May 29 / 20.05 Sandown

20.05

Good

Star Sports Heron Stakes (Listed Race)

  • Prize money: £25519.5
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Star Sports Heron Stakes (Listed Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 111- C

Last run: 257 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Won novice races last summer on first two starts (7f, good to firm/AW; including here) and made it 3-3 in Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster (7f, good) in September; absent since and carries a 5lb penalty today but nevertheless holds strong claims if returning at the top of his game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(4)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

14:40 Epsom

Bay City Roller

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: George Scott

Consistent colt whose Group 1 form is non-domestic, namely a success in Germany (1m4f, soft) last November and good second at the Curragh (10.5f, good) latest start; only a neck behind Lambourn on worse terms at Chester on reappearance, albeit with that rival rusty and likely to improve for the run, according to Ryan Moore; needs a personal best to land this prize.

18/1

2nd

2

(3)

24th May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 110y

15:55 Curragh

Bay City Roller

9st 5lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: George Scott

Showed some high-class form last year, including when beaten less than a length by Daryz in the Prix Egene Adam; hit the big time when making all to win the Group 1 Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern by 7l at Munich (1m4f, soft) in November; huge run at Chester when conceding weight all around, just going down by a neck to last year's dual Derby winner Lambourn; ideally suited by softer ground and a bit to find on ratings but he's clearly in top form.

8/1

Form: 1

Last run: 37 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Strong in the betting when beating his market rival by a neck on last month's debut at Epsom (8.5f, good); others have much better form but this half-brother to his top trainer's Group 1 Coronation Cup winner Defoe could have lots more to offer and is an interesting contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(3)

19th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Jackknife

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Roger Varian

13-8 when winning on debut at Epsom (8.5f, good) in April and stayed on strongly once in the clear in Sandown Listed race (1m, good) last month, finishing third; this half-brother to the yard's 1m4f Group 1 winner Defoe is open to plenty of improvement now up in trip and could be a major player.

11/2

2

(2)

29th May 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

20:05 Sandown

Jackknife

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Roger Varian

Strong in the betting when beating his market rival by a neck on last month's debut at Epsom (8.5f, good); others have much better form but this half-brother to his top trainer's Group 1 Coronation Cup winner Defoe could have lots more to offer and is an interesting contender.

8/1

2

(2)

29th May 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

20:05 Sandown

Jackknife

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Roger Varian

Strong in the betting when beating his market rival by a neck on last month's debut at Epsom (8.5f, good); others have much better form but this half-brother to his top trainer's Group 1 Coronation Cup winner Defoe could have lots more to offer and is an interesting contender.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 126-8

Last run: 43 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Won on debut at Leicester (7f, good to firm) last August and runner-up to subsequent Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Field Of Gold in the Group 3 Solario here (7f, good) later that month; well beaten in heavy-ground French Group 1 last October, and same story on reappearance in the Craven (1m, good), but he may have needed that latest run and it's too soon to write him off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(1)

29th May 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

20:05 Sandown

Matauri Bay

9st 2lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Won on debut at Leicester (7f, good to firm) last August and runner-up to subsequent Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Field Of Gold in the Group 3 Solario here (7f, good) later that month; well beaten in heavy-ground French Group 1 last October, and same story on reappearance in the Craven (1m, good), but he may have needed that latest run and it's too soon to write him off.

6/1

3

(1)

29th May 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

20:05 Sandown

Matauri Bay

9st 2lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Won on debut at Leicester (7f, good to firm) last August and runner-up to subsequent Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Field Of Gold in the Group 3 Solario here (7f, good) later that month; well beaten in heavy-ground French Group 1 last October, and same story on reappearance in the Craven (1m, good), but he may have needed that latest run and it's too soon to write him off.

6/1

8th

4

(9)

16th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Matauri Bay

9st 2lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Scored on debut then finished second to Field Of Gold in the Solario; form dipped sharply in heavy-ground French Group 1 (had wind surgery since) but he may still have more to offer; by no means written off.

9/1

Form: 17-22 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Won on debut at Newmarket (1m, good to soft) last October and down the field in Group 1 Futurity (1m, soft) later that month; runner-up on both starts this year (1m/1m2f, AW/good), most recently beaten 3l in four-runner Listed race at Newmarket; needs something extra but he's still lightly raced for a top stable that has won this four times since 2010, and headgear goes on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(1)

21st Feb 2026

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

14:00 Lingfield (AW)

Nebras

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: John & Thady Gosden

Ended 2025 with a pair of 1m2f wins on AW, the latest a Listed race where he enjoyed the run of things but showed a fine attitude to repel a solid yardstick; unlikely to enjoy such a soft time through the early part of this race but he is an improving 4yo and Ryan Moore is booked.

5/2

2nd

1

(11)

1st Nov 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

14:17 Newmarket

Nebras

9st 12lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Second of four in 1m2f course Listed race (good) in May; below that level with cheekpieces added at Sandown (Listed) and Glorious Goodwood (handicap) during the summer but still lightly raced and it'll be interesting to see how strong the betting vibes are on this first outing for three months (gelded).

10/1

2nd

1

(11)

1st Nov 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

14:17 Newmarket

Nebras

9st 12lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Second of four in 1m2f course Listed race (good) in May; below that level with cheekpieces added at Sandown (Listed) and Glorious Goodwood (handicap) during the summer but still lightly raced and it'll be interesting to see how strong the betting vibes are on this first outing for three months (gelded).

10/1

Form: 116 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Impressive at Kempton earlier this year on first two starts (1m, AW); merely sixth of nine on turf debut in the Group 3 Craven at Newmarket (1m, good) last month but pulled hard and the first-time hood could help him settle better; retains considerable potential for top trainer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

(7)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Ascot

Opera Ballo

9st 2lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Charlie Appleby

Made all for 3l success in a particularly good edition of the bet365 Mile (Group 2) at Sandown most recently, defying a 5lb penalty for his Group 1 win at Meydan and taking record to 7-9, as well as reversing Newmarket autumn placings with Zeus Olympios; doesn't necessarily need to dominate up front; new rating puts him on a par with stablemate Notable Speech and even bigger figures may be on the way; respected.

7/2

1st

2

(2)

24th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Opera Ballo

9st 8lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Progressive colt who readily bagged Group 1 honours at Meydan (1m1f, good) three months ago, taking record to 6-8; however, appears to need further improvement to defy 5lb penalty and was no match for Zeus Olympios in last domestic outing.

8/1

2nd

5

(6)

26th Sep 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Opera Ballo

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Pulled too hard and flopped in the Craven but firmly back on track with a hood fitted since, winning Listed events over this trip at Sandown (good) and on the July course (good to firm); particularly impressive in the latter event and he holds a Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes entry; sets a fine standard to aim at.

8/11

Form: 231-19

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Progressive last year, winning a nursery at Doncaster (7f, soft) last October on final 2yo start, and continued the good work with reappearance win in conditions race at Newmarket (7f, good); flopped in Listed race there subsequently (7f, good) but he's much better than that and is not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(3)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

14:10 York

Pellitory

9st 7lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Won a 7f conditions event at Newmarket last April and paid the price with the handicapper as a result; left James Owen for 52,000gns last October; well beaten in both runs for David O'Meara but in ultra-competitive Ascot handicaps; sneaking down the weights and the type to pop up at some point soon.

25/1

26th

20

(19)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

Pellitory

9st 2lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Proved rather difficult to place last term after a reappearance win that did major damage to his mark; perhaps needed the run when 40-1 in the Victoria Cup over C&D on stable/seasonal debut but is best watched unless the market signals suggest he'll take a step forward.

66/1

16th

11

(16)

9th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:20 Ascot

Pellitory

9st 6lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Record of 3-14 for James Owen, reaching a useful standard but proving rather difficult to place after the third success ruined his mark; sold for 52,000gns and gelded since last run; probably still too high in the weights for this level of competition.

33/1

Form: 51512

Last run: 50 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Two wins in Qatar in February (6.5f maiden and 7f handicap) and runner-up in conditions race there (10.5f, good) in April; however, looks to face a tough task on this first British start.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(4)

19th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:30 Newmarket (July)

Suhail Star

9st 11lb

J: Faleh Bughenaim

T: M Al Attiya

Two wins (6.5f/7f) in Qatar in February but he's failed to shine in his three British starts since May, most recently at Windsor on Monday.

40/1

4

(3)

14th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 12y

Class 4

20:00 Windsor

Suhail Star

9st 12lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: M Al Attiya

Two wins (6.5f/7f) in Qatar in February and runner-up there over 10.5f in April; switched to Britain for two races this summer, not disgraced at 100-1 under Ashley Lewis at Royal Ascot (5f, good to firm) on latest, although only 17th of 24; lacks solid claims but this is a big drop in class.

9/1

20

(1)

20th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

Suhail Star

8st 13lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: M Al Attiya

Two wins over further in Qatar this year and also ran well over an extended 1m2f in April; tailed off in a 1m Listed event at Sandown (first British attempt) three weeks ago; hard to recommend now dropped markedly in trip.

50/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.90
Straight Forecast £7.12
Trifecta £26.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Opera Ballo

TOPSPEED:

Bay City Roller

RP RATINGS:

Opera Ballo

POSTDATA:

Opera Ballo

NEWMARKET:

Opera Ballo

The Times:

Opera Ballo

Telegraph:

Opera Ballo

The Guardian:

Opera Ballo

Daily Mirror:

Opera Ballo

The Star:

Opera Ballo

Daily Mail:

Bay City Roller

D Express:

Bay City Roller

The Sun:

Bay City Roller

Daily Record:

Bay City Roller