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5.30 Hamilton : Never Dark - @ 9.0 win bet

For today’s 17:30 sprint at Hamilton, we landed on Never Dark has decent form and speed figures on today’s Good to Soft going.

The pace and draw data for Hamilton’s 5f course heavily favors low draws with early speed. Sectional analysis confirms Never Dark is a natural front-runner, perfectly positioned in Stall 3 to grab an uncontested lead. Better still, his extended form shows a massive class edge—he is a former Class 2 horse now dropping into a weak Class 6 race off a highly favorable mark.

Finally, trainer Iain Jardine is absolutely flying with a 23% strike rate over the last fortnight, while jockey Jude Fernandes boasts a highly profitable long-term record.

Jardine won this very race back to back in 2023 and 2024, did not have a runner in 2025, but returns here tomorrow with this one at a decent price and a more than reasonable chance.

Ran a nice race in a class 6 with an average OR of 56 two races ago at Wolvs, was short of room that day and to go wide to get a run to the line over 6f, which is too far for him. Last time out bumped back to class 5 , led that day and faded late, beaten mostly by horses rated 70+, Back into a class 6 here tomorrow, should be much more comfortable at the front of the race against these lower grade horses. I expect we push for home early and try and hold them off.