Race guide and tip: £100,000 Phoenix Utilities Lanark Silver Bell

Congratulations to Hamilton Park for staging its richest-ever race on Friday, the £100,000 Phoenix Utilities Lanark Silver Bell - a prize fund nearly double that of the Listed EBF Glasgow Stakes and part of the track's £1.6m total prize money offering for 2022.

“Hamilton Park are committed to delivering an aspirational race programme," says Racecourse Manging Director Ashley Moon. "The upgrade of the Lanark Silver Bell to a Heritage Handicap will see our ambitions realised as we have always aimed to develop such a historic race."

The course has certainly been rewarded with a good field and a good race in prospect with 15 runners set to line up, including two fancied Newmarket raiders.

We break down the talking points of this year's race, give you some names to look out for and a big-race tip below. Enjoy the big race live at 6.53pm this Friday on Racing TV!

William Haggas won this race with the well-backed Mahrajaan last year and lightning could well strike twice with the likeable and progressive Pride Of Priory.

Bidding for a four-timer, he looked the best he has to date last time when sauntering to success on Shergar Cup day at Ascot. He looked more workmanlike in two all-weather wins before that, but he deserves credit for making up ground in slowly-run races that proved a real dash for home. His recent form has substance, but there may be a lack of pace despite the decent-sized field here and that’s a slight concern.

That said, I would expect his early price to contract and I wouldn’t want to lay the 3-1 – in fact, I wouldn’t really want to lay anything more than 2-1. He holds fairly compelling claims.

Strawberri is next best at 11-2, and how she relished her first attempt at a mile and a half last time is the biggest factor to her chance here. She impressed both visually and on the clock in the final furlong at Kempton and the 6lb rise is fair, so she might have a bit of wriggle room fro her current rating given there is still more to come over this distance. However, this is tougher and she hasn't been obviously missed at the early prices.

I thought Haliphon (13-2) was quite impressive at Chester last time, winning from a long way back under this rider and in first-time cheekpieces. Alfred Boucher was in behind. While not looking ungenuine, he lost in two close finishes before that when looking the winner (especially at Epsom three starts ago) but both races recorded very fast closing speeds and perhaps the emphasis on pace didn’t suit – the Chester race had a much more even finishing speed percentage. His York form from two starts back reads pretty well here but there’s a fair chance this could be another relative dash for home.

Cormier (7-1) similarly impressed at Chester last time and he's entitled to improve from that return, while he was forced wider than ideal throughout yet finished with a real flourish. He has good career strike-rate and we know about his smart jumps form, but the 8lb rise for winning a race in which they finished well-strung out in form which looks questionable is a concern ahead of this rise in class.

Haveyoumissedme (11-1) progressed well in handicaps last year and has performed with credit and consistency this term. He looked to press for home a fraction early in the Northumberland Vase two starts ago but stuck on well and that form has stood scrutiny with his rating only 2lb higher now. He wa beaten by Pride Of Priory, but while the Haggas horse looked to have improved there is an 11lb swing at the weights now. His mark looks reasonable and he could be the possible pace angle.

Sir Chauvelin (10-1) was comfotaby beaten at a big price two starts ago but he was was something of an eyecatcher at Chester off ast early sectionals, lobbing away nicely and travelling into contention well when one of the last off the bridle when his run was interrupted and closing to the line despite not being knocked about. He travelled strongly again in victory at Musselburgh from a long way back and he's clearly in good heart despite his advancing years. He is the choice of Paul Mulrennan from the Jim Goldie runners.

Forza Orta (9-1) shaped quite well at Ayr two starts ago when early freshness probably compromised his final-furlong effoirt when looking likely to make a strong challenge. That was better than the formbook superficially suggests and he held on well and won nicely at York last time.

While Faylaq is clearly not the most lilely winner, I don't think he should be the 50-1 rag here and there was a bit more encouragement to his latest effort at this track over two furlongs shorter.

He absolutely blew the start and was hurried along to catch up despite the field not going that fast early on, while he fired the quickest split three furlongs from home in an inefficient performance but stayed on to the line. Wherther this trip is his optimum is open to questrion and surely his best days are behind him, but he could go better than the odds suggest and I'll at least monitor 'without the favourite' and extra place markets.

Wickywickywheels (11-1) is by far the most interesting and, like the favourite, bids for a four-timer here. She has thrived with racing and boasts fine form figures at this track, but this is a big hike in class. You'd imagine connections are coming here more in hope than expectation, but she has genuinely looked better with each run and a bold bid can't be ruled out.

The Mark and Charlie Johnston pair look to have it to do, with March Law (22-1) often finding less than likly at the business end and having more than something to find on collateral form. He's one of the more likely ones to go forward. State Of Bliss (22-1) haas not been given much slack by the handicapper for recent efforts but did OK on his return at Ascot last time, but his forward position looked to be an advantage under Frankie Dettori and he didn't hit the line very strongly. However, he's entitled to improve from that.

This is late in the day for Tilsitt to be going up to this distance and on his recent sectional efforts he will not stay the trip - he posted the slowest final split of the first five home last time and hasn't hit the line well in bothr ecent runs - while it's difficult to see how the headstrong Southern Voyage can reverse form with Pride Of Priory. He's settling down and may get better still in time, but this big prize might come a bit early in his development.

An exciting race awaits and PRIDE OF PRIORY is a worthy favourite. The more even pace the better for him, but he has overcome sprints for home in recent starts too (in races that had subsequent substance to boot) and you probably need him on side. There is mileage in early 3-1 quotes.

Of the rest, HAVEYOUMISSEDME is a likeable sort from a feasible mark and could get the run of things if connections decide to press on with him. Pride Of Priory may be difficult to crack but he has a sniff at these weights, especially if he ends getting a forward position and a tactical advantage in a race which seems to lack obvious pace angles. I think he's an each-way bet at his current odds.