Brighton and Hamilton previews: Angelic Guest looks heavenly under Morris

Essaka weighted to strike

Essaka shaped as if returning to form lasts time out and looks weighted to get back to winning ways in the 6f handicap (14.45).

Trained by Tony Carroll, the gelding was last successful over course and distance 10 months ago when running out an easy three length winner off a mark of 54.

Essaka went on to be placed on several occasions off 62, and is now back down to his last winning mark.

It gives the four-year-old major claims from a handicapping perspective, and Essaka hinted that his time was near when beaten just 3/4 of a length into third over course and distance seven days ago.

Brighton selections

14.15: Canford Belle
14.45: Essaka (NB)
15.15: Ex Lover
15.45: Occult
16.15: Roy Rocket
16.45: Just Isla
17.15: Angelic Guest (NAP)
17.45: Bahamian Sunrise

Slim has a big Chance at Hamilton

Slim Chance looks decent value to cash-in on a drop in the weights and class to score an overdue success in the 5f handicap on today’s card at Hamilton (17.00).

The Sheena West trained mare is on a long losing run, having not scored since landing back-to-back class 6 contests at the track in September 2014.

Slim Chance won off a mark of 71 in the last of those, and also ran well to finish third at Carlisle 12 months ago off 73 in a class 4 affair.

The seven-year-old is now able to race off just 58, a massive 13lb lower than when last victorious, and that makes her potentially thrown-in at the weights on the pick of her form.

Slim Chance also comes into the contest having shaped as if returning to form when seventh of 12 to In My Place in a class 5 contest at Carlisle, and now drops back down into class 6 company for the first time since last successful.

Cosmic Chatter to gain deserved success

Cosmic Chatter has been running well of late and can gain a deserved success in the 6f handicap (16.00).

The Ruth Carr trained gelding got back on the scoresheet for the first time in over three years when scoring Beverley last August by 2 3/4 lengths off a mark of 74, and backed that up with an excellent head second at Musselburgh off 80.

Cosmic Chatter is now able to race off the same mark as when last successful and comes into the contest on the back of two solid efforts to finish runner-up over course and distance.

In the last of those Cosmic Chatter lost ground when dwelling at the start before making good headway two out to take up the running inside the last.

The six-year-old looked all over the winner until getting chinned on the line an beaten a nose, and had he not fluffed that start I feel he would have won.

In effect it makes Cosmic Chatter a winner without a penalty off an unchanged mark, and with underfoot conditions to suit this looks a nice opportunity for the son of Paris House to go one better.

Hamilton selections

14.00: Alfie’s Angel
14.30: Opt Out
15.00: Long Call
15.30: Move In Time
16.00: Cosmic Chatter (NB)
16.30: David’s Duchess
17.00: Slim Chance (NAP)

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