August 15 / 16.30 Nottingham

16.30

Good

Weatherbys Hamilton Handicap (Jockey Club Grassroots Sprint Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £6280.8
  • 0m 6f 18y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
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Weatherbys Hamilton Handicap (Jockey Club Grassroots Sprint Series Qualifier)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £2.30

Form: 1-4145 D BF

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Justified favouritism in Ripon handicap (6f, good) in May but a couple of backward steps since then and her trainer turns to cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(6)

26th Sep 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:45 Newmarket

Pinafore

9st 8lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

prominent, pressed leader over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong

3/1

7th

2

(4)

22nd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

17:20 York

Pinafore

9st 9lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: William Haggas

Had a spirited end to 2023, winning a handicap and runner-up in a Listed race (both 6f on soft; effective on good to firm) but this year hasn't gone so well and she hasn't repeated a good second, when upped to 7f in a Listed race at Musselburgh in June, in two runs since; blinkers now replace cheekpieces; needs a turnaround.

20/1

3/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 213412 CD BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Doing well in handicaps and a stronger pace would have helped when finishing well for second at Yarmouth behind Dark Trooper, who completed a hat-trick at Ascot on Saturday; seriously considered off 1lb higher; consistent no matter what the ground is.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(17)

12th Apr 2026

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

18:45 Musselburgh

Northern Spirit

9st 8lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

Effective on AW and turf; respectable third in big field at Doncaster (6f) returned to this sphere last time; remains on a workable mark and gained last two wins over 5f.

11/1

3rd

18

(3)

29th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 2y

Class 3

17:15 Doncaster

Northern Spirit

8st 6lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Brian Ellison

Usually slowly away but his refusal to race at Newcastle in January was a first; won't mind getting back on the grass and he is proven in big-field handicaps; could go well at a price.

33/1

7th

2

(1)

6th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Northern Spirit

9st 7lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

Usually slowly away but his refusal to race here last month was a first; ran okay over 7f here last week and capable of a big run but he is a risky proposition.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 119 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Maiden/novice wins before reportedly making a noise when down the field upped to 7f for handicap debut at Haydock (after being gelded); remains unexposed and a tongue-tie is added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(3)

29th Jul 2024

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 4

16:00 Southwell (AW)

Johnny James

10st 3lb

J: Sam Feilden

T: Michael Appleby

led narrowly

10/1

10th

5

(11)

4th Feb 2024

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 3

19:00 Newcastle (AW)

Johnny James

9st 5lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Michael Appleby

Won his first two races; 0-5 since gelded but runner-up in his last three and this prominent racer should go well again.

6/1

2nd

2

(1)

19th Jan 2024

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 4

14:15 Wolverhampton (AW)

Johnny James

9st 9lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

led

5/1

Form: 812925 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Having a decent season and wasn't helped by his track position last time at Newmarket; might just be vulnerable to sharper improvers off his current mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(9)

19th Oct 2026

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 5

18:00 Southwell (AW)

Spirit Of Applause

9st 9lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

Reliable as clockwork since returning from a seven-month break but the handicapper cuts him no slack as a consequence; fine on Tapeta and can give his running again.

6/1

5th

3

(1)

1st Oct 2026

Good

0m 6f 18y

Class 5

16:50 Nottingham

Spirit Of Applause

9st 10lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Losing turf run goes back to summer 2024 but he was unlucky not to put that right at Redcar (6f, good) in August and he's finished in the frame more often than not on this course; on the premises.

13/2

5th

14

(5)

15th Sep 2026

Good

0m 5f 217y

Class 4

15:23 Redcar

Spirit Of Applause

9st 3lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

On a losing run but only just failed over C&D in August (having suffered a poor run) and posted another solid effort when fourth of ten at Ripon (6f) two weeks ago; should remain competitive.

16/1

9/2

Form: 13 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Made a winning debut at Doncaster (6f, good) and ran okay when penalised at Ripon behind last week's Haydock winner Unequal Love; doesn't look on too bad a mark for handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(7)

1st May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

16:05 Newmarket

Billyjoh

8st 13lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Michael Appleby

His losing sequence goes back 22 races to February 2024; however, he's often run well in the interim and he's been given a bit of help from the handicapper ahead of this reappearance; can be in the mix if fully tuned up.

10/1

8th

11

(9)

10th Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 192y

Class 2

13:30 York

Billyjoh

8st 10lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

5yo whose 31 starts have been at 5f-7f and his losing spell goes back to February 2024; however, he's run many big races in the interim, most recently at Goodwood (7f, good to firm) in August when finishing strongly for a share of third, and on that evidence this first crack at 1m is well worth a go.

8/1

Form: 45-127 D

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Won an AW novice in April before going down narrowly on handicap debut at Hamilton (6f, good to soft) in May; reportedly unsuited by the soft ground when last at Doncaster.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

(5)

22nd Jun 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

16:15 Redcar

Mountain Warrior

8st 7lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Edward Bethell

Kickstarted 2024 with 6f Southwell success and he's continued in good form, a close sixth of 12 at Doncaster (5f) three weeks ago; can go well.

8/1

6th

11

(5)

1st Jun 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 3y

Class 3

19:20 Doncaster

Mountain Warrior

8st 13lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: Edward Bethell

Dual 6f winner at Southwell (AW); good second dropped to 5f at Carlisle (good to firm) most recently, meeting traffic then keeping on well once in the clear; unexposed at this distance and warrants respect off unaltered mark.

13/2

2nd

1

(2)

20th May 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

19:00 Carlisle

Mountain Warrior

9st 10lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Edward Bethell

Both wins over 6f on Tapeta at Southwell; led until folding in the final 1f at Thirsk (6f, good to soft) most recently, suggesting this drop in distance is worth a shot.

9/1

Form: -11627 D

Last run: 57 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Won his first two starts for this yard, both over 6f (one on Polytrack, one on soft turf); was running well until Windsor last time and could bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

(10)

6th Jun 2026

Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

20:40 Lingfield

Kessaar Power

9st 5lb

J: Connor Planas

T: Phil McEntee

Out of form on AW when last seen in January/February but ought to cope well if the ground remains soft and is well drawn to seize the favoured nearside rail; worth a second look.

9/1

Non-runners

Havana Pusey, Pocket The Packet

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £20.60
Straight Forecast £17.52
Tricast £192.84
Trifecta £129.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Northern Spirit

Daily Mirror:

Billyjoh

POSTDATA:

Pinafore

The Guardian:

Johnny James

D Express:

Havana Pusey

TOPSPEED:

Spirit Of Applause

NEWMARKET:

Kessaar Power

Daily Record:

Billyjoh

Telegraph:

Pinafore

RP RATINGS:

Northern Spirit

The Times:

Northern Spirit

Daily Mail:

Northern Spirit

The Sun:

Northern Spirit

The Star:

Northern Spirit