Sky Bet Sunday Series tips: race-by-race guide at Hamilton

You’d be hard pressed to argue that May and June aren’t the months with the highest quality of horse racing in the UK, with the various Guineas, Derbies, Oaks and Royal Ascot all thrown into the mix. At a slightly lesser level - but one which gives smaller owners and trainers easier access to the spotlight - the Sky Bet Sunday Series gets in on the act, with the third meeting of the series this weekend at Hamilton followed a fortnight later by race week four at Thirsk. After that, there’s a tantalising wait until the final showdown at Pontefract on August 16. 

Given the generous bonuses on offer, it’s no surprise that we’ve already seen trainers targeting the first two meetings, with the Phillip Makin-trained Fast Fred winning on week one and then beaten by just a neck a fortnight later. His conqueror? None other than Letsbefrank, winner of the £100,000 bonus for Jim Goldie in 2024. Goldie already has four wins in this year’s series, but, priced at 10-1, 5-2, 18-1 and 20-1, they’re not always the easiest to find! 

Both Letsbefrank and Fast Fred run in the closing Flutter Proud To Support Young Lives Vs Cancer Apprentice Handicap (6.45) with the more testing finish likely to suit both. Given he came from much further back than those who finished around him at Musselburgh, Letsbefrank is preferred of the pair, especially given his good relationship with apprentice Lauren Young. This also looks a suitable trip for Krissy who also won well for Goldie at the last Sky Bet Sunday Series meeting. 

Goldie could also get on the scoresheet with Montezuma in the Sky Bet For The Fans Handicap (6.15). Like Letsbefrank, he is looking for his second win of the series and was a little unlucky to bump into Ziggy’s Triton who was able to dictate at Musselburgh last time (the pair clear of the third). Formerly in the care of Godolphin, this Blue Point gelding should have plenty more to offer and this 1 lb higher mark should prove no barrier. Week one-winning stablemate Abduction looks the main danger. 

Away from Goldie and co, the meeting gets underway at 3.45 with the Enter ITV7 For Free EBF Novice Stakes. Thai Ginger and Mind Those Steps both shaped with some promise at Ripon on debut, while Location Location didn’t get a clear run at Kempton and is just the second runner here for James Fanshawe. However, This Moment, a half-brother to Windsor Castle runner-up Dickensian who won this week at York, looks the pick of the newcomers and gets the nod for George Boughey. 

Mo Of Cairo was run off his feet over the minimum trip at Thirsk last time but caught the eye in the centre of the track behind an in-form bunch. He can appreciate the step back up in distance in the Sun's "Save Our Bets" Handicap (4.15) and is preferred to fellow eye-catcher Mighty Magnus, as well as Red Spells Danger whose owner picked up last year’s main bonus. The handicapper has left the Cotai Glory gelding unchanged despite an eight-length win in a Ripon maiden earlier this month. 

Southern raider Valiancy (who represents last year’s winning trainer William Haggas) is preferred to recent Doncaster winner Ghaiyya in the Sky Bet Extra Places Handicap (4.45). He beat Ride The Thunder in a valuable three-year-old handicap at Haydock when last seen and it appears significant that James Doyle makes the trip north of the border. The Goldie pair of Mountain Road and Trojan Sun join Irish raider Putapoundinthejar on the shortlist. 

The Sky Bet Build A Bet Handicap (5.15) can go to Alpha Magic who won the three-year-old handicap on this card 12 months ago from this mark of 81. A slow start wasn’t ideal when sent off at 11-1 in a six-runner field on his seasonal return at Pontefract last month, especially as he was then pushed up to lead out wide, but it was a promising run regardless as he only weakened late in the piece. His best performances have come when striking from behind a good gallop; fingers crossed that scenario unfolds here. Woohoo and former bonus winner Spring Is Sprung, who may still be a little high in the weights, are others of note. 

Kept in training at four, connections may have some minor ‘Black Type’ on the radar for Seren Star this term and, having come to hand early last season, she is fancied to make a winning return from what looks a workable mark in the Sky Bet Price Boosts Fillies' Handicap (5.45). She can round off a good week for the Haggas yard at the main expense of Cancelled, who should relish the longer trip, and C&D winner Epidavros.