13:50 Sandown

Saturday 3 July 2021

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:15

Coral Charge (Group 3) (Registered As The Sprint Stakes)

Off time: 13:53 | Winning time: 1m 2.94s

(5)

Lazuli⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 112| CD

7/2

Very smart gelding who landed Newbury Grp 3 final start last season. Defied penalty in Palace House at Newmarket 9 weeks ago. Only fifth in this last year but is a C&D winner. Has 3 lb penalty.

Form: 1541-31

(10)

Ainsdale^p⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 105| D

14/1

Smart colt. Good neck second in Temple Stakes at Haydock (5f, heavy) but that was a substandard renewal and similar form when only sixth in Group 3 at Newcastle last week. Bit to find.

Form: 41-8326

(7)

Arecibo¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: J P Spencer| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 113| D

8/1

Has been transformed from frustrating high-end handicapper to Group-1 placed (runner-up in King's Stand at Royal Ascot) in just 4 starts for new connections and obvious claims back down in class.

Form: 77-1612

(9)

Came From The Dark⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: E Walker| OR: 108| D

5/1

Did well last season and further improvement this spring, winning at Newbury and unlucky not to beat Lazuli when upped to this grade at Newmarket. Shortlist material.

Form: 107-312

(2)

Count D'Orsay⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Rob Hornby| T: T D Easterby| OR: 100| D

18/1

Often not seen to best effect and needs things to drop right but has plenty of ability and probably not out of place in this company.

Form: 020737

(6)

Rocket Action^t,v1⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: David Egan| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 97| D

66/1

Useful gelding but yet to win on turf and this looks too tough for him. Headgear on.

Form: 7284-57

(3)

Stone Of Destiny¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 106| D

12/1

Won Portland at Doncaster last season and posted another fine effort in a big handicap when third in Epsom Dash. Creditable eighth in King's Stand at Royal Ascot since and not without a chance.

Form: 10-9238

(1)

Keep Busy¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 108| D

7/2

Best effort last year when finishing second in Group 1 at the Curragh. Better for return when fine fifth in King's Stand at Royal Ascot before landing odds in listed race at Ayr recently. Respected.

Form: 325-551

(4)

Atalis Bay²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: M Botti| OR: 103| CD

11/2

Progressive sprinter who readily made all in 9-runner listed race at this C&D (good, 6/4) 21 days ago but bit more required up in grade and taking on his elders.

Form: 196-121

(8)

Happy Romance¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 103| CD

12/1

Useful juvenile who picked up some nice prizes before a creditable fourth in the Cheveley Park at Newmarket. Mixed results so far this season, however, and drops back to 5f now.

Form: 14-0150

Forecasts

Lazuli (7/2), Keep Busy (7/2), Came From The Dark (5/1), Atalis Bay (11/2), Arecibo (8/1), Happy Romance (12/1), Stone Of Destiny (12/1), Ainsdale (14/1), Count D'Orsay (18/1), Rocket Action (66/1)

CAME FROM THE DARK was unlucky not to reel in Lazuli in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket 9 weeks ago and Ed Walker's progressive 5-y-o is taken to make amends. Lazuli is an obvious threat again, while Arecibo and Keep Busy have both finished second in a Group 1, the former in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.