May 05 / 14.05 Hamilton

14.05

Good To Soft

Apex Traffic Management Ltd Buttonhook Handicap

  • Prize money: £15462
  • 1m 5f 16y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
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Apex Traffic Management Ltd Buttonhook Handicap

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 6337-4 D BF

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Probably best known for his AW exploits but scored in pretty good style on turf at Ayr (1m5f, good to soft) in September; only 2lb higher here and made quite pleasing reappearance when fourth on Polytrack last month; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(2)

5th Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 100y

17:30 Sligo

Capital Theory

9st 10lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: H D McGuigan

Six wins in Britain; gained a first Irish success at Naas last October, scoring at 25-1 in a 16-runner handicap; previous form included a second placing in a Ballinrobe claimer, and sixth of 12 in the corresponding race to this; seasonal debut.

12/1

27

(20)

21st Oct 2025

Soft

1m 2f 0y

17:00 Curragh

Capital Theory

10st 5lb

J: Sadhbh Tormey

T: H D McGuigan

Had this rider aboard when scoring at Naas nine days ago, with Considering back in third; worth considering; first reserve.

2

(16)

12th Oct 2025

Yielding

1m 2f 125y

16:55 Naas

Capital Theory

9st 12lb

J: Sadhbh Tormey

T: H D McGuigan

Step in the right direction at Bellewstown recently (1m4f, soft); drop in trip could suit.

12/1

16/1

  • Place: £3.90

Form: 440-09 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 6lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Excellent servant to stable over the years, with two major handicaps and three Group 3s among his haul of wins; long in the tooth now, though, and can't blame the soft ground for his two heavy defeats this spring; moves back up from 1m2f today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

9

(10)

26th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 2f 43y

Class 2

15:15 Doncaster

Euchen Glen

9st 8lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

11yo who has won just once since 2021 but that came at Ayr (1m5f, good to firm) this June; has run well several times this year, including when fourth of 13 at York (1m2f, soft) a fortnight ago, and might not be far away.

20/1

4th

5

(6)

12th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 2f 56y

Class 2

14:05 York

Euchen Glen

9st 0lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

11yo now but he's had a few bright moments this season, including second of eight to Kihavah at Ayr (1m5f, good to firm) three weeks ago; his sixth of 20 in the John Smith's Cup over C&D in July shows he's still effective over shorter trips.

20/1

2nd

3

(5)

21st Sep 2024

Good

1m 5f 26y

Class 3

17:15 Ayr

Euchen Glen

9st 12lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

in touch with leaders against rail, going okay 3f out, keeping on and went second over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, no match for winner

6/1

Form: 551-41

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Late-maturing 6yo who won three times last year (1m3f-1m4f) and took form to another new level with eased-down success at Thirsk (1m4f, soft) a fortnight ago; another 6lb higher now but still commands respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

16:05 Carlisle

Two Brothers

12st 5lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Michael & David Easterby

Finished strongly to force a dead heat with Ryebridge over C&D (good to soft) on his handicap hurdle debut 13 days ago; wore cheekpieces on that occasion but they are now replaced by the visor he wore regularly during his Flat career; retains handicapping scope on his useful form in that sphere.

4/1

1st

1

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

14:15 Carlisle

Two Brothers

12st 0lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Michael & David Easterby

Has made the frame in two races at Wetherby (2m) since switched to this code; opening hurdles mark is very attractive judged on best Flat form; possibilities.

100/30

5th

1

(2)

28th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 4f 13y

Class 4

14:10 Catterick

Two Brothers

10st 2lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Michael & David Easterby

3lb lower than when winning at York (1m2f, soft) a year ago and very likely to have his optimum conditions, but a leap of faith is required following two poor efforts since returning from 308 days off last month.

6/1

Form: 2239-6 D

Last run: 51 days

W: 8st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Very versatile regarding ground and was largely consistent last season but has not won since summer 2021 and was a shade disappointing when midfield on seasonal debut at Newcastle (1m2f, AW) in March, given he usually runs well when fresh.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(5)

2nd Sep 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

13:45 Newcastle (AW)

Ravenscraig Castle

9st 9lb

J: Cara Tuke

T: Iain Jardine

Without a win on the Flat since 2021 and he came in only ninth of 12 in 1m2f Ayr handicap 23 days ago; others appeal more.

9/1

9th

7

(5)

10th Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

16:15 Ayr

Ravenscraig Castle

9st 8lb

J: Cara Tuke

T: Iain Jardine

Largely consistent hurdler who returned to the Flat with respectable fourth (just behind Penelope's Sister) over C&D (good to firm) a fortnight ago; 1lb lower today and might be better suited by the slightly slower ground; each-way claims at least.

6/1

4th

4

(10)

27th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

17:20 Ayr

Ravenscraig Castle

9st 7lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Overall record of 3-54 but he's been placed over hurdles in his last two runs and is well handicapped on his best Flat form in 2025; hard to rule out back in this sphere and he has won at this track.

12/1

Form: 1212-2 C

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Started off for Dianne Sayer with some disappointing hurdle runs in early part of last year but did well when returned to the Flat last spring/summer, winning three times (once over 1m3f here); posted career-best effort when close second at Musselburgh (12.5f, good to soft) on seasonal reappearance a fortnight ago and ought to be right in the thick of things again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

4

(11)

24th Aug 2026

Good

1m 0f 208y

Class 5

15:15 Musselburgh

Simple Star

9st 9lb

J: Sam James

T: Gary Rutherford

Three wins over 1m4f here, the latest off 4lb higher last August (good) when with Dianne Sayer; tailed off over 1m5f here last time (slowly away); takes a significant drop in trip; cheekpieces tried.

33/1

5th

2

(3)

7th Aug 2026

Good

1m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:24 Musselburgh

Simple Star

9st 13lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Gary Rutherford

Won over a slightly shorter trip here fpr Dianne Sayer a year ago but has not been firing on all cylinders this season; managed only fourth of six here (2m, good) on last week's stable debut; needs to up his game.

20/1

4th

5

(4)

31st Jul 2026

Good

1m 7f 217y

Class 5

20:25 Musselburgh

Simple Star

9st 2lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Gary Rutherford

Three course wins over shorter but does stay this trip; mixed bag so far this year and he needs a recent stable switch (same owner) to spark something extra.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 8500/0

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Has some very useful Irish form on his CV but lost his way a bit in 2022 and, following a long absence, struggled to get competitive on last month's stable debut at Kempton (2m, AW); current ability hard to gauge.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

(5)

19th Sep 2024

Standard

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

17:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Manu Et Corde

9st 8lb

J: Christian Howarth

T: Gary Harrison

Won 1m maiden at Leopardstown as 2yo, when also placed in a Group 2, but he missed 2023 and has generally struggled in Britain this year; way down the weights and took minor honours at Carlisle (1m3f) and Chelmsford (1m6f; made most) on last two outings, but he needs to improve on that form.

14/1

3rd

3

(1)

22nd Aug 2024

Standard

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

20:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Manu Et Corde

10st 3lb

J: Christian Howarth

T: Gary Harrison

Won 1m maiden at Leopardstown as 2yo, when also placed in a Group 2, but he missed 2023 and has generally struggled for both yards in Britain this year; has dropped a long way in the weights and his latest fourth at Carlisle (1m3f) wasn't bad but he needs more back up in trip.

12/1

4th

5

(8)

5th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 39y

Class 5

18:20 Carlisle

Manu Et Corde

10st 2lb

J: Paula Muir

T: Gary Harrison

dwelt start, took keen hold, in touch with leaders, outpaced 2f out, went fourth final strides, not pace to challenge

50/1

Non-runners

Sir Chauvelin

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £23.10
Straight Forecast £27.35
Trifecta £83.50

Selections

The Times:

Simple Star

SPOTLIGHT:

Capital Theory

Daily Mirror:

Two Brothers

TOPSPEED:

Ravenscraig Castle

POSTDATA:

Sir Chauvelin

RP RATINGS:

Capital Theory

D Express:

Capital Theory

Telegraph:

Simple Star

The Sun:

Simple Star

The Star:

Simple Star

Daily Record:

Simple Star