Dalgleish mob-handed on day where owners and trainers will be eating like horses

2.35 Hamiltontotesport.com Buttonhook Handicap | 1m5f | 4yo+ | ITV/RUK

And you thought Aidan O’Brien was keen to win the 1,000 Guineas. Four runners? The man’s not trying hard enough.

Keith Dalgleish has clearly set his heart on landing the £22,000 1m5f handicap at Hamilton for the second year running as he fields five of the 12 runners.

Last year’s first and second, Corton Lad and Kensington Star, are joined by stablemates Starplex, Euro Nightmare and Sebastian’s Wish, at a track where their trainer has had more winners than any other since he took out a licence in 2011.

"We happen to have a lot of horses looking for a similar thing," said Dalgleish, who is based just 15 miles away from Hamilton in Carluke.

"And because we're in Scotland and the race is in Scotland the owners were quite keen to run – it's decent money and it's on our doorstep."

When asked for his main hope among the five, Dalgleish said: "I can't pin-point one, they've all got a case to be made for them.

Click here to watch Corton Lad win last year's renewal

"Corton Lad won it last year on slightly quicker ground and I hope he'll be in the shake-up again. Kensington Star was second in this last year, he handles Hamilton well and should run a good race.

"Starplex won well at Thirsk, is in good form and and he shouldn't mind the ground.

"Sebastian's Wish has his first run back but he's a horse we've always liked. He had good form at Musselburgh last year and we're going somewhere different with him but I don't think the track should be an issue."

He added: "Euro Nightmare has run well at Hamilton so we have our fingers crossed for her."

Try the equine diet

Owners and trainers at Hamilton's first meeting of the year will be able to eat like a horse, thanks to award-winning chef Gary Maclean.

The Glasgow-born winner of MasterChef: The Professionals has created a dish inspired by a racehorse's diet: hay smoked celeriac with carrot caviar, parsnip crisps, carrot tuile and wheat grass dressing.

If you ever wondered what hay smoked celeriac with carrot caviar, parsnip crisps, carrot tuile and wheat grass dressing looked like...Credit: Martin Shields

Maclean, who will be giving cookery demonstrations to racegoers during the day, said: "I absolutely loved creating this dish. It will be served to the owners and trainers.

"Thankfully, horses eat really good food so taking inspiration from their diet allowed me to create a fun and playful dish."

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