6:00 Hamilton Tips

Jim Goldie has three of the seven runners here, but Annandale, who finished strongly here over 2f shorter 8 days ago, getting up to win close home, looks the pick despite a 4-pound penalty.

Animato is a clear standout because of a significant drop in class. He is stepping down into a low-grade Class 6 handicap, having raced against much tougher, higher-rated fields in his previous starts. While his recent comeback run at Doncaster looked uninspiring on paper, he was facing better horses that day, and that run should have put him spot-on in terms of fitness. In a small seven-runner field over a long distance, the race will be a pure test of stamina. Because Donald McCain is a top-tier National Hunt trainer, you can be certain Animato is trained to absolute peak physical fitness to handle Hamilton's grueling, uphill finishing straight.