Alan Thomson’s Racing Tips: Bet on Black at Hamilton

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JACOB BLACK (5.45) has been beaten on two previous starts at Hamilton this season but is poised to make it third time lucky.

Keith Dalgleish’s gelding is up 3lb for his Musselburgh success 16 days ago and meets recent Carlisle adversary Ladies First on the same terms as when they finished first and second last month.

Jacob Black blew the start big style that day and Ladies First took full advantage to make all. Jacob Black did remarkably well to finish so close under the circumstances and can take his revenge.

There is some heavy rain forecast and the track could well be riding on the soft side. Jacob Black chased home Maifalki here in May on good to soft, so he should handle it.

Alexandrakollontai showed more sparkle when chasing home Natajack but the winner then ran a dismal race at Ayr. A bigger threat could be Souls In The Wind, a dual Hamilton winner on soft ground, and the stable had a clear-cut winner here yesterday.

MUJASSAM (6.50) is going for this third course and distance success and is in such rampant form that he should defy a 6lb penalty for last Thursday’s comfortable victory. He was always travelling strongly and probably idled a bit in front when beating Cameo Star two lengths. The top weight won on soft at Newbury a few years ago when trained by Roger Varian.

The Listed Glasgow Stakes has attracted five smart horses and AUSTRIAN SCHOOL (7.55) could spring a surprise. He is rated 12lb and 10lb inferior to Raymond Tusk and stablemate Ventura Knight but his last run behind another Mark Johnston improver, Making Miracles, at Haydock was a decent effort. The track was soft when he beat making Miracles at Pontefract last October.

Raymond Tusk chased home Loxley at Newmarket before finding the company too hot in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. Richard Hannon’s colt remains unexposed. Shailene won with tons in hand last time and receives a 5lb fillies’ allowance.

THORNTOUN CARE (8.25) will be hard to knock out of the frame if the mud is flying. Scobie Jardine’s gelding is weighted to get much closer to previous Hamilton conqueror Royal Cosmic and they may well dominate the finish. Both horses go well on soft.

Atticus Boy needs to translate his winning all-weather form to turf but David Lanigan’s colt could be up to the task if handling this very different surface.

I’ll be playing for small beer in the Heineken Scottish Stewards’ Cup with last year’s winner CLASSIC SENIORITY (7.20) carrying a few quid each-way in the 13-runner sprint. His Doncaster third to Victory Wave was a good effort, as was his fourth to Sir Dancelot here in June. Dark Defender prefers it soft and could go well at a price.

QUOTELINE DIRECT (8.55) should send favourite backers home happy in the 1m 1f handicap. He is due to go up 7lb for his latest Pontefract romp and is thriving. Chikoko Trail also won at Pontefract 10 days ago and is progressing nicely for Mick Channon.

Recommended bets

• Hamilton 5.45 – Jacob Black (7-4, bet365)
• Hamilton 6.50 – Mujassam (2-1, Paddy Power)
• Hamilton 7.20 – Classic Seniority ew (16-1, Betfair)
• Hamilton 7.55 – Austrian School (6-1, Paddy Power)
• Hamilton 8.25 – Thorntoun Care (6-1, bet365)
• Hamilton 8.55 – Quoteline Direct (6-4, Unibet)

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