TOP-WEIGHT may not be sufficient to stop Qualitair Wings (4.10) romping to victory in Hamilton's Famous Grouse Handicap.

A habitual visitor to the popular Scottish track during the past four years, Qualitair Wings generally goes well when sent north of the border from his base at James Hetherton's Malton stables.

Two starts ago was a typical example of his love for the place, pulling a race out of the fire even though his goose looked cooked as the chasing pack closed in for the kill when the winning line approached.

In claiming that particular contest, and moreover his subsequent defeat at Thirsk's much less demanding course, Qualitair Wings proved he needs Hamilton's ultra-stiff uphill finish to be at his very best these days.

The news that wet weather was on its way must have been music to the ears of the connections of Boris The Spider (5.10), a gelding with the sort of round action admirably suited to soft ground.

Although the long-term future of Michael Hammond's tall and rangy four-year-old will surely be in the National Hunt arena, there remains masses of time to supplement his two Flat career successes, achieved at Ayr and Southwell.

Critics may well point to the fact that Boris The Spider failed to justify favouritism at Newcastle three weeks ago, however perhaps there was a valid excuse because he just didn't spark and quite frankly ran too badly to be true.

With total prize money of £28,000 up for grabs, the seven-furlong Listed Sunwin Renault Stakes at Haydock is by far and away the most valuable race of the day.

David Chapman's Quito is the class act in the line-up, but he's a better betting proposition coming off a fast pace over six furlongs. By contrast, Welsh Emperor demonstrated superior tactical speed to score over track and trip last month, a win which brings plenty to the table in terms of today's challenge.

In the earlier Lookers Handicap, Jimmy Fortune's booking for Morgan Lewis (3.20) is a well-thought out ploy by trainer Jonathan Geake.

Geake, who took over the reins from Toby Balding in the spring, has clearly appreciated the fact that Morgan Lewis requires strong-arm tactics, something the terrier-like Fortune is renowned for executing.

Inchpast (8.25) represents the confident nap selection for the binarybet.com Handicap over a mile-and-three-quarters at Sandown.

This extremely progressive young staying horse did nothing but improve throughout 2004, neither was there any suggestion that positive trend was about to come to an abrupt end when Inchpast finished a most encouraging third on his Nottingham reappearance.

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