Introduced in 2002, the Sandringham Stakes is a handicap for three-year-old fillies rated 0-105 run over the straight mile which effectively makes it the fillies’ version of the Britannia. The stats tell us that racing on either wing is an advantage with a draw in either the six highest or five lowest stalls having had the most success.
Despite the big field fancied runners have done well over the years with eleven of the 21 winners coming from the top row in the betting including seven who had at least a share of favouritism with only five winners being bigger than 11/1. Check out my thoughts on the runners for this race along with the Royal Ascot odds for my three picks.
Dream Of Love
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: William Buick
Has kept good company and her standout effort came in the Jumeirah Fillies Classic at Meydan in January when only beaten a short head by subsequent 1000 Guineas winner Mawj having not had the best of runs through. That came on soft ground and her subsequent run was a third in the German 1000 Guineas on fast ground when finishing third. May prefer some give in the ground.
Jackie Oh
Trainer: A P O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore
First handicap. Could be well treated if taking her 5 3/4L fifth in the Irish 1000 Guineas to Tahiyra at face value. Top connections and a mark of 102 may underestimate her ability. Has to be on the shortlist.
Magical Sunset
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Kevin Stott
First run in a handicap. Listed winner as a juvenile and kept good company this term in three starts, the best effort coming last time when 4th of 9 in Epsom listed contest. Looks high enough in weight.
Polly Pot
Trainer: Ed Dunlop
Jockey: Billy Loughnane (3)
Won Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster as a two-year-old for the now-retired Harry Dunlop. Soundly beaten both starts this season and now joined Ed Dunlop and makes her handicap debut. Would prefer some ease in the ground.
Breege
Trainer: John Quinn
Jockey: Jason Hart
Has kept good company in her six career starts and makes her handicap debut here. Finished 5 1/4L behind Jackie Oh in Irish 1000 Guineas last time and on only 2lb better terms looks held.
Karsavina
Trainer: Clive Cox
Jockey: Rossa Ryan
Won on their only start as a juvenile at Newmarket. Finished 4th in Nell Gwynn on re-appearance before beating only four home in the 1000 Guineas. First handicap off of a stiff enough mark.
Foniska
Trainer: Mrs Jessie Harrington
Jockey: Colin Keane
First handicap for this Irish raider. Good form as a two-year-old and has shown signs of promise in listed and Group 3 company this season in two starts.
Zoinnocent
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Jockey: James McDonald
Gowran Park maiden winner as a two-year-old and placed in Group 2 company. Not beaten far in two starts this season, the latest in listed company and has each-way claims in her first handicap with a positive jockey booking.
Coppice
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Makes her handicap debut here having won easily in a small race at Newcastle on the all-weather in May. Had previously been well supported when flopping in Nell Gwyn having previously been made 1000 Guineas favourite. A mark of 97 is high enough but no shock were she to run a mighty race for her top connections.
Girl Racer
Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: Tim Marquand
Impressed on debut when taking Wolverhampton novice stakes and stepped up on that when 6th of 15 in Nell Gwyn at Newmarket (Coppice behind). Things didn’t go right last time when stumbling at the start and losing a shoe and today’s longer trip should suit.
Embrace
Trainer: Owen Burrows
Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
First handicap for in-form stable. Was fourth to Remarquee in Fred Darling on re-appearance prior to finishing 10th of 20 in 1000 Guineas (beaten 15L). Yet to race on fast ground.
Cell Sa Beela
Trainer: Roger Varian
Jockey: David Egan
Beverley winner as a juvenile and ran 4th in May Hill behind Polly Pot. Poor last run in Fillies Mile at 50/1 and not seen since. First handicap today.
Bridestones
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Jockey: James Doyle
Yarmouth winner as a juvenile on only start and followed a 5L 6th in Fred Darling with a 9th of 10 in Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp in May. First run in a handicap here but has yet to race on fast ground.
Clounmacon
Trainer: J P Murtagh
Jockey: C D Hayes
Ran well on her handicap debut when only going down by a head in a Curragh handicap. 2lb higher here and no shock were she to be competitive.
Ma Belle Artiste
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle
Lightly raced Irish challenger. Won a fillies race at Killarney on re-appearance by a head from Impact Warrior. 2nd and 3rd beaten since so hard to rate her form that highly.
Mottisfont
Trainer: Hughie Morrison
Jockey: Rob Hornby
Soundly beaten in a handicap over course and distance last time and hard to fancy too much here.
Candle of Hope
Trainer: Richard Hughes
Jockey: Harry Davies (3)
Owned by The King and The Queen. Making her handicap today here but is unlikely to trouble the judge on what we’ve seen this season.
Lady Alara
Trainer: Charles Hills
Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
Finished 8th of 12 in Fred Darling on re-appearance ( beaten 8L) on soft ground. Likely to appreciate today’s better surface and is making her handicap debut.
Choisya
Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford
Jockey: Harry Burns (3)
Short head winner of 1M handicap at Haydock a fortnight ago. Raised 3lb and is unlikely to have too much in hand of the handicapper.
Copy Artist
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Still a maiden after four starts although has finished runner-up on three occasions. Latest when going down by 2L to the progressive Gosden filly Queen For You here. A lively outsider.
Chelsea Green
Trainer: Hugo Palmer
Jockey: Ben Curtis
Made a winning re-appearance/handicap debut when scoring at Newmarket by a length from Just Bring It last month at 16/1. Raised 3lb for that and need to step up once more.
Eximious
Trainer: Roger Varian
Jockey: Ray Dawson
Steps up to a mile for the first time here. Ran well on her re-appearance when runner up in 7F Newbury handicap won by Prenup. 2lb higher now but has place claims.
Unless
Trainer: A P O’Brien
Jockey: W M Lordan
Aidan O’Brien second string behind Jackie Oh. Broke her maiden tag at the seventh time of asking in Naas maiden last month. A first handicap here and hard to fancy much.
Sparks Fly
Trainer: David Loughnane
Jockey: Laura Pearson (3)
Chasing a five-timer having scored in four handicaps on soft or heavy ground rising some 28lb. Pulled out at Haydock racecourse a fortnight ago due to the fast ground so can only be considered were the ground to change.
Balalaika
Trainer: Rebecca Menzies
Jockey: Hayley Turner
Hard to fancy on her two handicap efforts so far this season though is ridden by Hayley Turner who rides this track so well and has won two renewals of this race in the last four years on outsiders.
Marksman Queen
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Jockey: Hollie Doyle
Yet to race on turf on the racetrack. Winner of two of her three starts and went down by just half a length in her handicap debut at Kempton earlier this month in a first-time hood. 2lb higher now and hood retained.
Novus
Trainer: Gary Moore
Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
Came good at Goodwood last time (7F, soft) beating Zabbie by a neck. Raised 2lb for that effort and more is required here now and unproven on fast ground.
Youngest
Trainer: Roger Varian
Jockey: Saffie Osborne
Leicester novice stakes winner on debut last September. Only beaten one horse home in two starts since and makes her handicap debut today. Hard to fancy much.
Rich
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Sam Hitchcott
Beaten in Brighton handicap on her penultimate run and out of her depth in the listed race since. Unlikely to trouble the judge here.
Orchid Bloom
Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: Adam Farragher
Newmarket novice stakes winner as a juvenile and not disgraced when runner up to two progressive sorts this season. Up to a mile for the first time and mark of 85 looks workable. Lively outsider.
Bellaphina (Reserve)
Trainer: John Andrew Kinsella
Jockey: TBC
1st reserve. Irish raider who has won a Limerick maiden and Curragh Handicap this spring and is chasing a hat trick here. 3lb higher than her last win and holds some sort of chance.
Liberalist (Reserve)
Trainer: Michael Bell
Jockey: TBC
2nd reserve. Not seen since running 9th in Fred Darling at Newbury in April on soft ground. Her first handicap today off a mark of 84 which looks high enough for what she’s achieved.
Zouzanna (Reserve)
Trainer: Harry & Roger Charlton
Jockey: TBC
3rd reserve. First handicap. Winner of Haydock novice stakes over a mile in May by 2L from Prisha. Won in good style and at the right end of the handicap so no surprise were she to run well.
Sandringham Stakes Betting Tips
A wide-open handicap for three-year-old fillies spread across the course over a mile. Coppice was touted as a 1000 Guineas horse in the spring for the Gosden’s before blotting his copybook in the Nell Gwyn. She’s bounced back to form since in a weak race at Newcastle and is one for the shortlist.
Aiden O’Brien’s Jackie Oh ran well in the Irish 1000 last time and can also run well whilst Orchid Bloom and Copy Artist are two at bigger odds that could run well. A tough call but I’ll stick with Aiden O’Brien and Ryan Moore to strike with Jacki Oh in a race where the fancied horses usually run well.
1. Jackie Oh @ 7/1 e/w with Paddy Power promo code (Paying top 7 places at 1/5 odds)
2. Coppice 6/1 e/w with William Hill promo code (Paying top 6 places at 1/5 odds)
3. Orchid Bloom 20/1 e/w with Bet365 bonus code (Paying top 6 places at 1/5 odds)
All odds are available at the time of writing.
