FOLLOWING four relatively disappointing efforts Beamish Prince (3.50) looks ready to bounce back to something like his best for the Intellibet Scottish Trophy at Hamilton.

Researching pedigree is all part of a trainer's job these days, not that Mark Johnston had his work cut out with Beamish Prince since he trained both his sire, Bijou d'Inde, and dam, Unconditional Love.

Both father and mother were more-than-useful on their day so it's something of a disappointment that Beamish Prince has only won one race, but in mitigation he didn't make the track as two-year-old simply because his training regime was held up by minor injury problems.

Never one to dilly-dally having already lost an entire season, Johnston then cleverly placed the selection to win at the first time of asking in a nine-furlong maiden event at Hamilton in May.

Having posted that debut success, it's hard to say just why Beamish Prince's four subsequent outings have reaped no reward, although last time out at Thirsk he hinted at being on the brink of making a welcome return to the winners' enclosure.

Keith Dalgleish, rider of Beamish Prince, also has a couple of other promising opportunities at the meeting via Love You Always (2.15) and Dispol Peto (2.50).

The former has always shaped like a decent juvenile on the Middleham gallops, while David Barron's Dispol Peto has demonstrated rock-solid form in preparation for the £8,000 Argyle Communications Nursery.

With 18 going to post for the five- furlong Ben Handicap, there should at least be plenty of value in siding with Viewforth (3.20), strongly fancied to record his fourth course win of the year for top local handler, Linda Perratt.

It's not often Sussex-based Gerard Butler takes one all the way to Scotland so he must have high hopes for Compton Commander (4.20) in the Lewes Claiming Stakes.

Compton Commander won a similar standard contest at Chester four days ago and the way the weights are framed a quick-fire double seems to be the most likely outcome.

Another trying to strike while the iron is hot is Loyal Tycoon (5.20), a cosy winner at Catterick last Tuesday.

The David Nicholls' trained sprinter once again has Kieren Fallon in the saddle, a point that will not be missed on the local bookies.

Trying to predict the end result of the ultra-competitive arenaleisureplc.com Handicap at Folkestone is pretty much a nightmare for prospective punters. Best in such cases to stick to the each-way route and side with Alec Stewart's Soltaat.

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