July 05 / 16.15 Sandown

16.15

Good To Firm

Davies Insurance Solutions Gala Stakes (Listed Race)

  • Prize money: £25519.5
  • 1m 1f 209y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Davies Insurance Solutions Gala Stakes (Listed Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 36-263

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Unlucky not to have finished closer in a strong Epsom handicap at the Derby meeting (extended 1m; good to soft) so he arrives here in good heart; however, all his best form has come on ground softer than the forecast good and over 1m, so has more to prove than some.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(4)

4th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 68y

Class 2

15:51 Hamilton

Al Mubhir

9st 11lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Kevin Ryan

Listed win at Sandown in July 2024 and well treated on that form; however, he drew a blank during his 2025 Australian campaign and was soundly beaten on last month's stable debut in the Thirsk Hunt Cup; something to prove.

16/1

10th

2

(5)

2nd May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 218y

Class 2

14:40 Thirsk

Al Mubhir

9st 11lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Kevin Ryan

Smart at his best for William Haggas, winning a Listed race at Sandown (1m2f, good) in July 2024; campaigned solely in Australia in 2025 and well beaten on his last two starts; potentially well handicapped back in Britain for a new yard after wind surgery, but he carries obvious risks.

16/1

9/2

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 0167-4 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Came from last to first in a four-runner renewal of this race 12 months ago and that was also on the back of contesting the Listed Wolferton at Royal Ascot, in which last year he suffered bad interference (dropped out) and this time finished a highly respectable fourth; may strip fitter for that first run of the campaign and a bold defence looks on the cards.
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: 1331-3

Last run: 95 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced and very progressive, on turf and AW; beat a subsequent US Grade 1 winner on final run of last season at Kempton (1m4f) and again showed strong form when third there on reappearance (1m2f; carried a penalty), as the winner won last weekend's Group 1 at Saint-Cloud and the runner-up a Group 3 next time; has been off for three months and 1m4f may be his optimum trip, but lots to like nonetheless.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(3)

1st May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:30 Newmarket

Lions Pride

9st 5lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: John & Thady Gosden

7l Listed win over C&D (good to firm) last September; there are also plenty of lesser shows to be considered and, after he was not discredited in Qatar in February, he managed only fourth of six when favourite for Group 3 at Newbury 13 days ago; in the mix on peak efforts.

7/2

4th

5

(2)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:35 Newbury

Lions Pride

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: John & Thady Gosden

Not discredited in Qatar in February on latest outing and in the mix judged on peak efforts, including a Newmarket Listed win (1m4f) last September; however, there are also plenty of lesser shows to be considered.

3/1

1st

6

(3)

26th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Lions Pride

9st 7lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Listed winner at Kempton (1m4f, AW) in November 2023 but didn't kick on from that in light campaign last year and soundly beaten at Kempton (1m4f, AW) in April on his sole run this season; has to get back to his peak.

12/1

8/1

Form: 1 CD

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Galileo colt who was unraced for Aidan O'Brien and snapped up at the sales for 10,000gns; that looks a good buy after he breezed home by 4l in a C&D maiden three weeks ago (good to soft) at odds of 40-1; that was an average maiden by Sandown standards and this is a huge hike in class, but he's promising.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(4)

15th Apr 2026

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Prague

9st 2lb

J: Jack Gilligan

T: Dylan Cunha

Announced himself when winning Group 2 here (1m, soft) in September 2024 but 0-8 since and he's become a little tricky to place; had wind surgery in December, which might help, but he's at the bottom of the list on RPRs.

16/1

5th

5

(4)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 75y

Class 1

14:47 Nottingham

Prague

9st 4lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Dylan Cunha

Group 2 winner (1m, soft) last autumn; has failed to repeat that form but none of his 2025 races (80-1 in the Champion Stakes 11 days ago) were on softer than good, so he could be of renewed interest.

5/1

5th

5

(4)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 75y

Class 1

14:47 Nottingham

Prague

9st 4lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Dylan Cunha

Group 2 winner (1m, soft) last autumn; has failed to repeat that form but none of his 2025 races (80-1 in the Champion Stakes 11 days ago) were on softer than good, so he could be of renewed interest.

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: 41-586 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Only sixth in the Wolferton (behind Savvy Victory) when penalised for last season's Listed win at Newmarket (1m2f, heavy); although that was a respectable run, this season remains underwhelming compared with past achievements.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(10)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Newbury

Checkandchallenge

9st 11lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: William Knight

7yo who's spent the vast majority of his career in Group or Listed races and this time last year he was fifth on this card in the Group 1 Lockinge; only his second handicap when, like so many others, he met traffic problems in the Spring Cup over C&D (28-1) four weeks ago; Rossa Ryan gets back on board and they are not totally dismissed.

20/1

10th

1

(23)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:10 Newbury

Checkandchallenge

9st 12lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: William Knight

Pretty consistent in Listed/Group races in 2025 without performing to his very best; losing sequence now stands at 18 and he reappears after seven months off in his first handicap since July 2022; cheekpieces left off and others preferred.

25/1

9th

3

(6)

24th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:35 Goodwood

Checkandchallenge

9st 4lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: William Knight

Retains plenty of ability and finished nicely for respectable effort in 1m Group 3 at Haydock most recently; going back up in trip looks a positive but his long losing sequence remains a negative.

20/1

12/1

Form: 227-50

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Group 3 2yo winner on heavy and best form has an older horse has also come in the mud, notably seconds in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood and a 1m Listed race here (wore first-time cheekpieces that now return); having his first run on fast ground and over 1m2f when never dangerous in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot; there are reservations on a couple of counts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

(1)

5th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

16:15 Sandown

Knight

9st 9lb

J: James Doyle

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Group 3 2yo winner on heavy and best form has an older horse has also come in the mud, notably seconds in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood and a 1m Listed race here (wore first-time cheekpieces that now return); having his first run on fast ground and over 1m2f when never dangerous in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot; there are reservations on a couple of counts.

12/1

10th

10

(11)

18th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

18:40 Ascot

Knight

9st 5lb

J: Mickael Barzalona

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Won the Horris Hill at Newbury on heavy as a 2yo and underlined his liking for testing turf when second in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood and a 1m Sandown Listed race (wore first-time cheekpieces) at the end of last summer; ended 3yo campaign on a low note at Newmarket and also ran poorly with a visor added on his Doncaster reappearance in March; given time since; no headgear now and also up in trip.

25/1

5th

5

(7)

23rd Mar 2024

Heavy

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

13:20 Doncaster

Knight

9st 2lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Won the Horris Hill at Newbury on heavy as a 2yo and underlined his liking for testing turf when second in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood (Charyn over 1l back in third) and a Sandown Listed race (wore first-time cheekpieces) at the end of last summer; ran poorly in 1m1f Newmarket Group 3 when last seen in October but a bold show is assured if back to anywhere near his best in a first-time visor.

5/2

Non-runners

Regal Reality

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £18.60
Straight Forecast £18.68
Trifecta £55.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Lion's Pride

TOPSPEED:

Savvy Victory

The Guardian:

Prague

POSTDATA:

Checkandchallenge

Telegraph:

Knight

D Express:

Al Mubhir

RP RATINGS:

Lion's Pride

NEWMARKET:

Lion's Pride

Daily Mirror:

Lion's Pride

The Sun:

Lion's Pride

The Star:

Prague

Daily Mail:

Checkandchallenge

The Times:

Savvy Victory

Daily Record:

Savvy Victory