July 05 / 14.30 Sandown

14.30

Good To Firm

Dragon Stakes (Listed Race)

  • Prize money: £17013
  • 0m 5f 10y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Dragon Stakes (Listed Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

10/11 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 15 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
£380,000 breeze-up buy who won readily on debut at Bath (5f, good) in May before close fifth of 13 in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot (5f, good to firm) 15 days ago; leading claims judged on that latest form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

20

(9)

17th Jun 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

15:40 Ascot

Aesterius

9st 1lb

J: James McDonald

T: Archie Watson

Smart sprinting 2yo whose four 5f wins included a Group 3 at Longchamp (good to soft) and Group 2 at Doncaster (good), both from the front; has to put a disappointing reappearance at York (favourite) behind him in this much better race.

25/1

6th

1

(9)

15th May 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

16:18 York

Aesterius

9st 9lb

J: William Buick

T: Archie Watson

Reappears carrying a 5lb penalty but he was a Listed, Group 3 and Group 2 winner last season, and his defeat of Big Mojo and Magnum Force in the Flying Childers reads extremely well; strong claims.

5/4

6th

1

(9)

15th May 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

16:18 York

Aesterius

9st 9lb

J: William Buick

T: Archie Watson

Reappears carrying a 5lb penalty but he was a Listed, Group 3 and Group 2 winner last season, and his defeat of Big Mojo and Magnum Force in the Flying Childers reads extremely well; strong claims.

5/4

9/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 1814 D

Last run: 6 days

W: 8st 13lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Two wins (5f/6f, good/soft) from first three starts and creditable Listed fourth against fellow fillies at Newmarket (6f, good to firm) last Saturday; however, she's vulnerable today unless finding further improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(1)

1st Nov 2024

Good To Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

13:43 Newmarket

It Aint Two

9st 2lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Hugo Palmer

ducked left start, pressed leaders, soon raced far side with one other, switched left and joined main group after 2f, led narrowly over 1f out, ridden and faced challenge inside final furlong, just held on

9/2

1st

2

(1)

1st Nov 2024

Good To Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

13:43 Newmarket

It Aint Two

9st 2lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Hugo Palmer

ducked left start, pressed leaders, soon raced far side with one other, switched left and joined main group after 2f, led narrowly over 1f out, ridden and faced challenge inside final furlong, just held on

9/2

2nd

7

(1)

12th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

13:30 York

It Aint Two

8st 12lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Hugo Palmer

pressed winner, lost second over 1f out, rallied final 110yds, went second again final stride

8/1

2/1

Form: 210 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Won at Newmarket (5f, good) in May on his second start and that form was franked by the placed horses at Royal Ascot; this fellow was beaten 5l in 13th of 22 in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at the Royal meeting (6f, good to firm) but his far-side group seemed at a disadvantage and he faded late on; could have a big part to play now back down in distance and grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(3)

14th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

The Actor

9st 11lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

Got back on track for his current yard when third of five in 6f Hamilton handicap in August; can make his presence felt from a slipping mark.

7/1

3rd

2

(3)

22nd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 6y

Class 4

19:35 Hamilton

The Actor

9st 9lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Julie Camacho

A fairly useful winning juvenile for Richard Hannon but he's yet to fire in three runs for his current yard, off four months before coming in fifth of six in 5f Pontefract handicap 26 days ago; he needs to take a big step forward.

9/1

5th

6

(2)

27th Jul 2025

Good

0m 5f 3y

Class 4

16:25 Pontefract

The Actor

9st 7lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Julie Camacho

Consistent rather than progressive for Richard Hannon; has finished last in two runs for this yard on either side of wind surgery; visor replaces cheekpieces.

20/1

50/1

Form: 13 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Won on debut at Lingfield (5f, good) last month and again showed considerable promise when third under a penalty at Redcar (5f, good to firm); however, he needs a sizeable step forward in this much hotter race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

7

(3)

31st May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Thirsk

Kinetic Force

9st 5lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Ruth Carr

Has made a good start for Ruth Carr and emerged from midfield to edge home over C&D a month ago; on that run and past exploits, he remains on a useful mark up 4lb.

8/1

1st

10

(6)

2nd May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

16:25 Thirsk

Kinetic Force

8st 10lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Ruth Carr

Two good runs since joining Ruth Carr, fourth of 12 at Newcastle in March and third of 17 at Musselburgh three weeks ago; up in class but should give it another good go.

9/2

3rd

7

(13)

12th Apr 2026

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

18:45 Musselburgh

Kinetic Force

9st 7lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Ruth Carr

Two wins (AW/turf) for previous yard; close fourth at Newcastle (5f, AW) on stable/seasonal debut; fighting chance provided he builds on that effort; similar type to Emerald Harmony.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 150 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Won on debut Thirsk (5f, good to soft) in May then looked stretched by 6f at Epsom (good to soft); fair tenth of 27 in the Listed Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot (5f, good to firm) but form needs to go to a new level today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(7)

8th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

18:40 Kempton (AW)

End Of Story

9st 8lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Mark Loughnane

Two wins for Kevin Ryan and latest was at York (5f, soft) last October, but he has form figures of 60859 for new yard this season; now 6lb lower than for his last win but he needs a transformation back up in trip; headgear removed.

20/1

6

(5)

4th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 5f 6y

Class 3

18:20 Lingfield (AW)

End Of Story

9st 6lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Mark Loughnane

Had some solid 2yo form for Kevin Ryan and hinted at a revival at Yarmouth on his penultimate start; dropped away tamely under suitable conditions at Sandown on Saturday though and headgear is now reached for; AW debut.

16/1

5th

7

(8)

30th Aug 2025

Good

0m 5f 10y

Class 4

17:20 Sandown

End Of Story

9st 9lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Mark Loughnane

Recent rain is a tonic with his 2yo wins having come on good to soft and soft; slow start for this stable and he was again well beaten in a Racing League event at Yarmouth five weeks ago when encountering soft ground again; he was poorly drawn there though and did best of the three who stayed near side; has a dangerous mark and stable is going well.

16/1

Form: 130 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Won the Brocklesby at Doncaster (5f, soft) in March; third of six in Listed race over this C&D (soft) in May but well beaten in the Group 2 Coventry at Royal Ascot and his limitations are likely to be exposed once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

10

(12)

5th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 5f 217y

Class 1

15:20 Redcar

Zminiature

9st 0lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Dylan Cunha

Won the Brocklesby at Doncaster (5f, soft) in March; third of six in Listed race at Sandown (soft) next time but he's struggled in last two runs (Group 2/Listed) and has been gelded since; passed over.

33/1

6th

6

(1)

5th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 10y

Class 1

14:30 Sandown

Zminiature

9st 4lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Dylan Cunha

Won the Brocklesby at Doncaster (5f, soft) in March; third of six in Listed race over this C&D (soft) in May but well beaten in the Group 2 Coventry at Royal Ascot and his limitations are likely to be exposed once more.

20/1

20th

23

(1)

18th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

16:05 Ascot

Zminiature

9st 3lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Dylan Cunha

16-1 debut winner at Doncaster (5f, soft); faced the same scenario but at Listed level at Sandown and wasn't out of his depth, staying on well for third from an unpromising position; stepping up to 6f looks the way to go and he's not without hope of outrunning his odds, provided stall 1 (from which The Wow Signal obliged ten years ago) is no drawback; tongue-tie added.

66/1

Non-runners

Soldiers Heart

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.70
Straight Forecast £5.36
Trifecta £11.30

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Aesterius

SPOTLIGHT:

The Actor

NEWMARKET:

Soldier's Heart

The Star:

End Of Story

POSTDATA:

Aesterius

Telegraph:

Aesterius

The Guardian:

Aesterius

Daily Mirror:

Aesterius

The Sun:

Aesterius

Daily Record:

Aesterius

TOPSPEED:

The Actor

The Times:

The Actor

Daily Mail:

The Actor

D Express:

The Actor