September 17 / 15.35 Sandown

15.35

Soft

Sporting Times Sri Lanka Fortune Stakes (Listed Race)

  • Prize money: £25519.5
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Sporting Times Sri Lanka Fortune Stakes (Listed Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 7-3622 CD

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
In and out since showing smart form as a 2yo (beat the top-class Docklands) but loves soft ground and ran right up to his best under those conditions when close up in a Group 3 at Deauville 18 days ago; having to concede weight to 3yos won't be easy but unlikely to be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(4)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:35 Newbury

Ciceros Gift

9st 2lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Charles Hills

Didn't have the ideal set-up at Sandown (behind Zeus Olympios) on reappearance but still needs to prove the form of his 100-1 success in last year's Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II (1m, good) at Ascot, where he was possibly helped by the draw, can be backed up; may be flattered by his mark.

33/1

4th

1

(5)

24th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Ciceros Gift

9st 8lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Charles Hills

Dual C&D winner who finished third in this race last year; returns to Sandown but may be flattered by his new rating, having been perhaps helped by the draw when registering a 100-1 success in the Group 1 QEII at Ascot (good) on last appearance; needs to prove he can back up that form.

20/1

2

(1)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:25 Ascot

Ciceros Gift

9st 6lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Charles Hills

Having run some good races in defeat this season (including in a good-ground Group 2) he returned to winning ways in a Listed race at Sandown (1m, soft) last month; likes it there; looks opposable now back up in grade.

100/1

20/1

  • Place: £4.80

Form: 20-030

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Both wins came early last year in soft-ground novices at Doncaster (7f); has produced some notable efforts in handicaps and raced alone for much of the race when well beaten in the latest at Ascot (hood back on but now discarded); faces no easy task on these terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(8)

9th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 212y

Class 1

15:40 Haydock

Balmacara

9st 10lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

None too consistent in 2025, running well when second in 1m Listed event at Sandown (soft) in September but poorly twice afterwards; returns from a layoff and may find that conditions place the emphasis too much on speed.

25/1

1

(6)

24th Oct 2025

Heavy

0m 7f 6y

Class 2

15:18 Doncaster

Balmacara

10st 0lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Form this term features a good effort, behind the subsequent QEII winner, at Sandown (Listed) on penultimate run; did too much up front latest; 2-2 over C&D (soft-ground novice wins) and looks interesting back here.

9/1

8

(1)

4th Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Ascot

Balmacara

8st 13lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Lacks consistency but produced a solid run in defeat at Listed level last time (1m, soft) and this drop back to 7f will be no hardship; Charles Bishop gets off to partner Great Acclaim but this 4yo is respected off a competitive mark.

11/1

OUR TIP

11/8

Form: 1-511

Last run: 62 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Sole defeat came in a Listed race and has otherwise kept a lowish profile, winning novices at Yarmouth and Hamilton before comfortably justifying favouritism on handicap debut back at the latter venue two months ago (extended 1m, good; has won on soft); this Frankel colt holds a Group 1 entry at this trip and retains significant potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(7)

28th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 17y

Class 2

15:15 Epsom

Sallaal

9st 11lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Made it three wins from his first four starts when scoring on handicap debut at Hamilton (8.3f, good) last July; his progress stalled in two Listed races subsequently but this lightly raced 4yo has been gelded since and the return to better ground could be a positive, along with the step up in trip; retains potential for a top trainer who won this in 2018 and 2019; respected.

4/1

5

(10)

19th Oct 2025

Yielding

1m 0f 0y

14:25 Leopardstown

Sallaal

9st 6lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Lightly raced progressive 3yo whose two wins have been in small-runner Hamilton contests at this trip on decent ground; softer ground seemed to stretch him when respectable third in Sandown Listed on latest; tried hooded now and has to be respected.

9/2

3rd

3

(1)

17th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Sandown

Sallaal

9st 2lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Sole defeat came in a Listed race and has otherwise kept a lowish profile, winning novices at Yarmouth and Hamilton before comfortably justifying favouritism on handicap debut back at the latter venue two months ago (extended 1m, good; has won on soft); this Frankel colt holds a Group 1 entry at this trip and retains significant potential.

11/8

Form: 11-207 C

Last run: 17 days

W: 8st 11lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Won a 7f Listed race here last season which remains her career-best form on Topspeed/RPR figures; kicked off this campaign with a second in the Group 3 Nell Gwyn (good to soft) and after flying too high in the French 1,000 Guineas she met with some serious interference in an Irish Group 3 17 days ago; ground this slow will be a first and one or two others appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

(12)

24th May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 0f 0y

15:20 Curragh

Celestial Orbit

9st 2lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Won twice for Ollie Sangster at two, including a 7f Listed race at Sandown; began and ended last season with good runs in defeat (in the Nell Gwyn and a Listed contest at Saint-Cloud); sprang a surprise when beating stablemate Princess Child in a C&D Group 3 event on Irish debut; further progress is feasible.

9/1

1st

6

(10)

3rd Apr 2026

Soft

1m 0f 0y

15:07 Curragh

Celestial Orbit

9st 11lb

J: J M Sheridan

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Two-time winner for Ollie Sangster in Britain, including Listed Star Stakes at Sandown in July 2024; last seen 145 days ago finishing 2.5l second to Moon Cloud in Listed mile contest at Saint-Cloud; trainer does very well with recruits, particularly fillies; acts on soft; interesting contender.

14/1

4th

4

(5)

17th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Sandown

Celestial Orbit

8st 11lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Ollie Sangster

Won a 7f Listed race here last season which remains her career-best form on Topspeed/RPR figures; kicked off this campaign with a second in the Group 3 Nell Gwyn (good to soft) and after flying too high in the French 1,000 Guineas she met with some serious interference in an Irish Group 3 17 days ago; ground this slow will be a first and one or two others appeal more.

16/1

Form: 1-553 BF

Last run: 53 days

W: 8st 11lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Debut win was on heavy; managed to hold her own in the 1,000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes (both on good to firm) before a front-running third in a Group 3 at Ascot in July (1m, good; beaten half a length); major player dropped into a Listed race and could well approve of getting back on slower ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(5)

3rd May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:20 Newmarket

Chantilly Lace

9st 2lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Lightly raced; good fifth in the 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes prior to close third in Ascot Group 3 won by Cheshire Dancer; below par in final 3yo start but consistent otherwise and may rebound.

9/1

5th

5

(6)

17th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Sandown

Chantilly Lace

8st 11lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Debut win was on heavy; managed to hold her own in the 1,000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes (both on good to firm) before a front-running third in a Group 3 at Ascot in July (1m, good; beaten half a length); major player dropped into a Listed race and could well approve of getting back on slower ground.

5/2

9

(2)

26th Jul 2025

Good

0m 7f 213y

Class 1

14:20 Ascot

Chantilly Lace

8st 11lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Comfortably justified favouritism in novice event at Salisbury (7f, heavy) on only 2yo start; pitched into the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) on reappearance and acquitted herself very well to be beaten only 2.5l into fifth; another good effort at Group 1 level when filling the same position in the Coronation Stakes over C&D (good to firm) last month; has the potential for even better after only three starts and major player with her sights lowered slightly.

3/1

Form: 4-110 D

Last run: 45 days

W: 8st 11lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Won novices at about 1m at Wolverhampton and Leicester (good to soft) before finishing well beaten when pitched into Group 1 level for the Prix Rothschild at Deauville (1m, good); it's unlike her trainer to go tilting at windmills so probably has a better chance than her inferior figures may imply.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

(9)

28th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:13 Kempton (AW)

Pina Sonata

9st 2lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Fanshawe

Won a fillies' maiden on her reappearance last April (8.6f, Tapeta); better form when defying a penalty at Leicester one month later; came up well short in Group 1/Listed company in the second half of 2025; could resume her progress this year but she will find easier Listed races than this one.

7/1

6th

6

(2)

17th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Sandown

Pina Sonata

8st 11lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Fanshawe

Won novices at about 1m at Wolverhampton and Leicester (good to soft) before finishing well beaten when pitched into Group 1 level for the Prix Rothschild at Deauville (1m, good); it's unlike her trainer to go tilting at windmills so probably has a better chance than her inferior figures may imply.

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.20
Straight Forecast £23.42
Trifecta £60.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Sallaal

RP RATINGS:

Cicero's Gift

POSTDATA:

Chantilly Lace

TOPSPEED:

Sallaal

NEWMARKET:

Sallaal

The Times:

Sallaal

The Guardian:

Sallaal

Daily Mail:

Sallaal

D Express:

Sallaal

Daily Mirror:

Sallaal

The Sun:

Sallaal

Daily Record:

Sallaal

LAMBOURN:

Cicero's Gift

Telegraph:

Cicero's Gift

The Star:

Cicero's Gift