MASTER BOND can scorch a trail to victory in the Chatelherault Palace Handicap at Hamilton.

David O’Meara’s speed merchant slightly lost his way after winning so well at Beverley last summer, but he seems to be nicely coming to hand for this five-furlong dash.

The gelded son of Misu Bond endured a spell in the doldrums since his two-anda- quarter-length cakewalk on the Westwood, but he has begun this season brightly enough.

A close-up third on his seasonal bow at Thirsk was much more like it, while he again ran with honour in a decent six-furlong handicap at York on June 14.

Master Bond looked the winner for a long way on the Knavesmire, but he flattened out at the business end and ended up finishing fifth, beaten five and a quarter lengths by stablemate Highland Acclaim. The form might not yet have amounted to too much, but O’Meara’s five-year-old is clearly in a far happier place than during an uneventful all-weather campaign in the winter.

Just as important is the fact he is still on the same mark off which he won at Beverley last year.

Any rainfall would be helpful, but Master Bond is reasonably versatile on that front as he faces seven uninspiring rivals who are neither in form nor unexposed.

Rebecca Romero is likely to have more fortune at Bath than she did on her most recent outing a fortnight ago.

Denis Coakley’s seven-yearold must carry top weight in the New Horse Racing Odds At unibet.co.uk Fillies’ Handicap but she remains well treated on her best form.

Connections will also argue that there were credible reasons why she did not trouble the judge when last seen at Salisbury in a five-furlong sprint.

Rebecca Romero is already a course-and-distance winner and has often posted her finest efforts on a racecourse when the ground is fast.

Last Minute Lisa deserves recognition in the Mayo Wynne Baxter Solicitors Handicap at Brighton.