Monday horse racing tips: Detective can solve Hamilton puzzle

Andy Stephens tipped Newbury winner Not So Sleepy on Saturday, advised at 8/1, and has three fancies for the start of a new week.

2.55 Hamilton: Chumbaa

This daughter of Belardo has thrived on a busy schedule this year, finishing out of the money just twice in her 14 races.

She was below-par here at Hamilton last time but that can probably be attributed to the fast ground and maybe the fact she was having her second spin in six days and fifth race in five weeks.

The track isn’t a problem – she was runner-up at Hamilton in June and bolted up there in the middle of last month – and she’s back on softer ground now after a three-week break.

Her successive wins before the blip last time (backed up by the clock) suggested she was getting better and, given she usually races up with the pace, I like the prospect of her bossing things dropping back to the minimum trip.

Roger Fell and Sean Murray are 4/9 with their Hamilton runners this term and Jonny Peate is one winner away from his equal best month.

The consistent Midnight Lir looks the obvious danger. His fourth at Chester last time needs marking up as he dived right leaving the stalls and looked all at sea on the track.

3.30 Hamilton: Detective

Detective wins at Hamilton last year

This 12-furlong contest is for horses aged six and older and, consequently, there are no improvers or unexposed runners clouding the picture.

The five runners have had 250 races between them and you can make at least half a claim for each of them but it’s the youngest horse in the line-up, seven-year-old Detective, who makes most appeal.

It’s long-established that this strong traveller needs producing late and doesn’t always finish what he has started (he’s been beaten seven times when trading odds-on in-running) but he’s again been hard to fault this season, running a sequence of good races in defeat.

Dianne Sayer’s flagbearer has got a great affinity for Carlisle but this similarly stiff track seems to suit him just as well. He was a good third here in early July and won over 11f at the start of last year.

There’s no guarantee of an end-to-end gallop but Detective usually settles well and is effective at much shorter trips, so that is unlikely to be an excuse.

3.50 Leicester: Four Adaay

This Rod Millman-trained mare has been a model of consistency and deserves to get her head back in front.

She’s able to race off the same mark as when winning at Newmarket in June, and when finishing with a flourish to be second at Sandown last time.

The five-year-old usually pounces from off the pace and this race could set up perfectly for her because Buddy’s Beauty, Cinque Verde, Wakai Umi, Fortunate Star and Speedacus usually make the running or bowl along close to the pace.

Four Adaay is versatile regards ground conditions and also has previous creditable runs at Leicester on her CV.