Hamilton preview: Scooby can do the business, Blues an each-way bet
David Metcalf | September 19, 2016
Veteran sprinter Scooby weighted to strike
Captain Scooby caught the eye last time out and looks weighted to get back to winning ways in the 6f handicap on today’s card at Hamilton (14.50).
The Richard Guest trained 10-year-old has been a terrific servant over the years, winning 15 of his 167 races and being placed on 35 occasions.
In the last of those successes back in May, Captain Scooby came with his customary late run from off the pace to gamely beat Go Go Green by a neck in a class 5 contest at Ayr off a mark of 64.
Captain Scooby rates a great each-way bet in the Hamilton 14:50.
The veteran is now able to race off 1lb lower and comes into the contest on the back of a fine fifth in a class 5 affair at Pontefract where, after getting hampered at the start, he travelled smoothly into the race before keeping on to be beaten just over five lengths.
That was a big step back in the right direction and Captain Scooby now drops down into class 6 company at a track where he has three successes to his name.
The son of Captain Rio also has plenty of winning form on the ground and looks to have plenty going for him in what appears to be a very winnable contest.
Indego Blues each-way value
Indego Blues has slipped to a dangerous mark and looks a lively outsider and each-way value in the other 6f handicap on the card (15.20).
The Dandy Nicholls trained seven-year-old was last successful at Carlisle 16 months ago when scoring by a neck off a mark of 64 and went on to make the frame in his next two starts off 66.
Indego Blues rates a good each-way bet in the 15:20 at Hamilton.
It’s fair to say that the gelding’s form has been very patchy since but he did run well when fourth on his penultimate outing at Catterick and is now able to race off a reduced rating of just 50.
That gives Indigo Blues major claims from a handicapping perspective and the booking of Paul Mulrennan to do the steering is an eye-catching one as he has a strike rate of 25 per cent when teaming up with the stable in the past 12 months.
The yard also boasts a healthy strike rate of 33 per cent at the track in the same period and on the pick of his form Indigo Blues should be capable of making his presence felt in this line-up.
Hamilton selections
14.20: Mutahaady
14.50: Captain Scooby (NAP)
15.20: Indego Blues (E/W)
15.50: Bybrook
16.20: Darrington
16.50: Operateur
17.20: Tectonic
17.50: Indian Giver
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