6:50 Hamilton
This Class 5 fillies' handicap at Hamilton over 6f on soft ground brings together a field of ten where the KTB Fit ratings point to a competitive but not overly deep contest. The top five in the KTB order are separated by just nine points, suggesting little between them on paper, though several hold unknowns regarding the going or the track itself. Mae Amor tops the KTB figures and is the selection, with her prior course success and drop in class key positives in a race where recent form is mixed across the principals.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is a lone leader with high confidence, pointing to an uncontested lead that could prove difficult for closers to overcome. Call Me Betty is the one horse with a pronounced front-running style and should be allowed an easy time up front from her draw in five. The remainder of the field is dominated by hold-up types, including the selection Mae Amor, Diamont Katie, Lily Pearl, Invincible Ruby, Pickersgill, Annie Edson Taylor, Thunderstorm Katie and Whiskey Kisses, with Kilfrush Desert settling in mid-division; this setup poses the key question of whether any of the patiently ridden runners can bridge the gap to a clear leader on this soft surface.
The KTB Fit ranking
-
1Mae Amor KTB Selection61/100
Mae Amor is a fair performer who has won over this trip and at this track from three visits. She has shown little on her only soft-ground start and has been a shade below best on her last two outings, though the drop in class is a positive. The filly is usually held up and produces her effort late, which could be a concern given the uncontested lead likely to be enjoyed by the front-runner. Trainer Rebecca Menzies has an 11% strike rate at Hamilton with an A/E of 1.04 from 88 runs, while David Allan posts a 14% strike rate here with an A/E of 0.96 from 476 rides. Both have solid records at the venue and the selection carries a KTB Fit of 61.
-
2Call Me Betty55/100
Call Me Betty is a fair performer on the balance of her ratings and race history. She has won at today's trip and has been competitive on soft ground, having placed once from one run on the surface, though she arrives in patchy recent form. The mare tends to make the running or race on the pace, which looks ideal in a race with a lone-leader shape and should hand her an uncontested lead. Trainer Michael Dods and jockey Connor Beasley both have solid records at Hamilton, the yard recording a 12% strike rate with an A/E of 0.73 from 529 runs and the rider a 13% strike rate with an A/E of 0.88 from 390 rides. This is her first run at the track and she carries a KTB Fit of 55.
-
3Diamont Katie54/100
Diamont Katie is a modest performer who has been in and out of form this year with a recent best of second at Carlisle. She has won at this trip but has never tackled soft ground and makes her first visit to Hamilton, leaving her with questions to answer on both counts. Usually held up and producing her effort late, she will need to find a way to close on the expected clear leader. Trainer K R Burke has a 16% strike rate at Hamilton with an A/E of 0.88 from 466 runs, while Clifford Lee posts a 14% strike rate with an A/E of 0.86 from 138 rides. Both have solid records at the track and she carries a KTB Fit of 54.
-
4Lily Pearl54/100
Lily Pearl is a fair 3yo with solid placed form at this level and a win already on her record at today's 6f trip. She drops back from 7f having looked stretched last time, which should suit her better, though the soft ground remains an unknown with only six runs on the board. Usually held up and producing her effort late, she will be among those trying to close the gap on the leader in a race with a pronounced lone-leader shape. The Fahey yard posts a 12% strike-rate at Hamilton from 25 runs with an A/E of 0.81, while Ethan Tindall has a 9% record from 11 rides here with an A/E of 0.82. She carries a KTB Fit of 54.
-
5Invincible Ruby52/100
Invincible Ruby is a modest performer with a solid recent record that includes two wins from her last six starts. She drops back to 6f having won twice at the trip and looks well drawn in stall 2, though her course form shows two modest efforts here without placing. Usually held up and producing her effort late, she will need to overcome the likely clear leader. Both trainer Iain Jardine and jockey Jack Nicholls have strong Hamilton figures, the yard recording a 12% strike rate with an A/E of 0.93 from 647 runs and the rider a 25% strike rate with an A/E of 1.11 from 32 rides. Unproven on soft ground adds an unknown and she carries a KTB Fit of 52.
-
6Pickersgill49/100
Pickersgill is a modest performer who has shown consistent form this year without winning. He has a solid record on soft ground with one win from two starts and has won at this trip before, though his only run here was poor. Usually held up, trainer Iain Jardine and jockey Paul Mulrennan both have established records at Hamilton that sit close to the track average.
-
7Annie Edson Taylor48/100
Annie Edson Taylor is a modest performer who has won twice at this trip including once over course and distance. She showed her best form when winning here last season and has placed on soft ground, though her recent form has been patchy with a string of mid-pack finishes. Both trainer Phillip Makin and jockey Sam James have solid records at Hamilton.
-
8Thunderstorm Katie48/100
Thunderstorm Katie is a modest performer with a solid recent record and a course win here from ten starts. She has won three times at this trip but is 0-3 on soft ground so that side of things is unproven. Trainer Jim Goldie has a 10% strike-rate at Hamilton from a big sample while the jockey is operating above expectations with a 14% strike-rate from 59 rides.
-
9Kilfrush Desert47/100
Kilfrush Desert is a modest performer who has shown consistent placed form without winning. She steps up to 6f today having been placed both previous runs at the trip while last time out was a solid second over 5f. Trainer Kevin Ryan has a 20% strike rate at Hamilton from 692 runs and Kevin Stott rides with a 17% strike rate from 208 rides here.
-
10Whiskey Kisses40/100
Whiskey Kisses is a modest performer who has been consistent at this trip without winning, placing four times from nine attempts. She has run just once on soft ground and finished sixth of eight here on her only visit to Hamilton. Trainer and jockey both have established but modest records at the track.
KTB verdict
Mae Amor tops the KTB Fit ratings and is the selection in a race where the lone-leader pace shape could make life hard for those held up off the pace. Her win over course and distance, drop in class and the solid Hamilton records of both trainer and jockey give her the most solid profile among the principals. Call Me Betty looks the main danger if allowed the uncontested lead she craves, while Diamont Katie, Lily Pearl and Invincible Ruby are the other live contenders in a field where several hold going or track doubts.
KTB Selection Mae Amor
This is the narrative read of the 6:50 Hamilton. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Hamilton racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Hamilton results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is most proven at Hamilton on this trip?
Mae Amor has won here over this trip from three visits to the track.
Who is likely to take the early lead?
Call Me Betty tends to make the running or race on the pace and should be the lone leader in a shape with high confidence.
Which runners are unproven on soft ground?
Diamont Katie, Lily Pearl, Invincible Ruby and Kilfrush Desert have no runs on soft.
What is the trainer strike rate at Hamilton for the yard of the selection?
Rebecca Menzies has an 11% strike rate at Hamilton with an A/E of 1.04 from 88 runs.
Which horse has the strongest recent Hamilton jockey record among the principals?
Jack Nicholls has a 25% strike rate at Hamilton with an A/E of 1.11 from 32 rides when riding for Iain Jardine on Invincible Ruby.
18+. Analysis and entertainment only — no guarantee of profit. KTB race previews are published for interest and are not betting advice. Only ever stake what you can comfortably afford to lose, and set your own limits. Free, confidential help: the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (GamCare.org.uk); in Ireland, the GamblingCare.ie helpline on 1800 936 725. Self-exclude at any time via GAMSTOP.
More from Kickthebookies