Hamish looks as good as ever

By his usual standards, William Haggas has been quiet this spring with a few of the team scoping badly and been given time to return to peak fitness. However, the Somerville Lodge outfit have enjoyed a good couple of days at Chester with Amleto (7/2) and Hamish (7/4) scoring. The latter has been a terrific horse for the yard with the Motivator gelding registering his second win in the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes on the Roodeye and his seventh career success on Thursday. Despite carrying a three pounds penalty, the seven year old proved too strong for his five opponents winning by a length and a quarter under a confident ride by Tom Marquand. Anchored in rear early on, he made his move before the hometurn and, once pulled to the outside, he always looked like getting the better of the front running Changingoftheguard and former Irish Derby runner-up Lone Eagle. Ease in the ground is essential for Hamish and, while connections may be tempted to turn him out quickly in next week's Yorkshire Oaks, it is worth remembering he has shown his best form when fresh. When he runs after a break and with plenty of cut underfoot, he is a lethal proposition.