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

3

(12)

20th Oct 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

19:30 Newcastle (AW)

Ventura Express

9st 8lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

Regressive 9yo who has gone over two years since his last win and is 0-8 on AW: creditable fourth of 17 at York (5f, good to firm) this summer but not the percentage call here.

10/1

5th

1

(1)

23rd Sep 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:41 Redcar

Ventura Express

9st 11lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

Last scored in July 2024 but he was running respectably this year until a lesser effort at Beverley last month; had an excuse that day (anticipated the start and missed the break) and he's on a tempting mark; considered.

9/4

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

1st

3

(2)

16th Sep 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 10y

Class 5

13:45 Sandown

Good Earth

9st 10lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Michael Herrington

Dual C&D winner who is back to the mark he was successful from at Haydock (6f, good to firm) in April; fair fourth over C&D 19 days ago; sports first-time cheekpieces on this 107th start and he warrants consideration.

9/2

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

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

5th

13

(12)

16th Oct 2026

Heavy

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

17:07 Haydock

Moonstone Boy

9st 3lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Jennie Candlish

Losing run goes back 14 races to May 2025 but he was a good fourth over C&D (heavy) last month and wasn't seen to best effect at Chester (6f, heavy) subsequently; not written off now back here.

14/1

6th

14

(6)

19th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 6f 17y

Class 4

15:46 Chester

Moonstone Boy

8st 13lb

J: William Pyle

T: Jennie Candlish

A four-time 5f scorer for Iain Jardine; yet to add to that for his current handler but much better signs after five months off with fourth of 11 in 5f Haydock handicap (heavy) 15 days ago; goes well on soft ground and a likely player.

12/1

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

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

7th

8

(4)

28th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 5f 7y

Class 5

16:38 Hamilton

Never Dark

8st 7lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Iain Jardine

Placed just a couple of times this term; remains on a long losing sequence, unlike fellow 9yo Impressor, but can't be dismissed off current mark; won a better race on this card two years ago.

10/1

17th

19

(19)

17th Sep 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

14:00 Ayr

Never Dark

8st 10lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Iain Jardine

Placed twice in Class 6 last month but failed to live up to market expectations at Carlisle last week, extending his long losing run; this 9yo needs to raise his game, back up in grade.

14/1

7th

9

(4)

9th Sep 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

15:47 Carlisle

Never Dark

9st 4lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Iain Jardine

Can lead; the latest of his nine wins came in Hamilton handicap (5f, soft) in September 2024 and that was off a mark 24lb higher than today's; solid third behind Royal Duke over this C&D two weeks ago and the recent rain will be in his favour; cheekpieces return for the first time since 2022 and he's respected.

7/1

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