July 07 / 16.15 Sandown

16.15

Good To Soft

Davies Insurance Solutions Gala Stakes (Listed Race)

  • Prize money: £28355
  • 1m 1f 209y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
RTV
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Davies Insurance Solutions Gala Stakes (Listed Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £9.50

Form: 3-5200 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Started this season with two pieces of improved form, notably when second in a handicap at Chester (1m2f, soft); finished last on both starts since, with Epsom getting the blame on first occasion and his stiff task trying to come from right out the back at Royal Ascot (100-1) last time compounded when he was badly hampered; he'd have run respectably without that incident and his best form is on a similar level to the rest of this field.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

(11)

21st Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 2f 5y

Class 2

15:27 Pontefract

Savvy Victory

9st 7lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: S Woods

His form deteriorated last year and he went 0-9; however, he's dropped down the weights and could improve for his recent comeback in a Listed race at Kempton (fourth); this C&D winner is not ruled out.

15/2

4th

5

(1)

6th Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 1f 219y

Class 1

14:55 Kempton (AW)

Savvy Victory

9st 3lb

J: James Doyle

T: S Woods

Useful handicapper on his day including on AW, but unplaced in all nine starts since reappearing a year ago and would be receiving weight from all his rivals in a handicap.

20/1

Form: 11-240 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
3-3 in first season last year (1m/1m2f); better form this term when excellent second in Group 3 at Newmarket (1m1f, good to soft) and creditable fourth in Group 2 at Chester (extended 1m2f, soft) before disappointing when 9-1 at Royal Ascot, same race contested by all of these; has had only six races.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(8)

4th Dec 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

19:10 Kempton (AW)

Poker Face

9st 6lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

in rear

9/2

1st

4

(8)

4th Dec 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

19:10 Kempton (AW)

Poker Face

9st 6lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

in rear

9/2

12th

5

(7)

19th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:15 Ascot

Poker Face

9st 6lb

J: James Doyle

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Won a Group 3 and Group 2 in France last season (1m, soft/good to soft); this prominent-racer has run well in defeat in 1m Group 2 races on his last three starts (soft/good) but needs something extra today.

66/1

11/8

Form: 804-25

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Sole win came in a maiden as 2yo; went very close at Royal Ascot in 2022 (1m) and at Newmarket Guineas meeting this year (1m1f) and he fared easily the best of all five in this field when back at Royal Ascot (1m2f) on latest outing, coming a creditable fifth of 16 in Listed race; tried cheekpieces on last two starts but former blinkers now return; those peak efforts were in large fields when ridden by Frankie Dettori, whereas overall record is mixed, so the issue is not as clearcut as the Ascot result might suggest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

19th

2

(15)

30th Sep 2023

Good To Firm

1m 1f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Newmarket

Saga

9st 11lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: John & Thady Gosden

4yo who is in top hands and has raced 12 times; two of his very best performances have come in big-field handicaps, when going close in last year's Britannia (1m, good to firm) at Royal Ascot and when a head second of 17 over C&D in May (good to soft; denied a clear run); interesting given this ideal scenario; blinkers refitted in place of first-time cheekpieces.

14/1

3rd

4

(2)

7th Jul 2023

Good To Soft

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

16:15 Sandown

Saga

9st 9lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: John & Thady Gosden

Sole win came in a maiden as 2yo; went very close at Royal Ascot in 2022 (1m) and at Newmarket Guineas meeting this year (1m1f) and he fared easily the best of all five in this field when back at Royal Ascot (1m2f) on latest outing, coming a creditable fifth of 16 in Listed race; tried cheekpieces on last two starts but former blinkers now return; those peak efforts were in large fields when ridden by Frankie Dettori, whereas overall record is mixed, so the issue is not as clearcut as the Ascot result might suggest.

11/8

5th

14

(3)

20th Jun 2023

Good

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Saga

9st 5lb

J: Frankie Dettori

T: John & Thady Gosden

Course winner as 2yo; went very close from off the pace in the Britannia at last year's Royal meeting (1m, good to firm) and underlined what a talented performer he is on his day when narrowly denied by King Of Conquest in 1m1f Newmarket handicap (good to soft; first-time cheekpieces, retained) on reappearance; arguably a little unfortunate having had to wait for a run and that reopposing rival (who meets him on 3lb worse terms now) has boosted the form since; slightly mixed overall record but he hasn't finished out of the first two when partnered by Dettori and is capable of a big run.

7/2

Form: -23130 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Resurgent in cheekpieces on the AW, including a major 1m2f win in April, and continued the good work back on turf when third (Saga second; closely matched on that) in 1m1f Newmarket handicap on good to soft in May; well held at Royal Ascot latest (same race contested by all of these) but it was a tough task at 50-1; player if bouncing straight back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

2

(11)

20th Nov 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:30 Kempton (AW)

Notre Belle Bete

9st 13lb

J: William Carver

T: Andrew Balding

Beaten favourite in the corresponding race 12 months ago when rated 1lb higher; only seen twice this year, looking to retain all his ability in useful turf races; can go well fresh; not ruled out.

10/1

14th

2

(11)

20th Nov 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:30 Kempton (AW)

Notre Belle Bete

9st 13lb

J: William Carver

T: Andrew Balding

Beaten favourite in the corresponding race 12 months ago when rated 1lb higher; only seen twice this year, looking to retain all his ability in useful turf races; can go well fresh; not ruled out.

10/1

5th

12

(6)

18th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

18:40 Ascot

Notre Belle Bete

9st 5lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Four-time AW winner; has comparable form on turf but he took his record in this sphere to 0-17 when a creditable fourth of 15 in Epsom handicap (8.5f; good to soft) on reappearance 18 days ago; cheekpieces back on; it's unlikely that a first success on the grass will arrive now.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: 03-730 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Missed 2021; rather a mixed record since but not far off his best when placed, including in a 1m2f handicap at Chester (soft) on the second of his three starts this season; won on good to firm much earlier in career but peak efforts on good or softer; not far away if he's back on song following a tough assignment (all of these took part, Saga well ahead) at Royal Ascot.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

(8)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:17 Goodwood

Certain Lad

9st 3lb

J: George Bass

T: Jack Channon

Multiple winner down the years but 2025 figures suggest age may be catching up with him to some degree; hasn't won a domestic race since 2023 and it's an even longer time since he made a successful seasonal debut.

14/1

3

(3)

19th Oct 2025

Yielding

1m 2f 0y

15:26 Leopardstown

Certain Lad

9st 7lb

J: George Bass

T: Jack Channon

Strike rate of 11-49 reads well although hasn't won in over a year and this season has been restricted by quick ground; had his favoured soft ground but still good bit below best at Ayr last month so must be doubtful he can run to current mark and ideally wants a bit further.

8/1

3

(1)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Ayr

Certain Lad

9st 5lb

J: George Bass

T: Jack Channon

9yo whose form has been mixed across three starts this year; however, they've all been on good ground and his last five wins have come on good to soft and slower ground, the latest a Group 3 at Longchamp (1m2f, soft) last September; could bounce back with a big run if conditions are in his favour.

6/1

Non-runners

Certain Lad

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £21.70
Straight Forecast £21.14
Trifecta £41.70

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Poker Face

SPOTLIGHT:

Savvy Victory

NEWMARKET:

Saga

TOPSPEED:

Certain Lad

POSTDATA:

Poker Face

Daily Mail:

Poker Face

Daily Mirror:

Poker Face

The Star:

Poker Face

The Times:

Savvy Victory

Telegraph:

Savvy Victory

The Sun:

Saga

Daily Record:

Saga

The Guardian:

Certain Lad

D Express:

Certain Lad