Sky Bet Sunday Series fixture is Hamilton’s richest raceday

The first Sky Bet Sunday Series fixture of 2022, at Hamilton Park tomorrow, carries £205,000 in prize-money for the seven races – all of which are live on ITV4. £1.2 million Series, in its second year, offers an additional £250,000 worth of bonuses for jockeys, apprentices, trainers, owners, and stable staff. The prize-money and incentives have been rewarded with extremely encouraging entries.

Hamilton Park’s raceday is the most valuable in its history and managing director Ashley Moon said: “Given the spotlight on low field sizes right now this shows what can be achieved when the industry comes together to put on excellent prize-money and competitive racing in a late-afternoon weekend slot.

"It’s a fantastic initiative which hopefully will help to attract the next generation of racing fans.”

There is a Sky Bet Sunday Series Bonus of £100,000 on offer for the first jockey to ride a total of seven winners across the six fixtures, and leading northern-based rider Paul Mulrennan said: “The £100,000 bonus certhe tainly concentrates the mind! With five of the six fixtures in the north, where I am based,

I’ll certainly be going all out for it. There will be a lot of jockeys like me, thinking it’s going to be challenging, but not impossible.”

The six seven-race Sunday cards comprise: Hamilton Park (tomorrow), York (May 22), Musselburgh (June 5), Pontefract (June 19), Haydock Park (August 7) and Sandown Park (August 21).

Meanwhile at Lingfield today Walk Of Stars is a hot favourite for the SBK Derby Trial Stakes after a narrow defeat of a fellow Charlie Appleby inmate at Newbury last month.

The Dubawi colt prevailed by a neck but looked value for the distance and as a general 10-1 shot for the Cazoo Derby itself, it will be disappointing if he cannot cement his credentials for the premier Classic.