Top 40 continue in good form with 2 more winners

Sallaal made it two wins from three starts this year when ouclassing his rivals on his handicap debut at Hamilton on Thursday. The well bred son of Frankel was making his second visit to the Scottish track and looked much better than his mark of 97 in the Almada Mile Handicap. With Ray Dawson sidelined having broke a rib and his wrist following a fall at Nottingham earlier in the week, Callum Rodriguez took over in the saddle and the Lancastrian enjoyed an armchair ride. Settling well off the strong early gallop set by Brave Emperor, Roger Varian's runner was always travelling strongly before taking over approaching the two furlong marker. Pushed out to win by two lengths, he is bred to stay further and holds an entry in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at York next month. It will be a surprise if he is stepped up to a mile and a half but there must be every chance he will tackle ten furlongs sooner rather than later, especially as he is learning to relax in his races. Perhaps his connections will consider the Group 3 Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock (9th August).

Like Sallaal, Kaleido is featured in the Top 40 Prospects and the full-brother to Group 1 winning former stablemate Mishriff got off the mark at the fourth time of asking at Yarmouth on Wednesday evening. The Make Believe colt had run well at Newmarket and Windsor earlier in the season finishing third on each occasion. Found a good opportunity at the East Anglian venue, Oisin Murphy kept it simple racing prominently before dominating soon after halfway in the seven furlongs maiden. A three and a quarter lengths winner, he is rated 82 and that mark is unlikely alter much. He will therefore be of interest in handicap company next time and will hopefully enjoy a productive second half of the season. Given his pedigree, slower ground in the Autumn won't be an inconvenience.

Noble Horizon, featured in the Maidens In Waiting section of AOTF, finally got his head in front following a string of placed efforts with an easy win over ten furlongs at Leicester on Thursday. Trained by William Haggas, the son of Kingman had finished runner-up at Chepstow and Newmarket and gained a much deserved victory at the Midlands track. Making all under Tom Marquand, the Rothschild owned runner was in a different class to his opponents winning hard held by four and a half lengths. Officially rated 87, he is bred to stay further and is another capable of mixing it in valuable middle distance handicaps later this summer and into the Autumn.

I am working at Hamilton Park on Friday evening with the Listed Glasgow Stakes and Scottish Stewards Cup featuring on the menu. It promises to be a cracking night's action. I will therefore update the Diary on my return over the weekend.