Stand Tall climbs well

HAMILTON'S stiff uphill finish should help Stand Tall strike winning form in the six furlong Agas Handicap today.

The Scottish track is very undulating and the severe rise throughout the final two furlongs puts the emphasis firmly on stamina, particularly when the going is on the soft side, as it will be.

Which almost certainly explains why Chris Thornton is sending Stand Tall up from Middleham.

The four year old is not short of pace, as he showed when winning three times at this trip on the all weather in the winter.

But he has been tapped for finishing speed since he returned to turf on tracks closer to home, notably when third behind Barrel of Hope at Pontefract last time out.

Stand Tall can prove the point on a course which should suit him ideally.

Martin Pipe can turn his hand to the Flat by landing the John Ferneley Handicap at Leicester with Solatium.

Solatium failed to contribute to Pipe's 2,000 over hurdles in the winter but ran a number of good races and showed a fair level of form.

He has clearly improved through the winter and Richard Quinn is the ideal jockey.