Sky Bet Sunday Sunday: tips for every race at Hamilton

Unusually, it’s been a quiet start to the Sky Bet Sunday Series for Lanarkshire-based trainer Jim Goldie, with no winners yet for the wily Scot who saddled Letsbefrank to three victories – and the £100,000 bonus – in last year’s series.

That could all change this weekend, however, as Goldie is back on home turf at Hamilton and looks to have a very strong team - including last year’s hero - in the Sky Bet, For The Fans Handicap at 4.45. Letsbefrank hasn’t looked the same horse in four runs this term, but as a result he now looks very fairly treated and it should be noted that his winning run last term started in June. The class-dropping Steel Tiger and his Newcastle conqueror Sam Hawkens look the most obvious dangers, along with the hat-trick-seeking King’s Scholar who is up in class but looks to have more to offer still. Meanwhile, better is expected from Forza Orta with a tongue-tie and blinkers added.

Elsewhere on the card for Goldie, the adaptable Oriental Prince looks a major player in the Sky Bet Build A Bet Handicap at 5.15, but preference in this competitive sprint is for Solar Aclaim. He will appreciate every drop of the rain that is forecast to fall on Saturday and caught the eye in defeat at Epsom a week ago, paying the price late on for a big move mid-race. A more experienced jockey and a further drop in the weights help him get the nod over the in-form Blue Day, Catterick winner Albegone and Spring Is Sprung, who bids to take home this year’s £100,000 bonus following wins at Newmarket and Chelmsford. Archie Young’s claim helps negate a further 4lb rise and he’s a big player despite this looking a stronger race.

From one Young to another, as Lauren Young – Goldie's stable apprentice – again takes the ride on Penelope's Sister in the Sky Bet Proud To Support ROR Fillies' Handicap at 5.45. Though up against fellow recent winners Zapphire (Carlisle) and Viennoise (Doncaster), the Ayr winner looks a little overpriced as she appeared to relish the drop back from middle distances that day, albeit she is well out of the weights and will need to find a big chunk of improvement to win again. Surprised may be fairly treated on her handicap debut, but Bassadanza makes most appeal. She was at her best last term when able to dominate on decent ground at Beverley and looks the type who will improve plenty for a first run of the season; she’s bred to be better than this mark of 84 and could be hard to peg back with Joe Fanning back on board.

Big Fun almost provided a big shock (20/1) when runner-up to Farough on debut at Pontefract and holds the best form on offer in the opening Enter ITV7 For Free EBF Novice Stakes at 3.45. He gets the nod. Vincenzo Peruggia cost connections a pretty penny (550,000 guineas to be more precise) and is of interest on debut, though all of his siblings took time to find their feet on the racecourse. The same applies to Gesayed, though the strength in depth of the yard’s juveniles means she is respected. Similar applies to Masai Angel, assuming the latter follows more in the footsteps of dam Military Angel (debut winner) than his three siblings who have failed to win in 10 starts in France.

Timeform predict a ‘very strong’ pace in the Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Handicap at 4.15 with Veydari, Station X, Far Above The Law and Cabelleroso all having enjoyed success from the front in the past. A case can be made for U Sure Do being on a fair mark on this handicap debut through his Pontefract conqueror Strong Warrior but preference is for Lord Roxby, who prevailed in a tight finish over C&D last month. He was drawn in the centre of the course but ended up on the stands rail that day, so his high draw could suit more here. The 6lb rise looks manageable considering the front two were three lengths clear and the runner-up has won twice since.

Similarly, the prospect of a strongly-run six furlongs in the Sky Bet Club Handicap at 6.15 looks ideal for Rock Melody - yes, another Goldie runner! Her mark is slowly edging down towards the 73 that she won off at Musselburgh last October, and now dropping in trip and with Paul Mulrennan (on for her first three wins for this yard) back on board, she is preferred to the in-form duo of Sir Garfield and Hectic. Unexposed Irish recruit Sweet Thing, the returning Hour By Hour and course winner Rock Opera – who showed much more in a first-time visor at York last month and would appreciate a true pace – are all respected.

The Sky Bet Price Boosts Apprentice Handicap at 6.45 - a race won by Letsbefrank a year ago – rounds off the meeting. James Owen (High Court Judge) and Ian Williams (Whathappensinvegas) have both enjoyed success in this year’s Sky Bet Sunday Series, and it’s the last-named who gets the vote with the booking of Warren Fentiman taking the eye. A repeat of his recent third here behind Faylaq might be good enough to see off stablemate Gallant Lion, who is one of four last-time-out winners in the line-up, with another one being the 10-year-old Glasses Up who completed a hat-trick of Ayr wins last month. King Chaos, who should be suited by the step back up in trip, and Simple Star, who caught the eye in defeat at Musselburgh in April and who has run well in defeat over hurdles since, are others of note in a very competitive end to the fourth Sky Bet Sunday Series meeting of the year.