May 03 / 14.40 Hamilton

14.40

Good

Heineken Buttonhook Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £15462
  • 1m 5f 16y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
ITV
View Course
Heineken Buttonhook Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

13/8 (Won)

  • Win: £1.91
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 31-2

Last run: 72 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
160,000euros yearling; his debut third in a 1m2f Doncaster maiden last March (good to soft) worked out exceptionally well and he then won easily at Dundalk in December (1m4f; odds-on; had been gelded), at the expense of a Listed-placed rival; could be on a useful mark for handicap debut and when second to Constitution Hill at Southwell (1m4f novice) he was giving the winner 5lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(4)

20th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 26y

Class 2

14:53 Ayr

Square Necker

9st 7lb

J: Sam James

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Won 1m4f AW maiden in December on second start then finished second to Constitution Hill at Southwell (1m4f, AW), before winning on handicap debut at Hamilton (1m5f, good) last month; showed promise on good to soft on debut; this unexposed 4yo could have more left in the tank; major player.

7/2

1st

4

(5)

3rd May 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

14:40 Hamilton

Square Necker

9st 2lb

J: Sam James

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

160,000euros yearling; his debut third in a 1m2f Doncaster maiden last March (good to soft) worked out exceptionally well and he then won easily at Dundalk in December (1m4f; odds-on; had been gelded), at the expense of a Listed-placed rival; could be on a useful mark for handicap debut and when second to Constitution Hill at Southwell (1m4f novice) he was giving the winner 5lb.

13/8

2nd

2

(5)

20th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 2

19:30 Southwell (AW)

Square Necker

9st 11lb

J: David Egan

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

160,000euros yearling; two runs in these silks for two different trainers; highly encouraging close third (favourite) in a 1m2f Doncaster maiden last March that's worked out exceptionally well and he then won easily at Dundalk in December (1m4f; odds-on; had been gelded) at the expense of a Listed-placed rival; unexposed and with Group-race potential, he's a massive player.

7/4

8/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: -45544 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 8st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Exposed 6yo who is 7-27 on AW surfaces but 1-12 on turf; respectable runs of late at Musselburgh but wouldn't be the obvious answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(7)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 188y

Class 4

17:40 York

Humble Spark

9st 13lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Slow starter whose losing run goes back 17 races to March 2025; however, he went down by only a nose over C&D (good) last month and was caught too far back in a Class 2 at Ayr since; bold show likely with his sights lowered.

6/1

9th

11

(11)

20th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 26y

Class 2

14:53 Ayr

Humble Spark

8st 8lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Jim Goldie

Slow starter whose losing run goes back 16 races to March 2025; however, he's been second on three of his last four starts, most recently at York (1m4f, good) last Saturday; slow ground is probably fine; each-way chance.

12/1

2nd

5

(4)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 3f 188y

Class 3

13:50 York

Humble Spark

9st 11lb

J: Miss Natasha Cookson

T: Jim Goldie

Often a slow starter; couldn't get into it at Carlisle (1m3f, good to firm) a fortnight ago but runner-up twice in a row at Hamilton (1m5f/1m3f, good) before that; could be involved if today's race pans out favourably.

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: 5118/4

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
4-15 for David Simcock; absent for 582 days after a heavy defeat on debut for this yard and last week's comeback run at Musselburgh was just okay (2m, good); others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

(7)

31st May 2026

Good

2m 0f 13y

Class 3

18:15 Thirsk

Mountain Road

9st 5lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

4-15 for David Simcock; four runs for current yard, absent 582 days before this season's, in which he showed that significant ability remains; needs to build on those performances but going back up from the 1m5f of last two outings should suit and he continues down the weights; case can be made.

10/1

5th

7

(12)

17th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

16:45 Hamilton

Mountain Road

9st 4lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

4-15 for David Simcock; absent for 582 days before having two runs for new yard this spring, runs which showed that significant ability remains but he needs to build on those performances.

16/1

3rd

2

(6)

3rd May 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

14:40 Hamilton

Mountain Road

9st 4lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

4-15 for David Simcock; absent for 582 days after a heavy defeat on debut for this yard and last week's comeback run at Musselburgh was just okay (2m, good); others preferred.

10/1

Form: 127/02 BF

Last run: 16 days

W: 8st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Three-time winner; showed the benefit of his return from a long absence when giving it a good go from the front in a 1m6f handicap at Wolverhampton 16 days ago; whether he can improve again is debatable and this is tougher.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(5)

18th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 110y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Baileys Khelstar

9st 0lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Charlie Johnston

Gained a deserved first success of the season in three-runner handicap over C&D (good to firm; from Almuhit) last month and got up close home in nine-runner race at Kempton (2m, AW) ten days ago; up 3lb to career-high mark but he's on a roll.

7/2

1st

2

(2)

8th Jul 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 4

19:13 Kempton (AW)

Baileys Khelstar

9st 10lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Charlie Johnston

Gained a deserved first success of the season in three-runner handicap at Newbury (2m) 15 days ago; up 3lb but he remains quite low mileage so needs considering.

5/2

1st

3

(4)

23rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

20:05 Newbury

Baileys Khelstar

9st 10lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Charlie Johnston

Has been a bit up and down since returning from a mammoth absence in April, but his second of five at Catterick (1m6f, good to soft) 12 days ago was handsomly franked by the winner at Newmarket on Saturday; has won over this far and a major player.

3/1

Form: /5/4-1 C

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 9lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Smart staying handicapper on the Flat for Mick and David Easterby in 2021 when competitive at some of the major meetings; having only his second run since that year when winning well over 2m at Beverley last month (good to soft); still useful, clearly, and has only gone up 2lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

10

(10)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

15:15 Newcastle (AW)

Elysian Flame

9st 1lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Samantha & Jacqueline Coward

Well beaten in 2018 in his only AW race; peak Flat form came with big-race placings over 2m4f in summer 2021; there's been a four-year absence since and his 2m win at Beverley (2lb higher today) this April showed that stacks of his ability remains, form which was backed up at Thirsk on latest start but this contest demands more; cheekpieces (absent this term) return.

50/1

4th

1

(12)

31st May 2026

Good

2m 0f 13y

Class 3

18:15 Thirsk

Elysian Flame

10st 0lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Samantha & Jacqueline Coward

Smart staying handicapper for Mick and David Easterby in 2021 when competitive at some of the top meetings; only his second run since when winning over 2m at Beverley (good to soft; 2lb higher today) in April, while 1m5f helps to explain his last of five at Hamilton four weeks ago; not dismissed.

16/1

5th

1

(3)

3rd May 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

14:40 Hamilton

Elysian Flame

9st 9lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Samantha & Jacqueline Coward

Smart staying handicapper on the Flat for Mick and David Easterby in 2021 when competitive at some of the major meetings; having only his second run since that year when winning well over 2m at Beverley last month (good to soft); still useful, clearly, and has only gone up 2lb.

13/2

Non-runners

Galyx

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.60
Straight Forecast £3.46
Trifecta £16.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Square Necker

LAMBOURN:

Galyx

RP RATINGS:

Baileys Khelstar

TOPSPEED:

Humble Spark

The Star:

Mountain Road

NEWMARKET:

Square Necker

The Times:

Square Necker

D Express:

Square Necker

Daily Mirror:

Square Necker

Daily Record:

Square Necker

Telegraph:

Galyx

The Sun:

Galyx

POSTDATA:

Baileys Khelstar

The Guardian:

Humble Spark