STRIKING while the iron is hot is what every shrewd trainer strives to achieve and Alan Swinbank is aiming to do just that at Hamilton today with recent Redcar winner EUTROPIUS.

The North Yorkshire handler was delighted the way the gelding ran away from his rivals on his latest start to win by almost three lengths, a success that has earned him an 8lb hike in his rating from the weekend.

Swinbank, however, is running him this afternoon under a 6lb penalty, making him 2lb 'well-in' in the £10,000 Weatherbys Private Banking Hamiltonian Handicap. Ben Curtis again takes the ride on the six-year-old, who is fancied to defy top weight and complete a quick double.

One win from 36 outings is hardly the sort of statistic that sends punters running to have a bet, but they could do worse than to respect the chances of ELLAND ALLY, despite those depressing stats, in the Winning Groundstaff Team Apprentice Handicap.

Previously trained by Thomas Tate, the seven-year-old is now with Karen Tutty and finished third at Catterick over five furlongs two outings ago. He has since been comfortably beaten over six furlongs at Thirsk, but back to the minimum trip here and again on the easy ground he relishes, Elland Ally has a better chance than his form figures might suggest. Gemma Tutty, pictured, who rode a winner for her mother at Carlisle early in the week, has the mount on the unlikely winner, who, nevertheless, is awarded the nap vote on this occasion.

The Tuttys also have a chance with I'm Super Too on his favourite course in the Alex Fergusson Memorial Handicap, but the eight-year-old is passed over in favour of LENDAL BRIDGE from Tony Coyle's in-form Norton stable.

The gelding won at Musselburgh two outings ago and has since run a decent race in defeat under a penalty to finish fourth at Newcastle. He should go well under Barry McHugh.

Ann Duffield, whose North Yorkshire stable hit form with a vengeance last weekend when she saddled three Friday winners, runs RISK ADJUSTED in the opening Lockton Maiden Auction Stakes.

The juvenile has finished second on all his three outings to date, twice at Redcar and once at Ripon. Beaten only a short-head by Mon Beau Visage last time, Risk Adjusted may be able to go one better in this six-runner event.

The step up to one mile and five furlongs should suit EILEAN MOR in the LIB (Ladies In Business) Lunch Handicap.

Mike Smith's charge has been running well lately and found nine furlongs patently too short when fifth at Musselburgh on his latest start. A previous winner over this distance, he can retrace his steps into the winners' circle.

At Wolverhampton, Paul Hanagan warms up for Epsom's Derby-Oaks meeting on Malaf in the Price Boosts Galore @ bookies.com Handicap.

A winner on this course last November on his only juvenile outing, Malaf was a beaten favourite in handicap company at Nottingham on his reappearance in April. The colt, trained by John Gosden and a stablemate of Dante Stakes 1-2 Golden Hoof and Jack Hobbs, two of the leading contenders in the Derby, should have a big say in this modest event.

Hanagan can also score on McLovin Riverdance (2-20), a respectable third at Redcar last month, while Rock Heroine (4-20) is also worthy of attention after her narrow defeat at Southwell six weeks ago.

SELECTIONS:

Hamilton

2.00 Risk Adjusted, 2.30 Elland Ally (NAP), 3.00 Euxton, 3.30 Lendal Bridge, 4.00 Eutropius, 4.30 New Lease Of Life, 5.00 Eilean Mor.

Wolverhampton

2.20 McLovin Riverdance, 2.50 Tough Call, 3.20 Haadeeth, 3.50 Rock Heroine, 4.20 Precision Five, 4.50 Malaf, 5.20 Sixties Queen