sam James.
Illusionist must contend with an extra 5lb for his threequarter-length success, but remains weighted to confirm the form with re-opposing runner-up Call Me Ginger.
The Tuer-James axis has been very much a punters’ friend this season, regularly successful and often at odds which reward the support.
It will be no surprise if Illusionist continues the trend, having appeared to improve for the re-application of blinkers on his last two starts.
Mr Wagyu is another Hamilton runner representing an in-form yard, in the #CleanStay At Hampton By Hilton Handicap. Tim Easterby’s gelding outran odds of 18-1 to finish an encouraging length second at his most recent attempt, over the minimum distance at Beverley.
He is able to race off the same rating three weeks later, up a furlong, and his established career record suggests this trip and decent ground should play to his strengths.
Mr Wagyu has a dead-heat course-and-distance victory on his CV, and this is an opportunity for him to double his tally with an outright success on his fifth visit to Hamilton.
Jackhammer has very much been knocking on the door of late, and can return to winning ways in the Book Our On-Site Hotel Handicap.
Dianne Sayer’s highly consistent seven-year-old has had to settle for second place on each of his last three starts.
It is not for the want of trying, though, and if his winning chance comes round again, Jackhammer has already demonstrated he is more than willing and capable.
This may well be it too, because he ran a fine race when beaten a length and a half over just a half-furlong short of this trip here at the start of last month. He finished well that day, and has already won twice over this nine-furlong trip at stamina-sapping Carlisle, so there is little doubt the extra yardage should be in his favour. He is up just 1lb for his last two admirable efforts, and goes well on the forecast good ground.
Chelmsford stages a competitive evening card, featuring several horses with evident potential to progress further. Among them is Ivatheengine in the Ministry Of Sound Classical 21st August Handicap.
Paul and Oliver Cole’s lightly-raced four-year-old acquires a tongue strap for the first, having run well enough in defeat on his return from a 300-day absence in classy company at Newbury in mid-April.