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Hamilton hosts a small but select card on Friday, featuring the Listed Glasgow Stakes for three-year-olds and the Scottish Stewards’ Cup Handicap.
Godolphin's Chesspiece heads the betting for the 1m3f Listed Glasgow Stakes (7:40), representing former racing manager Simon Crisford and co-trainer Ed. The Nathaniel colt was a two-time winner prior to stepping up in distance and grade when third in the Group 2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot. He took a very keen hold in the early stages and appeared not to stay the trip. A return to eleven furlongs is a positive for the colt and a Listed event looks well within his remit.
His Majesty The King's Circle Of Fire has a very similar profile to Chesspiece, dropping back in trip after a fourth in the Group 2 Queen's Vase. He is more experienced at Listed level, having finished second in the Newmarket Stakes in May before a third behind Military Order in the Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes on the all-weather. He appears to be one of those horses who will always find one or two better, and the same logic applies here.
The lightly-raced Salt Bay probably deserves a mention as a debut Haydock winner last year. He followed up with a good third in the Group 1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud on heavy ground but probably didn't look the same horse on seasonal reappearance when well-beaten in the Listed Newmarket Stakes. That probably wasn't the Ralph Beckett-trained colt's true running and it will be interesting to see how he shapes.
WIN: CHESSPIECE
In the 6f Class 2 G4 Claims Not At Fault Claims Made Easy Scottish Stewards' Cup Handicap (7:05), course and distance winner Illusionist is capable of producing a big effort. He could only manage ninth in the contest back in 2021 but the six-year-old has shown improvement since then, racing only twice in 2022 including a York victory. He has been in mixed form this season, yet a replication of a fast-finishing fourth in the Ayr Gold Cup Trial handicap puts him firmly in the mix.
Donald McCain's Paws For Thought is expected to go off favourite in his search for a hat-trick. It will be the gelding's first attempt back at six furlongs since June 2022 and he has won once over the distance (1-5). Although the form of his recent Haydock win is strong, it could be argued he is better at seven furlongs with his only previous attempt in these conditions resulting in a seventh in the 2021 renewal.
WIN: ILLUSIONIST
Gamraan has the benefit of two previous runs in the 6f Class 4 G4 Claims Ltd EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes (5:55) and looked to need that experience when green in the early stages at Doncaster. He was outpaced at the two-furlong marker but made headway from a furlong out and got up to finish third in the final strides. It's interesting that trainer Richard Fahey is dropping the son of Masar back down to six furlongs, but the colt appears capable of winning if learning from his previous two runs.
WIN: GAMRAAN
RACING & SPORTS SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – Gamraan
RACE 2 – Beyond Borders
RACE 3 – Illusionist
RACE 4 – Chesspiece
RACE 5 – Betweenthesticks
RACE 6 – Crystal Guard