HARD-LUCK stories are part and parcel of the game and punters tend not to dwell on them too long, but it may take a while for those who lost money on Verinco at Hamilton last time out to forget how cruel the gambling fates can be.
Yards from the winning post, Bryan Smart's colt was a length and a half clear of his field and only had to put one foot in front of the other a couple more times and he was home and hosed.
That simple manoeuvre proved to be beyond him and
having been spooked by something, he jinked to his right and unseated jockey Tom Eaves.
The partnership are re-united at the Lanarkshire track this evening when, in an attempt to ensure no repeat, Verinco will wear a pair of blinkers and Eaves will wear a pair of Velcro riding breeks.
With a healthy £16,000 in prize money on offer, it's a pity the main event of the night, the EBF fillies' contest, should have such a one-sided look to it with the form of Flying Clarets looking head and shoulders above anything her rivals have mustered.
With a bit of luck, this fact may escape the notice of the bookies but don't bet on it so those who want to play will have to dig deep.
Tonight's fixture is the first to be held in Scotland since the sudden death of Freddie Williams at the weekend and a minute's silence will be held for "Fearless" prior to a first race that can go to Master Nimbus.
The mad dash that is the five-furlong handicap is as straightforward as all such events at Hamilton are, and having read trainer Richard Fahey's comments earlier in the week about Bo McGinty, he just has to be the choice.
The Yorkshire handler describes the top-weight as a 'real star but a complete villain', who is so clever he 'could do his own entries.'
That's all well and good if you've backed Bo McGinty to be the first equine ever to win Mastermind but even Fahey admits he hasn't got a clue when the unpredictable gelding will decide he fancies another visit to the winners' enclosure.
My crystal ball predicts it will be tonight.
Green Diamond went into his latest run at Ripon boasting a decent level of form only for Mark Johnston's runner to be beaten out of sight but he shouldn't be written off on the back of one bad run so we'll hope for better in the maiden.
Mineral Rights also ran a stinker on his most recent start but Linda Perratt's gelding is fancied to bounce back in style by landing the finale.
The nap is Legislation who, despite being bred in the purple, has thus far just the one success to his name, and that came on his juvenile debut almost a year ago.
Since then, the best bet has struggled to make his mark but he has run well enough on several occasions to give him a leading chance at Leicester this evening.
The full article contains 524 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
