Gordon Brown – Race Reporter
Gordon has a wealth of experience of racing through his background in the written and broadcast media. His current principle role is reporting and supporting the scene in Scotland on Racing TV and relaying the latest news with Scottish angles.
Jim Goldie is triple-handed in the £30,000 staying race on the first card of the new season at Hamilton Park.
The in-form Uplawmoor trainer saddles Faylaq, Alnayef and Tafsir in the Hampton By Hilton Onsite Hotel Buttonhook Handicap over 1m 5f.
“It’s a race we always have an eye on although the only time we’ve won it was in 2016 with Sir Chauvelin,” Goldie said.
“The other two have squeaks but Faylaq would have to have the best chance. He’ll have come on for the run in the Queen’s Cup at Musselburgh and he’s a horse with a fantastic pedigree – his dam won the King George and the Arc!”
In a competitive event shown live on ITV, Hugo Palmer’s filly Kitteridge may not have won on turf yet but she takes a class drop after mainly competing in Listed company.
And Martin Todhunter-trained Arrange enjoyed a decent season in 2024 and has placed form over course and distance.
The afternoon begins with Jack Nicholls bidding to land the followusonsocials@dreammakerles Handicap for his father Adrian aboard Hurt You Never.
Nicholls junior has already been successful on the mare at the Lanarkshire venue in an amateur race over an extra furlong in 2023.
The £40,000 Darley Stallions EBF novices stakes has attracted Roger Varian-trained Sallaal, who holds entries in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and next month’s Derby at Epsom.
His seasonal reappearance came in Listed grade at the Craven meeting and he is likely to strip fitter this afternoon.
Arkenstaar attempts a repeat win in the Leisure Connect Innovative Broadband Supplier Handicap for Michael Dods and Connor Beasley after his success twelve months ago when sent off 2-1 favourite.
2025 will be Hamilton Park’s richest-ever programme with over £1.64m in prize money spread across 18 fixtures.