THOROUGHBRED racing returns to Hamilton today with an eight-race meeting kicking off with the Bet365 3YO Maiden Plate over 1200m at 1.30pm.

Recent good weather will see the rail in the true position and the track rated a Good4.

Local trainers will be looking for success in what should be a competitive day of racing.

Noble Rocks for trainer, Darren Kolpin, is slowly returning to form, with a last start sixth when only beaten 1.8 lengths an indication he is ready to win.

The nine-year-old steps out to 1600m, a distance he has won over three times at this track.

With Jack Hill riding from barrier one, I expect him to take plenty of running down in the Leo ‘Bowie’ Roberts Memorial BM58 Handicap.

James Bull will be expecting Tavolta to go one placing better in the Hygain Maiden over 1600m.

After a close-up third at this track behind Jekyll’n’hyde last meeting, natural improvement should him very competitive despite a wide barrier.

If Dean Holland can have some luck from barrier 10, the son of Tavistock should be powering home late.

Trudy Cottier will be hoping her old warrior, Allaboutattitude, can return to form after a cheeky showing in the Jericho Cup.

Back to a track and distance he likes, the nine-year-old looks a strong each-way chance if the Jericho hasn’t taken to much out of him.

Cottier also has first starter, Dollar Bucks, debuting in the opening race.

Last start Hamilton winner, Enigma, looks very hard to beat in the Phillips Farm Machinery BM58 Handicap over 1100m.

Apprentice jockey, Tianni Chapman, will bring the mare’s weight back to 60kg, 1.5kg less than her winning weight when Declan Bates rode last start in the same class.

Danbana on an each-way basis looks a great chance in the Ruth Margaret Anne Memorial BM58 Handicap over 1600m.

Trained by Nigel Blakiston and to be ridden by Jack Hill, the seven-year-old was being hailed the winner before being swamped by race favourite, Pristine Image, last start.

If he can handle the step out to 1600m, he should go close from a nice barrier draw.

A first starter from the Archie Alexander stable is an interesting runner in the Midfield Group Maiden Plate over 1400m.

Thornbirds, a three-year-old filly by Alpine Eagle, had a quiet trial at Ballarat a fortnight ago, and looks a filly that will appreciate a longer trip in time.

But Alexander has a fantastic record of producing middle-distance types ready to run well on debut and with Declan Bates riding from a good barrier, I expect the same from this filly.

Good punting.

Morg’s selections

Race 1: Mr Freeze, Frostwood, Viking Rebel.

Race 2: Vermentino, Trust In Rosie, Beswizzled.

Race 3: Thornbirds, Lunch In Biarritz, Mighty Ganges.

Race 4: Tavolta, Masina, Wheal Rose.

Race 5: Danbana, Azoustic, The Enzo.

Race 6: Pentire’s Spirit, Miss Tenthousand, Jekyll’n’hyde.

Race 7: Noble Rocks, Rockstar Dreams, That’s A Blast.

Race 8: Enigma, Rippa Buzz, Fight On Shades.