August 12 / 17.40 Hamilton

17.40

Good

Hampton By Hilton Hamilton Park “Hands And Heels” Apprentice Handicap (Racing Excellence Series)

  • Prize money: £4187.2
  • 0m 5f 7y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
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Hampton By Hilton Hamilton Park “Hands And Heels” Apprentice Handicap (Racing Excellence Series)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 633-35 D

Last run: 75 days

W: 9st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
Well treated now and this front-runner could benefit from a wind operation since last seen 11 weeks ago; has gone well fresh in the past and he could take some pegging back at this level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(4)

27th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

17:20 Beverley

Thornaby Pearl

9st 9lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Adrian Nicholls

Both wins on soft but has useful form on good to firm; has yet to race on this course but he's versatile track-wise and comes here in good form after finishing close up at Hamilton (5f, good) recently; thereabouts.

3/1

3rd

2

(1)

15th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 7y

Class 6

17:30 Hamilton

Thornaby Pearl

9st 9lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Adrian Nicholls

Suited by ground softer than good; five-time winner, most recently off current mark over C&D last August; ran respectably at Doncaster on reappearance; in the mix.

7/1

5th

17

(13)

29th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

17:50 Doncaster

Thornaby Pearl

8st 10lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Adrian Nicholls

Has gone well fresh in the past, as when winning a division of this race in 2024 (soft ground); only 2lb higher than when winning at Hamilton last August (first run after wind surgery); failed to beat a rival in his two subsequent runs; unlikely to find it easy dominating in this field.

25/1

10/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 614657 D

Last run: 5 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 54

Form & Verdict
Ready win at Nottingham in May (5f, good to firm); he has run respectably since, including when beaten 2l back at Nottingham last week, and he's unlikely to be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

(7)

19th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 8y

Class 6

16:55 Nottingham

Masterclass

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Paul Midgley

Ended a long losing run in this race last year but he's 0-15 since and has been hard to predict; now 3lb lower than for that last success but he faded at Doncaster last time and he comes with risks attached.

11/2

8th

8

(9)

24th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 3y

Class 6

13:40 Doncaster

Masterclass

9st 5lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Paul Midgley

Ended a losing run when the comfortable winner of a 5f handicap at Nottingham last May (5f, good to firm) off a 1lb higher mark; he was returning from a short break when fourth of 13 at Pontefract 17 days ago and that effort can be upgraded as he was wider than ideal as the field turned for home; each-way shout.

8/1

4th

14

(5)

7th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 3y

Class 6

17:35 Pontefract

Masterclass

8st 10lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Paul Midgley

Hold-up sprinter who is on the same mark as when seeing off nine rivals at Nottingham last May (5f, good to firm); in and out afterwards but the return of blinkers should help now back from 138 days off.

14/1

11/4

Form: 077961 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 12lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 54

Form & Verdict
The return to 5f had a positive effect when she ran away with a handicap at Catterick last week; penalty to defy against stronger opposition but she has to come into the reckoning.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

12

(10)

1st Jun 2026

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 6

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Happier

9st 4lb

J: Dougie Costello

T: Martin Keighley

Both handicap wins at 5f, on Southwell AW and turf; creditable yard debut at Lingfield (6f) in December but wasn't seen again after a lesser effort that month and, having only her second 7f run, others have less to prove.

33/1

2

(2)

28th Oct 2025

Soft

0m 5f 212y

Class 6

16:10 Catterick

Happier

9st 7lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

All three wins have come over 5f including here (good) in August; stays this far and handles soft ground but remains 4lb higher than for that latest success so a bit more is needed; stable also runs Canaria Queen.

11/2

2

(2)

28th Oct 2025

Soft

0m 5f 212y

Class 6

16:10 Catterick

Happier

9st 7lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

All three wins have come over 5f including here (good) in August; stays this far and handles soft ground but remains 4lb higher than for that latest success so a bit more is needed; stable also runs Canaria Queen.

11/2

Form: 348120 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
The addition of a tongue-tie reaped immediate benefit when he ran away with a stronger race at Haydock last month and he looked set to follow up at Doncaster one week later, only to hang badly left before getting nabbed in the last stride; a Class 4 at York proved beyond him last time but this looks more suitable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

(9)

22nd Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

13:52 Catterick

Fortunate Star

9st 7lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: Stephen Hanlon

C&D winner who also finished third in this last year; has been in good nick since the visor went on, winning a classified at Southwell and Newcastle (February/March) and placed in three handicaps (also 5f, AW) subsequently; can take a grip so today's likely good pace will suit and he gets on well with Conor Whiteley; player.

9/2

3rd

1

(9)

15th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 6

17:57 Southwell (AW)

Fortunate Star

9st 9lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: Stephen Hanlon

Won classified events over C&D in February and at Newcastle in March; placed in handicap company on both starts since, latest when a close third of 13 here 13 days; good claims once again.

7/2

3rd

3

(2)

2nd Apr 2026

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 6

18:48 Southwell (AW)

Fortunate Star

9st 7lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: Stephen Hanlon

Won classified events over C&D and at Newcastle (penalised) before being brushed aside by Little Mi Mi at Newcastle three weeks ago; a 5lb turnaround in the weights should see things finish closer today.

9/2

10/1

Form: 323173 CD

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 50

Form & Verdict
Finished behind his reopposing stablemate Hard Nut when third at Musselburgh 11 days ago; did win over C&D last month though and he could reverse those placings back here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

(7)

15th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 7y

Class 6

17:30 Hamilton

Sixcor

8st 9lb

J: Ethan Tindall

T: Linda Perratt

Registered most recent success in C&D event last July; not in the same form back here on reappearance but perhaps needed the run.

16/1

8th

13

(2)

3rd May 2026

Good

0m 5f 7y

Class 6

17:00 Hamilton

Sixcor

8st 4lb

J: Ethan Tindall

T: Linda Perratt

Ended the last turf campaign with some lesser efforts; others bring more pressing claims.

16/1

20/1

Form: 8-9662 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 8st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
None to prolific and his latest Musselburgh second saw him well beaten at the finish; stable perhaps has stronger claims with Sixcor.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

(7)

1st Oct 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 6

17:13 Musselburgh

Hard Nut

8st 9lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Linda Perratt

Most recent win came at 50-1 over C&D last summer; runner-up here in August but she's been well held in last three runs and losing run is now up ten; others preferred.

8/1

9

(11)

13th Sep 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 6

19:22 Musselburgh

Hard Nut

9st 1lb

J: Gianluca Sanna

T: Linda Perratt

Most recent win came at 50-1 over C&D last summer; second here last month but only fifth on most recent start when behind Sixcor, Crackinthunder and Ski Angel.

25/1

7

(7)

26th Aug 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 6

15:20 Musselburgh

Hard Nut

9st 0lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Linda Perratt

3-39; no match for the winner when second of six over this C&D (good) this month; failed to beat a rival at Hamilton (5f, good to soft) since; yard also runs Sixcor.

20/1

Non-runners

Thunderstorm Katie

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.60
Straight Forecast £11.49
Trifecta £41.90

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Happier

SPOTLIGHT:

Thornaby Pearl

Telegraph:

Thunderstorm Katie

POSTDATA:

Fortunate Star

The Star:

Thunderstorm Katie

The Guardian:

Happier

Daily Mirror:

Happier

The Sun:

Happier

Daily Record:

Happier

The Times:

Thornaby Pearl

Daily Mail:

Thornaby Pearl

D Express:

Thornaby Pearl