Hamilton preview: Tango Sky can waltz to success

Tango Sky posted a cracking effort when runner-up last time out, and can go one better to get back to winning ways in the 6f claiming stakes on today’s card at Hamilton (15.20).

The Paul Midgley trained gelding has winning form at the track and was last successful when landing an 18-runner class 5 contest at Redcar back in July by a neck off a mark of 64.

Tango Sky backed that up with two solids efforts at Pontefract and Redcar, before finishing an excellent when second of 15 to Burtonwood in a class 5 affair at Ripon two days ago.

After being slightly outpaced and pushed along at the rear, the six-year-old came with a storming late run inside the final furlong and failed to get up by just a short-head.

It was an effort which suggested Tango Sky’s time was near, and the son of Namid is able to race in this off an unchanged mark of 67.

That makes Tango Sky look weighted to take all the beating, especially now dropped down into class 6 company.

In the 6f conditions’ contest (15.50), the tough and consistent Dark Emerald is going to be very hard to beat now dropped in class.

The Brendan Powell trained gelding enjoyed a terrific time in Dubai over the winter, and returned to something like that form when runner-up to Kodi Bear in the Group 3 Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury last month.

Dark Emerald backed that up with a cracking short-head second to the unexposed Richard Pankhurst at Haydock, before running a blinder in defeat last time out in a 7f Listed contest at Newbury when third to Hathal.

The five-year-old travelled strongly throughout in the latter, and after taking up the running two from home rallied strongly when headed inside the final to be beaten just 3/4 of a length.

That is strong form in the context of this contest, and off an official rating of 108 Dark Emerald has 9lb and upwards in hand on his rivals.

This is also the easiest task Dark Emerald has faced for a long time, and represents a golden opportunity for the son of Dark Angel to notch an eighth career success and provide Powell with his first ever winner at the Scottish venue.

Selections:
14.20: Dance Alone
14.50: Majestic Manannan
15.20: Tango Sky (NAP)
15.50: Dark Emerald (NB)
16.20: Treasury Notes
16.50: Sur Empire
17.20: Hallingham