Ryan’s Hamilton high Hopes

The filly was bought out of Tony Coyle’s yard after winning a seller at the Lanarkshire track last month and was third on her first start for new connections at Beverley recently.

“She ran really well when finishing third on Saturday – she missed the break and would have won in another few strides,” said Ryan. “We got her for my two apprentices to ride and Julie Burke is in the saddle this time.

“She’s back at Hamilton and back up to six furlongs, which is the trip she won that seller over. I reckon she will go close.”

The Hambleton trainer also runs Falasteen in the Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce Claiming Stakes and added: “He’s a got a tongue tie on for the first time as he drops in grade and he’s the best horse in the race on official ratings. It’s a good opportunity for him to win a race for us and he will be last to load into the stalls.”

Ryan’s final runner, Bapak Pintar, shoulders top-weight in the concluding Read Hayley At racinguk.com Every Friday Handicap. He said: “All three horses have winning chances and he was very unlucky at Leicester on Tuesday.

“In the end he had quite an easy race as he ran into trouble and had the gaps closed three of four times.”

In the Weatherbys Bank Maiden Auction Stakes – Hamilton’s opening race today – Pastoral Prey should take some passing judged by his recent second at Carlisle.

George Foster’s colt overcame fractious tendencies and weak market vibes to take the silver medal in a fair five-furlong maiden in Cumbria.

Pastoral Prey may have been outclassed by Liber, but that one did not fare too badly in Listed company at the weekend, so the form looks strong – especially as the third home at Carlisle, Yorkshire Icon, was two lengths adrift.

Moreover, the earnest manner in which he was galloping on strongly towards the line no doubt convinced Foster to step him up to six furlongs here.

As a May foal, he should only really be coming to hand about now. To that end, there ought to be plenty more to come in Hamilton’s opener. This race, on paper at least, would also appear to lack the strength in depth of the Carlisle maiden and so Pastoral Prey gets the nod as The Scotsman’s nap.

Elsewhere today, the best bet on Wolverhampton’s could be Captivity, who was narrowly touched off at Beverley late last month.

Mark Johnston’s charge got to within a short head of the in-form Sabhan after having endeavoured to make all of the running.