Sam Hawkens
2nd-Aug-2025
Sam Hawkens has plenty in his favour in the Summer Handicap.
Winner of his maiden over a mile and a half on heavy ground at Salisbury last May when he was with Richard Hannon, he has progressed nicely this season for William Haggas. He stayed on well to win a handicap over a mile and four and a half furlongs at Newcastle in May off a mark of 81, and he stepped forward from that last time when he stepped up in trip to a mile and five furlongs at Hamilton, and, racing off a mark of 88, got home by a neck from Savrola.
Savrola enhanced that form when he won the Northumberland Vase at Newcastle next time off a mark of 75. He is now 4lb higher than he was at Hamilton. The handicapper raised Sam Hawkens by 4lb too for his Hamilton win, and that was more than fair.
He is progressive, he is two for three since being gelded, and he is unexposed at staying trips. The drying ground is in his favour and, on his only run at Goodwood, on his racecourse debut, he finished second in a novice stakes. Aeronautic is a fascinating inclusion here, and French Duke ran well in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes on his seasonal return, but Sam Hawkens is the value in my book.
SAM HAWKENS WON (ADV 11/2, SP 4/1)
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