August 05 / 20.00 Hamilton

20.00

Soft

Gas Call Services Handicap

  • Prize money: £5626.54
  • 1m 5f 16y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Gas Call Services Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 521122 CD BF

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 1lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Very solid contender, in the form of his life and runner-up over C&D (soft) and at Ayr (1m5f, good to soft) last month; edging up the weights but that's fully justified and he commands major respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

9th May 2026

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

18:47 Hexham

Two Auld Pals

12st 0lb

J: Gregor Walkingshaw

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Not really firing on all cylinders when last seen in the winter but returns from 12-week break on a good mark and is versatile regarding ground; gained his only hurdle win over C&D; no surprise if he features.

8/1

8th

12

16th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 4

15:40 Carlisle

Two Auld Pals

11st 4lb

J: Gregor Walkingshaw

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Five-time Flat winner who has a consistent profile over hurdles; handles soft ground but has a bit to find with He's Bresilian on last month's Ayr form.

10/1

3rd

3

25th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

15:20 Kelso

Two Auld Pals

11st 10lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Showed fair form at a juvenile hurdler two seasons ago, winning at Hexham in March 2024 (2m, heavy); didn't progress in handicaps after that; has since won twice over 1m5f on the Flat at Hamilton (good/soft) but below his best on last two Flat runs.

5/1

OUR TIP

4/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 93-577 CD

Last run: 56 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Unplaced all three runs this year but he's been contesting warmer races and now drops from Class 2 to Class 4; slipping in the weights and there was enough in his close seventh of ten at Haydock last time to suggest he's of interest in this lower grade; C&D winner and handles the mud; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

(3)

15th Jun 2025

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

16:45 Hamilton

Forza Orta

8st 9lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Kevin Ryan

Disappointing sort who ended up 12l behind King's Scholar here last time, following wind surgery; now has a tongue-tie (tried on final start last term) and first-time blinkers.

25/1

2

(14)

28th May 2025

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 4

16:30 Hamilton

Forza Orta

9st 6lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Kevin Ryan

0-7 last year and has weakened quickly on both runs this term; however, a wind operation may have done the trick and his good course form and a dangerous mark suggest he's worth a second look.

12/1

2

(14)

28th May 2025

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 4

16:30 Hamilton

Forza Orta

9st 6lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Kevin Ryan

0-7 last year and has weakened quickly on both runs this term; however, a wind operation may have done the trick and his good course form and a dangerous mark suggest he's worth a second look.

12/1

Form: 245222 D BF

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Hasn't won for over two years but he's in peak form, runner-up for the third time in a row at Haydock two weeks ago; acts on soft ground and has C&D form; likely to be thereabouts once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(1)

29th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 39y

Class 6

16:10 Carlisle

Ravenscraig Castle

9st 6lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Tailed off over hurdles last time but ran well in that code in March; he's on a handy mark on last year's best Flat form; not ruled out.

14/1

9th

12

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

13:45 Ayr

Ravenscraig Castle

11st 2lb

J: William Maggs

T: Iain Jardine

Sole success in 17 runs over hurdles came at Perth last summer (2m, good); he's consistent but not progressive and was a well-held fifth in this last year off the very same mark.

20/1

4th

9

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 87y

Class 2

15:22 Musselburgh

Ravenscraig Castle

11st 1lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Iain Jardine

Sole win over hurdles, from 16 attempts, came at Perth (2m, good) last July; ran okay over C&D in January on his last two hurdle starts (good to soft) and is not ruled out each-way.

16/1

Form: 463142 CD

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Five wins to her name, the latest of them coming on stable debut at Ripon (2m, good to firm) in June, but two runs since have been a bit below par; drops back in trip (has run well over C&D) and may bounce back to form; handles soft ground and not discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(6)

30th Sep 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:15 Ripon

Haizoom

9st 11lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Charlie Johnston

raced in fourth

3/1

3rd

4

(4)

17th Sep 2023

Good

1m 7f 217y

Class 4

17:10 Musselburgh

Haizoom

9st 6lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Charlie Johnston

Made a winning start for current yard at Ripon (2m) in June but her form has dipped recently, only sixth in 1m6f Newmarket handicap 29 days ago; she needs to bounce back.

10/1

6th

8

(6)

19th Aug 2023

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 3

15:45 Newmarket (July)

Haizoom

8st 9lb

J: Franny Norton

T: Charlie Johnston

Won a four-runner race on stable debut at Ripon (2m) in June but that's her best run this year; probably okay on soft ground but soundly beaten on heavy on latest outing; back to her last winning mark.

14/1

13/2

Form: 721294 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Has gained three wins on the AW since last September, and he ran creditably when fourth of eight at Kempton (2m) last month; however, his turf form is at a lower level and he was tailed off on his only outing on softer than good; something to prove back on grass.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

(7)

13th Sep 2024

Good

1m 6f 115y

Class 2

13:50 Doncaster

Citizen General

9st 10lb

J: David Egan

T: Ed Dunlop

Seen almost twice as often on the AW but had an impressive win on good to firm last August; did well over 2m on AW last winter, notably for an easy Kempton win, but he failed to fire in an AW Championships race next time and finished last in the Chester Cup in May latest; very mixed messages.

40/1

16th

4

(9)

10th May 2024

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

15:40 Chester

Citizen General

8st 12lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Ed Dunlop

Seen twice as often on the AW but had an impressive win on good to firm last August; does not always fire, for instance in AW Championships race at Newcastle on latest outing, but he looks good on his day and the ease of his 2m win on Kempton AW in February can't be forgotten (6lb higher today); this unusual test might just take his fancy.

33/1

16th

4

(9)

10th May 2024

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

15:40 Chester

Citizen General

8st 12lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Ed Dunlop

Seen twice as often on the AW but had an impressive win on good to firm last August; does not always fire, for instance in AW Championships race at Newcastle on latest outing, but he looks good on his day and the ease of his 2m win on Kempton AW in February can't be forgotten (6lb higher today); this unusual test might just take his fancy.

33/1

25/1

Form: 22-007

Last run: 12 days

W: 8st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Now 0-18 since his sole win in September 2020; hard to recommend from 5lb out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

(5)

21st May 2026

Soft

2m 0f 45y

Class 5

14:00 Haydock

Ebony Maw

8st 9lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: Ewan Whillans

9yo who went 0-11 last year and was soundly beaten on last month's reappearance at Catterick; however, he may have needed that latest run and is on a competitive mark judged on last season's placed form.

9/1

7th

6

(7)

8th Apr 2026

Good

1m 4f 13y

Class 6

15:58 Catterick

Ebony Maw

9st 1lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Ewan Whillans

Course winner who is on a competitive mark on last season's efforts, which came over 1m5f-2m1f; however, this 9yo went 0-11 last term and today's reappearance trip may prove to be inadequate.

16/1

Form: /010-5

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Had a good record on the Flat for Aidan and Joseph O'Brien, winning three out of ten, but he was weak in the market and finished tailed off on stable debut here last month; needs a major leap forward from that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

(1)

25th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

17:30 Newcastle (AW)

Flying Scotsman

9st 8lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Ben Haslam

Scored over C&D in January off just 1lb lower; absent since a heavy defeat over hurdles in May but the January win came after a 95-day break; visor the headgear of choice today; more appealing than many.

4/1

1

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

18:40 Cartmel

Flying Scotsman

12st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Seen only once over hurdles since 2023, when pulled up last summer, and his AW win in January came in a low-grade handicap; needs to prove he can still be competitive off a mark this high over jumps.

20/1

1

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

18:40 Cartmel

Flying Scotsman

12st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Seen only once over hurdles since 2023, when pulled up last summer, and his AW win in January came in a low-grade handicap; needs to prove he can still be competitive off a mark this high over jumps.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.80
Straight Forecast £8.95
Trifecta £24.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Forza Orta

TOPSPEED:

Ravenscraig Castle

Daily Mail:

Two Auld Pals

The Star:

Two Auld Pals

Daily Record:

Two Auld Pals

RP RATINGS:

Forza Orta

The Times:

Forza Orta

Telegraph:

Forza Orta

D Express:

Forza Orta

Daily Mirror:

Forza Orta

POSTDATA:

Ravenscraig Castle

The Guardian:

Ravenscraig Castle