Sky Bet Sunday Series Guide To The Tracks: Hamilton

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Location: Hamilton Park, Bothwell Road, Hamilton, ML3 0DW. 

Hamilton Park is a right-handed, loop course, with a five-furlong run-in as part of the home straight. The track itself is undulating in nature, with a pronounced finishing climb, and bears similarities to Goodwood. 

For races run over 1m5f, the start takes place immediately in front of the public enclosures. This offers spectators an opportunity to see the horses racing in both directions, initially away from the grandstand. 

Hamilton Park staged the fourth Sky Bet Sunday Series fixture of the year on 15th June. 

The seven-race card commenced with a six-furlong novice at 3.45pm, Karl Burke’s newcomer Gesayed running down the more experienced odds-on favourite Big Fun. 

Long-distance travellers were rewarded, with the Newmarket raider Sam Hawkens (William Haggas) taking the stayers’ handicap at 4.45pm and Roarin’ Success rallying to reclaim the lead where it mattered for Beckhampton-handler Harry Charlton in the Sky Bet Proud To Support ROR Fillies’ Handicap. 

Alpha Magic (Michael & David Easterby) edged out Station X and Lord Roxby in a tight finish to the six-furlong sprint, while Kevin Ryan gained amends for his near miss in the opener when Bergerac went one better than at York in the five-furlong Class 3 contest. 

Scotland saved their winners for last, Jim Goldie predictably the one to provide the ammunition, with Abduction - successful in the 2026 Sunday Series opener at Musselburgh - and Spanish Hustle steered home by Shane Gray and Kaiya Fraser, respectively. 

Karl Burke boasted a 30% strike-rate (6-20; +£9.02) at Hamilton Park in 2025, but Lanarkshire-based Jim Goldie (16-117; 14%; -£32.62) was out in front in terms of number of winners. 

David O’Meara (7-39; 18%; +£2.42), Iain Jardine (7-73; 10%; -£38.00), and Charlie Johnston (6-33; 18%; +£26.50) all regular suppliers of Hamilton Park winners. 

The Braveheart Handicap, The Lanark Silver Bell, and the Scottish Stewards’ Cup, three of Hamilton Park’s most prestigious races, went to Faylaq (Jim Goldie), Paddy The Squire (Iain Jardine), and Nariko (Hugo Palmer), respectively. 

Paul Mulrennan has been the go-to jockey in Scotland for a number of years, regularly making cross border visits from his North Yorkshire base. Mulrennan (10-59; 17%; -£20.50), edging out Andrew Mullen (9-51; 18%; -£4.50) in the battle to be leading rider for 2025. 

Kaiya Fraser (8-50; 16%; -£8.66), Danny Tudhope (7-32; 22%; -£8.29), and David Allan (7-35; 20%; -£4.31) also no strangers to the Hamilton Park winner’s enclosure. 

“Hamilton is a little different to most other tracks because in the long-distance races you head back on yourself after racing around the loop. Hamilton provides a stamina test, but equally you need to have a well-balanced horse to cope with the downhill section prior to that well-known finishing climb.” 

Three horses were unbeaten, all two from two, at Hamilton Park in 2025. Sallall (Roger Varian), Danger Bay, and Talismans Time (both Ed Bethell) ending their respective campaigns on BHA handicap marks of 103, 94, and 85. 

Hurt You Never (3-5; 60%; +£5.77) bounded clear, downing the odds-on favourite Good Point, to record her third Hamilton Park win of the year. The Adrian Nicholls-trained mare scoring regularly across the UK in each of the last four years. Meanwhile, Tristain Davidson’s likeable mare Iris Dancer (3-8; 38%; +£2.25) was another to excel at the track.