April 28 / 15.35 Sandown

15.35

Heavy

bet365 Classic Trial (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £45368
  • 1m 1f 209y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
ITV4
View Course
bet365 Classic Trial (Group 3)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 3112- C BF

Last run: 188 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Frankel colt who put up a good fight in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (1m2f, heavy) on final 2yo start, taking his form figures to 3112; won here in August; could well improve further this term and commands respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(4)

11th Jul 2024

Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket (July)

Arrest

9st 8lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: John & Thady Gosden

led overall, raced centre from 8f out, drifted right against near rail over 1f out, soon headed, no match for winner, 2nd of 3 in group

100/30

2nd

2

(6)

9th May 2024

Good

1m 5f 84y

Class 1

15:40 Chester

Arrest

9st 2lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: John & Thady Gosden

towards rear, good headway on outer from over 2f out

15/8

2nd

2

(6)

9th May 2024

Good

1m 5f 84y

Class 1

15:40 Chester

Arrest

9st 2lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: John & Thady Gosden

3yo campaign featured wins in the Chester Vase and Geoffrey Freer, plus good second in the St Leger; appeared to need his Newbury reappearance run and should be spot-on for this return to the Roodee; leading player provided there's no jar in the ground (underperformed on good to firm last year).

15/8

Form: 31-

Last run: 239 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Twice-raced colt who represents notable connections; won well at Salisbury (1m, good to firm) in September on last appearance, looking potentially useful; should relish middle distances; interesting upped in class.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(5)

21st Jul 2023

Good To Soft

1m 3f 15y

Class 1

19:40 Hamilton

Circle Of Fire

9st 7lb

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Sir Michael Stoute

1m winner as a 2yo (good to firm); he has run to a fair level in his three starts this season but he's untested on slower than good and he has something to find with Chesspiece on their Royal Ascot run.

7/2

4th

3

(5)

21st Jun 2023

Good

1m 6f 34y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Circle Of Fire

9st 2lb

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Sir Michael Stoute

Won at Salisbury (1m, good to firm) last September on second start and reappeared with good Listed second at Newmarket (1m2f, good); no match for the first two when third in Lingfield Derby Trial (1m4f, AW) last month, but is in excellent hands to progress and today's extra distance could help.

6/1

3rd

1

(7)

13th May 2023

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Lingfield (AW)

Circle Of Fire

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: Sir Michael Stoute

Big-race entries; upped to 1m when justifying favouritism in novice at Salisbury (good to firm) in September, asserting in good style; second of seven in last week's Listed Newmarket Stakes (1m2f, good) was another sizeable step forward and his dam was a 1m4f AW winner; more to come.

4/1

Form: 41131- C

Last run: 202 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Has raced only on good/firmer; turned over at short odds in slowly run Royal Lodge; progressive otherwise last term and bagged Group 3 honours at Newmarket (1m2f) on final appearance; big player on form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

(4)

18th May 2024

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Newbury

Flying Honours

9st 2lb

J: James Doyle

T: Charlie Appleby

Very promising at two (Listed/Group 3 winner) but well beaten in the Dante at York on sole 3yo start and fared no better in 1m2f Sandown Group 3 (Desert Hero second) on reappearance three weeks ago; has lots to prove at present.

20/1

8th

4

(4)

18th May 2024

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Newbury

Flying Honours

9st 2lb

J: James Doyle

T: Charlie Appleby

Very promising at two (Listed/Group 3 winner) but well beaten in the Dante at York on sole 3yo start and fared no better in 1m2f Sandown Group 3 (Desert Hero second) on reappearance three weeks ago; has lots to prove at present.

20/1

7th

4

(3)

26th Apr 2024

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

14:25 Sandown

Flying Honours

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Ran just once last year, when well beaten in the Dante at York in May (finished lame); gelded since; very promising 2yo in 2022, landing the Group 3 Zetland Stakes at Newmarket (1m2f, good) that October, and it will be no surprise if he returns with a big performance for his leading yard.

7/2

Form: 22-1

Last run: 51 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
The only runner who is not entered in the Derby; easily opened his account at Kempton (1m4f, AW) on seasonal debut, after which his trainer said the Italian Derby is the aim; opposed on balance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

(20)

24th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 2

15:35 York

Relentless Voyager

9st 12lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Won handicap at Epsom (good to soft) on Derby day and good second from the front in Group 3 at Goodwood (good to firm) three weeks ago, both 1m4f; third in 1m6f Listed race at York in between might suggest limitations for today's task but trying to come from off a steady pace will have counted against him, so he's not fully exposed.

12/1

2nd

5

(1)

3rd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 218y

Class 1

13:50 Goodwood

Relentless Voyager

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Better than ever when readily winning competitive handicap at Epsom (1m4f, good to soft) on Derby day; not seen to best effect in steadily run Listed race at York last time and could have the same problem today, while there's a question as to whether he's fully effective on fast ground; however, this progressive 4yo could yet have more to offer and is not ruled out.

7/2

Abandoned

Form: 13-

Last run: 188 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Overcame greenness to win at Haydock on debut, then finished third in Group 1 at Saint-Cloud (1m, heavy) on the same card that saw Arrest also perform well; should have plenty more to offer; appealing candidate.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(9)

2nd Apr 2025

Yielding

1m 6f 0y

19:15 Gowran Park

Salt Bay

9st 5lb

J: W J Lee

T: Henry De Bromhead

towards rear, headway over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong

100/30

7th

7

(9)

2nd Apr 2025

Yielding

1m 6f 0y

19:15 Gowran Park

Salt Bay

9st 5lb

J: W J Lee

T: Henry De Bromhead

towards rear, headway over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong

100/30

7th

13

9th Feb 2025

Soft To Heavy

1m 7f 150y

13:40 Navan

Salt Bay

11st 12lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

in touch with leaders, weakened gradually from 2 out

11/4

Verdict

Flying Honours and Circle Of Fire are respected on certain counts but they have something to prove on the forecast slow ground, while Relentless Voyager goes into deeper waters back on turf. That leaves SALT BAY and Arrest who both ran well on heavy going at Saint-Cloud last October and bring Group 1 form. Slight preference is for Salt Bay, who represents last year’s winning yard and is open to plenty of further progress having raced just twice.[Steve Boow]

Selections

RP Ratings:

Arrest

TOPSPEED:

Flying Honours

SPOTLIGHT:

Salt Bay

The Times:

Salt Bay

POSTDATA:

Arrest

Telegraph:

Arrest

Daily Mail:

Arrest

D Express:

Arrest

Daily Mirror:

Arrest

The Sun:

Arrest

The Star:

Arrest

Daily Record:

Arrest

NEWMARKET:

Flying Honours

The Guardian:

Flying Honours