15:30 Haydock

Saturday 27 May 2017

All14:2014:5515:3016:0516:3517:1017:40

Armstrong Aggregates Sandy Lane Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 15:32 | Winning time: 1m 8.56s

(7)

Brian The Snail⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 102| BF| D

14/1

Won his first three starts (inc. on good to firm) and looked potentially very useful when returning at Pontefract (6f, good) last month. Odds-on favourite and inexplicably last of five, beaten 21L, over 5f (good to soft) in Listed company at York nine days ago. Bit to prove now stepped up again. Entered for Group One Commonwealth Cup and July Cup.

Form: 11-15

(1)

Harry Angel²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 114| D

5/6

Already a winner at this level, having taken the Group Two Mill Reef Stakes (6f, good to soft) at Newbury in September on his second start. Beaten in a Group Three at Ascot on his reappearance (6f, good to firm), but probably improved given his penalty in that race and with upwards of 7lb in hand on his rivals here he will be tough to beat back in this grade.

Form: 21-2

(5)

Medicine Jack^b1²⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Gary Carroll| T: G M Lyons| OR: 104| D

25/1

Followed up a Navan maiden success (good to yld) with a win in the Group Two Railway Stakes (6f, good to yld) last summer. Comfortably held in a couple of Group Ones (inc. the Middle Park at Newmarket in September), he drops back to this level with blinkers on and his stable in decent form. Has to prove he goes as well on fast ground.

Form: 611337-

(2)

Mubtasim²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P Cosgrave| T: W J Haggas| OR: 107| CD

5/1

Won three of his four starts last year, including the valuable Weatherbys Hamilton 2-Y-O Stakes at Doncaster (6½f, good) in September. Comfortably held in the Group One Middle Park on final start last year, but returned nicely in the same Group Three as Harry Angel as Ascot on May 3. 4lb worse off here and up against it trying to find 1½L with him.

Form: 11819-3

(6)

Second Thought⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R Winston| T: W J Haggas| OR: 105| D

7/2

Beaten just 1L on debut last year, he has won all four subsequent starts on All Weather surfaces, including the Listed Spring Cup (7f) at Lingfield in March. Has three wins over 6f so far and is respected on this return to turf and step up in class, though will need improvement to win.

Form: 21-111

(4)

Alphabet^t¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 95| D

33/1

Did not win at two, but came back strongly with a Naas maiden win (6f, soft/heavy) on her first start this time. Well held in Listed company and beaten just over 1L in a competitive Curragh handicap last time, she needs significant improvement to figure here.

Form: 529-145

(3)

Poet's Vanity²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 104

11/1

Won the Group Three Oh So Sharp Stakes in October (7f, good to firm). May have needed her reappearance a little when third (beaten 2L) by Daban in the Group Three Nell Gwyn at Newmarket last month and was last seen running a 12L seventh in the 1,000 Guineas. Dam placed over 5f/6f and now dropped back in trip/down in grade she is very interesting.

Form: 411-37

Forecasts

Harry Angel (5/6), Second Thought (7/2), Mubtasim (5/1), Poet's Vanity (11/1), Brian The Snail (14/1), Medicine Jack (25/1), Alphabet (33/1)

As trainer Richard Fahey said last week, Brian The Snail's York run was "Too bad to be true," and he is not one to write off yet, while Mubtasim has a task on his hands trying to rub out a 1½L defeat by HARRY ANGEL on 4lb worse terms and it is Clive Cox's colt who stands out. Medicine Jack is interesting but has it to prove on the forecast going, while Second Thought has done little wrong and should not be dismissed lightly now back on turf. Poet's Vanity could get heavily involved at this level now tried over this short for the first time.