Horse racing tips: Hamilton and Wolverhampton – Monday September 30

There is a reduced programme in Britain and Ireland on Monday, with just four meetings of six surviving after Newton Abbot and Windsor fell victim to the weather. 

First off is Roscommon (1.40-5.45) over jumps, and then Hamilton (1.50-5.20) and Down Royal (2.05-5.35) follow in the afternoon on the Flat. Wolverhampton’s nine-race card (4.15-8.30) is the sole evening fixture.

We have three strong fancies to follow, including a southern raider at the Scottish venue who should be well suited to trying a new trip.

Horse racing tips today –  Hamilton and Wolverhampton

Enda McElhinney’s picks for Monday are below. Scroll down to read the expert analysis behind them. 

• Nap: Chaturanga (Hamilton, 3.35) @ 7/2 with BetMGM 
  
• Next best: Shamardia (Wolverhampton, 5.25) @ 15/8 with BetMGM 
• Other: Moonstone Boy (Hamilton, 4.10) @ 11/4 with BetMGM 

Horse racing tips: Hamilton, 3.35

There are a couple of competitive Class 3 events at this venue just south-east of Glasgow Hamilton and the first is an interesting 1m 1f handicap. Two of the nine runners managed to win last time out – and of those, Archie Watson’s CHATURANGA makes more appeal.

This son of Invincible Army just about held on over 1m 2f at Ayr last time out and this hybrid 1m 1f trip on a stiff track seems likely to suit. He was also a little keen in the early stages of the race and the drop in distance may help him to settle better.

A 4lb rise from the handicapper should not be too damaging to his chances and he is lightly raced enough to suggest further improvement is not out of the question.

It is hard to find many negatives about Chaturanga as the gelding has won four times in just nine starts and clearly runs his race more often than not. There is a good chance that he remains ahead of the handicapper and another big run is anticipated.

He is the only three-year-old in this contest, which means he gets a handy 5lb weight-for-age allowance. Hollie Doyle makes a long journey to ride for the first time this season and this horse could make that effort worthwhile.

Selection: Chaturanga @ 7/2 with BetMGM 

Horse racing tips: Wolverhampton, 5.25

Evening action on the all-weather comes from the West Midlands, and there looks a strong chance that SHAMARDIA can build on two excellent recent efforts at Lingfield to score on her Tapeta bow for trainer Ismail Mohammed.

The three-year-old filly did not show much last year in Britain or Dubai as a juvenile, but the penny has been dropping lately.

She came wide and ran down her rivals to win at Lingfield over 6f at the start of this month, worth more than the neck margin suggested, and looked all set to repeat the dose back there nine days later only for Melisende to adopt a similar tactic and run her down late on.

This daughter of Shamardal out of Kilmah has only gone up 1lb and finds a fairly thin race on the Dunstall Park card now. She has excellent claims on these terms, taking on mainly older rivals. 

Selection: Shamardia @ 15/8 with BetMGM 

Horse racing tips: Hamilton, 4.10

Nine runners have been declared for the Class 3 Handicap over the minimum trip and it should be a very competitive betting heat. 

Michael Herrington’s Good Earth has been in good recent form and will surely be near the head of the market. But the Iain Jardine-trained MOONSTONE BOY looks like the one to side with as he bids to complete a hat-trick.

This horse has finally found his groove in handicap company and has a terrific record over course and distance, with two wins and a second in his three starts at the track.

Those two successes have come in his previous pair of races and he is clearly a horse on the upgrade.

This son of Calyx was a very comfortable winner off a mark of 76 on his penultimate start and duly obliged in testing ground off the same rating 10 days later.

A 6lb rise in the weights looks fair with that in mind and further success could well be on the cards here.

Selection: Moonstone Boy @ 11/4 with BetMGM