By Gordon Brown
KEVIN RYAN bids for his fourth win in the feature race at Hamilton Park on Sunday when with the Hambleton trainer is represented by Secret Venture.
The Irishman, successful with Savalas last year and Dam Beautiful (2012) and Shoshoni Wind (2011), has enjoyed a tremendous recent record in the £30,000 Hamilton Park Racecourse New Hotel Tangerine Trees Conditions Stakes.
Secret Venture, who signed off his juvenile campaign with a Listed race third at Ayr last autumn, takes on three rival in the shape of Semoum, Rocket Action and Deputise on the opening day of the Lanarkshire track’s 2019 season.
The latter, on a BHA mark of 101, is the highest rated runner in the 5f contest. Trained by William Haggas at Newmarket, he was only pipped by a short-head on the valuable all-weather championships card at Lingfield on Good Friday.
There has been some surprises in the Hampton By Hilton Opening This Summer Buttonhook Handicap with the last three renewals producing winners at 8/1, 9/1 and 10/1.
A eight-strong field is set to contest the 1m 5f event with the market principals likely to be Mark Johnston-trained Charles Kingsley and Jed O’Keeffe’s Rare Groove.
The outsider of the party is Andrew Hughes’ Irish raider Carbon Dating ridden by Rowan Scott who landed the race in 2017 on Corton Lad.
For more information contact Gordon Brown on 07850 258063 for Scottish Racing.