September 30 / 16.10 Hamilton

16.10

Good To Soft

Barbara Ann Letham And Son Johnathan Memorial Handicap

  • Prize money: £8897.8
  • 0m 5f 7y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
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Barbara Ann Letham And Son Johnathan Memorial Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

Form: 191637 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
A dual 5f scorer this term but he came in only seventh of nine in 6f Thirsk handicap last month; he's the sort to bounce back, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(3)

13th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

15:45 Beverley

Ventura Express

9st 5lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

Has drawn a blank since scoring over C&D in July 2024 but he's on a dangerous mark and latest keeping-on fourth of 17 at York (5f, good to firm) was encouraging with a return to a stiff 5f in mind (all six wins here and at Pontefract).

11/2

Form: 54-575 D

Last run: 87 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Winless since his debut but has encouraging form this term, fifth in 5f Doncaster handicap in July; has since had wind surgery and needs considering after a break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(1)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

13:30 York

Mon Na Slieve

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Kevin Ryan

Prominent racer; on a lenient mark but his losing sequence is mounting and he had no obvious excuses when beating just one home at Beverley three weeks ago.

11/1

7th

7

(4)

3rd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

19:02 Beverley

Mon Na Slieve

9st 6lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Kevin Ryan

Prominent racer; on a good mark and his latest Hamilton third offered hope he would be adding to his tally soon; tongue-tie returns today; considered.

9/2

3rd

8

(3)

25th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 7y

Class 3

19:30 Hamilton

Mon Na Slieve

9st 6lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Kevin Ryan

Beaten just a nose at Newcastle (5f, AW) in March and close fifth of 13 over this C&D (good) last month; might not be far away if he's on a going day but he's been up and down this season and was soundly beaten at Thirsk (5f, good) last time.

11/1

OUR TIP

Form: 693115 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Landed 5f handicaps at Newmarket and Sandown last month then posted a good fifth off this mark at Doncaster (5f) 15 days ago; that form has been franked so he's a player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(7)

28th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 10y

Class 5

15:00 Sandown

Good Earth

9st 12lb

J: Connor Planas

T: Michael Herrington

Recorded his 13th turf win when scoring in good style at Haydock (6f, good to firm) in April; only 2lb higher here, but has mixed record since that last success and he was down the field at Beverley last time; others are more persuasive.

11/2

6th

5

(9)

13th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

15:45 Beverley

Good Earth

9st 6lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Michael Herrington

Recorded his 13th turf win when scoring in good style at Haydock (6f, good to firm) in April; respectable fifth of ten at Newmarket (6f, good to firm) 13 days ago but he remains 4lb above the mark he defied at Haydock.

11/1

5th

1

(1)

31st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

19:00 Newmarket (July)

Good Earth

10st 0lb

J: Connor Planas

T: Michael Herrington

Recorded his 13th turf win when scoring in good style at Haydock (6f, good to firm) in April; struggled at York last time but that was a highly competitive Class 4 event and he was runner-up here (5f, good to firm) on his penultimate run; has claims if he can recapture that form and he's not ruled out on this drop back in grade.

8/1

Form: 630711 CD

Last run: 38 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Arrives on a hat-trick after back-to-back C&D victories; has a 6lb higher mark to overcome now but he's not taken lightly in his current mood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

12

(7)

4th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:47 Haydock

Moonstone Boy

9st 3lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Jennie Candlish

He has no problem with soft ground but hasn't scored since last May and there were diminishing returns in four starts for this yard earlier in the year; career-low mark, however, and maybe a 147-day break will have chalked his cue; watch the market.

20/1

8th

4

(1)

10th Apr 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

18:10 Thirsk

Moonstone Boy

9st 12lb

J: Luke Catton

T: Jennie Candlish

Four wins over 5f for Iain Jardine, but unplaced in three starts on the AW since returning for this yard in January; 8lb below last winning mark, but drying ground and return to 6f pose questions; cheekpieces return.

12/1

7th

2

(12)

5th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

19:30 Newcastle (AW)

Moonstone Boy

9st 9lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Jennie Candlish

A fair 5f scorer for Iain Jardine; shaped encouragingly for his new yard when fourth at Southwell (5f) in January but raced too freely over 6f when seventh at Wolverhampton since; can bounce back here.

16/1

Form: 260007 CD

Last run: 2 days

W: 9st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Scored at Nottingham (5f) in July and not disgraced when seventh in 5f Haydock handicap two days ago; possibilities.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

9

(13)

27th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

16:00 Carlisle

Never Dark

9st 4lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Iain Jardine

Can lead; recorded the latest of his nine wins when taking Hamilton handicap (5f, soft) in September 2024; now 23lb lower but was only sixth of ten back at that track last Friday; career-low mark and any rain would be welcome.

12/1

6th

9

(12)

21st Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 7y

Class 6

20:15 Hamilton

Never Dark

9st 5lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Iain Jardine

Has won nine races, two over C&D (good to soft/soft); 3.5l second to Tanjen over C&D last time but meets her on the same terms, so may struggle to turn that form around.

8/1

2nd

5

(3)

11th Aug 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 7y

Class 6

17:30 Hamilton

Never Dark

9st 5lb

J: Jude Fernandes

T: Iain Jardine

Without a success since September 2024 but that did come over this C&D off a 22lb higher mark; faded into seventh of 11 here ten days ago but it would be no surprise to see him go well.

8/1

Form: 236725

Last run: 34 days

W: 8st 13lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
It's now 16 outings since her last victory but she comes here in good order, fifth of 11 at Ripon (6f) last month; she's one for the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(9)

30th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 7y

Class 3

16:10 Hamilton

Origintrail

8st 13lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Ben Haslam

It's now 16 outings since her last victory but she comes here in good order, fifth of 11 at Ripon (6f) last month; she's one for the shortlist.

8/1

5th

3

(8)

27th Aug 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:00 Ripon

Origintrail

9st 12lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Ben Haslam

Beaten on her last 15 starts going back to May 2022 but has often run really well in the interim, including when going close in this last year (good) and when runner-up here (5f, good) three weeks ago in first-time tongue-tie and cheekpieces (both retained); also effective on slow ground; player.

7/1

Form: 310409 C BF

Last run: 8 days

W: 8st 11lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Course winner in August but she beat only one back here (6f) eight days ago; it would come as no surprise to see her bounce back, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

(1)

13th Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 3

15:52 Musselburgh

Rock Melody

8st 9lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Jim Goldie

Record of 0-9 this season but she's much better off with Jannas Journey on C&D running four starts ago; successful off higher marks in this race for the last two years; very attractively weighted and warrants respect.

11/2

6th

9

(3)

9th Oct 2025

Heavy

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:25 Ayr

Rock Melody

8st 12lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Jim Goldie

Soft-ground winner who is below her last winning mark and ran some pretty good races in defeat last month; however, she made it 0-8 for the year when finishing last here (7f, soft) last week and has to bounce back.

14/1

9

(4)

30th Sep 2025

Soft

0m 7f 50y

Class 4

15:30 Ayr

Rock Melody

9st 5lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Jim Goldie

In reasonable form, having made the frame in last three starts, latest over C&D when one place behind Quest For Fun; 2lb below last winning mark; enters the reckoning.

8/1

Form: 117-00 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 8st 10lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
A dual 5f AW scorer at two but he's cut little ice in two turf runs this summer, beating only one at York (5f) 22 days ago; he needs to take a big step forward.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

11

(3)

20th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 4

18:30 Southwell (AW)

Monks Dream

9st 4lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

Has gained all four of his wins at Newcastle, with the most recent of those successes coming there over 5f 16 days ago; 3lb rise looks fair but he was well beaten when last seen over 6f.

8/1

1st

2

(4)

4th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

19:00 Newcastle (AW)

Monks Dream

9st 8lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

All three of his wins have come at Newcastle and he has run some good races this winter, including his latest third when keeping on after an awkward start (not his first); capable at this level; respected.

9/2

Non-runners

Digital

Selections

The Times:

Moonstone Boy

SPOTLIGHT:

Good Earth

Daily Mirror:

Mon Na Slieve

D Express:

Origintrail

POSTDATA:

Ventura Express

RP RATINGS:

Never Dark

Telegraph:

Moonstone Boy

The Guardian:

Moonstone Boy

Daily Mail:

Moonstone Boy

The Sun:

Moonstone Boy

The Star:

Moonstone Boy

TOPSPEED:

Good Earth

Daily Record:

Good Earth