May 03 / 14.40 Hamilton

14.40

Good

Heineken Buttonhook Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £15462
  • 1m 5f 16y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
ITV
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Heineken Buttonhook Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

13/8 (Won)

  • Win: £1.91
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 31-2

Last run: 72 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
160,000euros yearling; his debut third in a 1m2f Doncaster maiden last March (good to soft) worked out exceptionally well and he then won easily at Dundalk in December (1m4f; odds-on; had been gelded), at the expense of a Listed-placed rival; could be on a useful mark for handicap debut and when second to Constitution Hill at Southwell (1m4f novice) he was giving the winner 5lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(5)

3rd May 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

14:40 Hamilton

Square Necker

9st 2lb

J: Sam James

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

160,000euros yearling; his debut third in a 1m2f Doncaster maiden last March (good to soft) worked out exceptionally well and he then won easily at Dundalk in December (1m4f; odds-on; had been gelded), at the expense of a Listed-placed rival; could be on a useful mark for handicap debut and when second to Constitution Hill at Southwell (1m4f novice) he was giving the winner 5lb.

13/8

2nd

2

(5)

20th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 2

19:30 Southwell (AW)

Square Necker

9st 11lb

J: David Egan

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

160,000euros yearling; two runs in these silks for two different trainers; highly encouraging close third (favourite) in a 1m2f Doncaster maiden last March that's worked out exceptionally well and he then won easily at Dundalk in December (1m4f; odds-on; had been gelded) at the expense of a Listed-placed rival; unexposed and with Group-race potential, he's a massive player.

7/4

10

(5)

29th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 43y

Class 5

16:10 Doncaster

Square Necker

9st 7lb

J: David Egan

T: Ralph Beckett

160,000euros yearling; fifth foal; brother to Listed-placed 1m/1m1f winner Titanium (RPR 104) and half-brother to French winners Presage Nocturne (12.5f/1m7f; 111) and Skade (7f/1m; 78); dam Listed-placed 1m winner (100); top yard won this with a newcomer 12 months ago; has to be of interest.

7/2

8/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: -45544 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 8st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Exposed 6yo who is 7-27 on AW surfaces but 1-12 on turf; respectable runs of late at Musselburgh but wouldn't be the obvious answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

13

(5)

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 39y

Class 2

13:30 Carlisle

Humble Spark

8st 3lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Tough 6yo with seven wins to his name; beaten favourite at Hamilton (1m3f, good) last time but shaped quite nicely, keeping on into second place after a slow start and meeting trouble; place possibilities again at the very least.

10/1

2nd

6

(7)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 15y

Class 3

19:15 Hamilton

Humble Spark

8st 5lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Jim Goldie

Held up; exposed 6yo who is 6-27 on AW surfaces but 1-13 on turf; however, that solitary turf win was over C&D (2024) and he wasn't far away back on turf for last three outings; case can be made.

7/2

OUR TIP

Form: 5118/4

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
4-15 for David Simcock; absent for 582 days after a heavy defeat on debut for this yard and last week's comeback run at Musselburgh was just okay (2m, good); others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

(7)

31st May 2026

Good

2m 0f 13y

Class 3

18:15 Thirsk

Mountain Road

9st 5lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

4-15 for David Simcock; four runs for current yard, absent 582 days before this season's, in which he showed that significant ability remains; needs to build on those performances but going back up from the 1m5f of last two outings should suit and he continues down the weights; case can be made.

10/1

5th

7

(12)

17th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

16:45 Hamilton

Mountain Road

9st 4lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

4-15 for David Simcock; absent for 582 days before having two runs for new yard this spring, runs which showed that significant ability remains but he needs to build on those performances.

16/1

3rd

2

(6)

3rd May 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

14:40 Hamilton

Mountain Road

9st 4lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

4-15 for David Simcock; absent for 582 days after a heavy defeat on debut for this yard and last week's comeback run at Musselburgh was just okay (2m, good); others preferred.

10/1

Form: 127/02 BF

Last run: 16 days

W: 8st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Three-time winner; showed the benefit of his return from a long absence when giving it a good go from the front in a 1m6f handicap at Wolverhampton 16 days ago; whether he can improve again is debatable and this is tougher.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(6)

1st Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:35 Newbury

Baileys Khelstar

9st 9lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Charlie Johnston

Missed the whole of 2025; needs to put a lesser effort in a 0-95 contest at Hamilton (1m5f, good) last month behind him, but this is easier and he is just 1lb higher than for his last win, which came over this trip.

7/1

4th

5

(4)

3rd May 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

14:40 Hamilton

Baileys Khelstar

8st 10lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Charlie Johnston

Three-time winner; showed the benefit of his return from a long absence when giving it a good go from the front in a 1m6f handicap at Wolverhampton 16 days ago; whether he can improve again is debatable and this is tougher.

8/1

2nd

1

(2)

17th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 4

15:18 Wolverhampton (AW)

Baileys Khelstar

9st 9lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Charlie Johnston

Three wins including an emphatic success at Southwell (1m6f, Tapeta) on his 4yo reappearance, but he has plenty to prove having been beaten a very long way on his return from almost 21 months off at Musselburgh (1m6f, soft) 13 days ago.

7/1

Form: /5/4-1 C

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 9lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Smart staying handicapper on the Flat for Mick and David Easterby in 2021 when competitive at some of the major meetings; having only his second run since that year when winning well over 2m at Beverley last month (good to soft); still useful, clearly, and has only gone up 2lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(12)

31st May 2026

Good

2m 0f 13y

Class 3

18:15 Thirsk

Elysian Flame

10st 0lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Samantha & Jacqueline Coward

Smart staying handicapper for Mick and David Easterby in 2021 when competitive at some of the top meetings; only his second run since when winning over 2m at Beverley (good to soft; 2lb higher today) in April, while 1m5f helps to explain his last of five at Hamilton four weeks ago; not dismissed.

16/1

5th

1

(3)

3rd May 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

14:40 Hamilton

Elysian Flame

9st 9lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Samantha & Jacqueline Coward

Smart staying handicapper on the Flat for Mick and David Easterby in 2021 when competitive at some of the major meetings; having only his second run since that year when winning well over 2m at Beverley last month (good to soft); still useful, clearly, and has only gone up 2lb.

13/2

1st

2

(4)

15th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 32y

Class 3

16:00 Beverley

Elysian Flame

10st 0lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Samantha & Jacqueline Coward

Developed into a pretty smart staying handicapper on the Flat for Mick and David Easterby in 2021, finishing third in 2m4f handicaps at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood; respectable fifth of 32 in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket (2m2f) in October of that year but not seen again until fourth of six at Ayr (1m5f, good to soft) last September; there was enough in that to suggest he retains ability but he's been absent for another seven months and isn't the easiest to assess.

6/1

Non-runners

Galyx

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.60
Straight Forecast £3.46
Trifecta £16.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Square Necker

LAMBOURN:

Galyx

RP RATINGS:

Baileys Khelstar

TOPSPEED:

Humble Spark

The Star:

Mountain Road

NEWMARKET:

Square Necker

The Times:

Square Necker

D Express:

Square Necker

Daily Mirror:

Square Necker

Daily Record:

Square Necker

Telegraph:

Galyx

The Sun:

Galyx

POSTDATA:

Baileys Khelstar

The Guardian:

Humble Spark