The Sandringham Stakes is a handicap run over a mile. It takes place at 17:05 on Friday 21st June, which is the fourth day of Royal Ascot 2023. View the runners here, and also make sure to check out the odds and tips on offer for this race.

NO.DRAW
FORM

HORSE

ODDS

JOCKEY& TRAINER

AGE

WGT

RPR

4⁽¹⁸⁾

237-53

Soprano

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

9-5

100

108

Beaten all seven times since her debut success at two but placed four times at Group/Listed level last season, including in the Albany here when she wasn't ideally drawn; handicaps are worth a crack and so too this first attempt at 1m, as Musselburgh on latest start (7f; poorly positioned) wasn't the first time she's been running on well at the finish; strongly considered.

16⁽²⁶⁾

312165

Bellarchi

J: Sam James

T: Grant Tuer

8-10

110

One of the more exposed runners after 20 career starts, winning five of them (including one over C&D); recent Listed defeats are no advert for her prospects in this deep a handicap.

21⁽³²⁾

61-1

Nocturnal

J: Saffie Osborne

T: James Ferguson

8-8

109

Had subsequent winners behind when off the mark at Lingfield (7.5f, good to firm) and she returned with a stroll in the park on Wolverhampton AW when long odds-on; she'll stay 1m without question and arrives here under the radar; difficult to dismiss.

25⁽³¹⁾

4-21

Viennoise

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

8-2

108

Has taken a step forward in each of her runs but the horse she won from at Lingfield (7f, AW) hasn't done much for that form and this is a mammoth rise in class; first attempt at 1m; 1lb wrong at the weights.

26⁽²⁷⁾

921-17

Raknah

J: Joe Fanning

T: Mrs John Harrington

8-2

111

Quite exposed now after nine races (won twice) and her improvement has come on AW surfaces, though even that stalled last time at Southwell; unlikely to provide the answer.

13⁽²⁴⁾

127-99

Gushing Gold

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Andrew Balding

8-11

111

Beat her 19 rivals in a hot York nursery last season (7f, good to firm) and followed that with a fine effort at Listed level (second); has made no further progress, however, and this is her first run at 1m (started off over 5f).

5⁽²⁵⁾

30-132

Asian Daze

J: Ben Coen

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

9-2

109

Dual 2yo winner but an improved filly this year who ran well in pushing Everlasting all the way in a 1m good-ground Listed race at Navan; it's unlikely that a repeat of that form will suffice in a strong Sandringham but there's progress in her profile and Australian connections snapped her up for £200,000 at the Goffs London Sale on Monday.

19⁽²¹⁾

15-259

Marcella

J: David Probert

T: Andrew Balding

8-9

112

Her narrow AW defeat (1m; first-time hood) by Coronation Stakes hope Devoted Queen offers some hope but she has made no further progress, with and without headgear (now returns); only 1-6 and sole success was at Chester; opposed.

23⁽¹³⁾

63-114

My Margie

J: Jack Doughty

T: Richard Hughes

8-5

110

Comfortable and cosy were apt descriptions for her two handicap wins on the AW and she coped well with a 7lb rise after the second of those when close up over C&D (good) last month; however, there were no excuses from the front and this is appreciably harder; Jack Doughty's claim is welcomed.

28⁽¹⁰⁾

2-13

D Flawless

J: Kieran O'Neill

T: John & Thady Gosden

8-2

112

The 1-6 favourite when winning by 6l at Chelmsford and came out best at the weights when narrowly denied under a penalty at Goodwood (1m, good); others have achieved appreciably more but she's in the right hands to progress; 1lb out of the weights.

7⁽¹⁷⁾

61344-

Hard To Resist

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

9-0

112

Struggled to have a serious say in Group 2/3 assignments last season after winning her novice at Newmarket; has looked very much at home on soft ground and it's slightly concerning that by far her worst performance was on good, albeit over 6f and on debut; still, entitled to make a better 3yo and trainer has no doubt targeted this race.

8⁽⁸⁾

3115-9

Zenjabeela

J: Mickael Barzalona

T: Roger Varian

8-13

105

Won two minor races last season (AW/good) before signing off with just an okay run in the Group 2 Rockfel; handicap mark looks on the high side even if she can shrug aside a laboured return at York (1m Listed).

31⁽¹¹⁾

134-12

Shin Jidai

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Roger Varian

8-2

114

Her Yarmouth win has worked out well (7f, good) and she has a 5lb pull with Fair Angellica after that rival brushed her aside at Kempton; returning to 1m can help (dam won at up to 1m2f) and she's worth a second look for in-form yard; 3lb wrong.

15⁽²⁸⁾

14-D23

Uluru

J: Maxime Guyon

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

8-11

109

Lightly raced filly who appeared to be crying out for further than 1m when a one-paced third at Listowel, finishing behind stablemate Without Words who looks the yard's main hope here on jockey bookings; probably wants softer ground as well.

29⁽¹⁾

33-221

Battle Queen

J: Hayley Turner

T: Andrew Balding

8-2

113

Only 3lb higher than when second on handicap debut at Southwell (1m AW) and the winner went on to finish second in the Musidora before winning a Listed race; no surprise that on the back of that she would win a Nottingham maiden and the second has since held his own in a valuable Epsom handicap; her progress is hard to knock and she could run well despite being 2lb wrong.

6⁽²⁾

15-1

Forever Blue

J: James Doyle

T: Ralph Beckett

9-0

107

Won a 6f maiden on heavy last season before close fifth in a soft-ground Group 3 (7f); returned to defy a penalty in a 7f novice at Haydock (good) where she took an age to pick up but was well on top in the finish; running style and pedigree offers plenty of optimism for her taking a big forward step over this stiff 1m.

14⁽³⁰⁾

32-126

Sattwaa

J: Luke Morris

T: Archie Watson

8-11

111

Sent on her travels to Germany since impressing in a 1m AW handicap in April, only just missing out in a heavy-ground Listed race (again made the running) before outpaced back at 7f on good; returns to the right trip but there could be ground issues and others are probably better in at the weights.

1⁽²²⁾

112-2

Kitty Rose

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr

9-9

104

111

Smart 2yo, beating the high-class Content (since close up at the Breeders' Cup and French 1,000 Guineas) in a 7.3f Listed race (good) second time out and second to the same filly in a 1m Group 3; another smart performance in a 7f Group 3 on her return when pushing close the Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up; has earned top weight and Oisin Murphy earmarked her as one of his best rides of the week; left Natalia Lupini and now with new Australian-based trainers.

10⁽²³⁾

5-342

Flight Of Fancy

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O'Brien

8-13

112

Four-race maiden; seems to stay 1m2f okay and was positively ridden back at 1m on handicap debut at the Curragh where she led everywhere bar the line (pipped by Zaynab); that form does not look good enough to win this, however.

27⁽³³⁾

21-454

Strutting

J: Rachel King

T: John & Thady Gosden

8-2

117

Sole win came at about 1m on the AW; at least arrives here on the back of her best run of the season when close up in a Listed race at Goodwood (1m2f, good), though might have been flattered off steady fractions; handicapper thought otherwise as she's 8lb well in in theory for this.

9⁽⁷⁾

111-21

Fair Angellica

J: Finley Marsh

T: Richard Hughes

8-13

114

Beaten only once in five starts when perhaps needing the run at Goodwood first time back; promptly returned to winning ways with some aplomb when quickening clear of Shin Jidai at Kempton 23 days ago (7f AW; made all); hurled up 10lb for that and further grey areas are the longer trip and faster ground (both turf runs on soft).

NR⁽⁹⁾

321-3

Lou Lou's Gift

T: William Haggas

8-2

113

Hood/tongue-tie combination added for breakthrough win on the AW (6f) in November; went in just the hood (as is the case today) when making up late ground to take third in a Kempton 7f handicap won by Fair Angellica; possible improver in this very different scenario; 2lb out of the weights.

11⁽¹⁹⁾

31-14

Rochelle

J: David Egan

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

8-12

110

The RPR she posted when dancing home in a 7f AW novice last month bodes well with a view to this sort of mark and she then held her own to be fourth in a French Listed race (1m, good); a talented filly who may have more to offer but this assignment demands her best yet.

3⁽¹⁶⁾

181-64

Julica

J: William Buick

T: C Ferland

9-6

101

105

Has won three of her six races in France on ground ranging from heavy to good (unraced on faster); seems to have trained on having performed creditably at Group 3/Listed level this season without suggesting she's improved all that much; has never raced in a bigger field than ten, so this might be a culture shock; hood replaces usual tongue-tie.

17⁽⁴⁾

21-1

Indelible

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

8-10

119

Her debut conqueror was close up in this year's German 2,000 Guineas; hasn't won her two races by far but market weakness suggested her comeback run may have been needed and yet she cosily conceded a penalty to some promising types at Doncaster (1m, good to soft); fast ground is a first for her but pedigree and progress suggest she could be tackling Group races sooner rather than later.

20⁽¹²⁾

81-431

Arisaig

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Charlie Johnston

8-8

114

Her second AW win came when giving D Flawless weight and a narrow beating at Kempton in December; has steadily improved on turf and put the race to bed in swift fashion once seeing daylight at Lingfield (7.5f, good) three weeks ago; could still be fairly treated off 6lb higher.

2⁽⁶⁾

1-4301

Everlasting

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

9-7

102

110

Flattered by her close third to Oaks winner Ezeliya (improved since) in a 1m2f Group 3 before struggling in the Irish 1,000 Guineas (25-1); bit disappointing that she made quite such heavy weather of getting the job done in a 1m Listed race last time (good; beat Asian Daze) for which she was odds-on; the visor could wake her up.

24⁽³⁾

521-41

Mrs Morrell

J: Tyler Heard

T: John & Thady Gosden

8-4

112

AW winner who doubled her tally in a weak handicap at Yarmouth (7f, soft; turf debut) which she admittedly won easily; debatable whether she's in this league, however.

22⁽¹⁴⁾

511

Zaynab

J: Declan McDonogh

T: Gordon Elliott

8-7

112

Beat a subsequent winner when off the mark second time out in a 7f maiden at the Curragh (heavy) and returned there for a successful handicap debut (1m, good), getting up in the nick of time to deny Flight Of Fancy; it's likely that she has to find something on that form but her attitude is likeable.

18⁽²⁹⁾

212

Cat Ninja

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: John & Thady Gosden

8-10

112

Beat a very useful filly at Windsor (1m, good to firm) and was conceding weight to a promising colt when not quite up to the task at Kempton (7f, AW) where some tail-swishing didn't go unnoticed; remains capable of better for a yard that's won this three times and their winner last year was also a thrice-raced handicap debutante.

12⁽²⁰⁾

21-2

Without Words

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

8-11

114

Recruited for 450,000euros after winning a minor race in France (1m, good); very well related and she was a big market drifter when chasing home an unexposed Ballydoyle filly at Listowel last month; it was quite taking how she saw that 1m race out and the potential lurks to take a sizeable step forward on this handicap debut.

RACING POST TIP

Soprano

Nothing ever seems to fall quite right for SOPRANO and that was again the case last time at Musselburgh when she was never positioned to throw down a telling challenge. In consistently showing smart form since her successful debut at two, however, the one thing she has done is see her races out strongly and this step up to 1m is worth exploring on her handicap debut. Kitty Rose's form stacks up impressively and, having earned herself top weight, she's second choice. Handicap debutantes Indelible, Forever Blue and Nocturnal have been campaigned away from the bright lights but are now open to significant improvement.

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2023	Coppice [25]	3	9-3	6/1JF	John & Thady Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2022	Heredia [21]	3	9-8	7/2	Richard Hannon	Sean Levey
2021	Create Belief [16]	3	9-2	6-1	J P Murtagh	Ben Coen
2020	Onassis [1]	3	8-1	33/1	Charlie Fellowes	Hayley Turner
2019	Thanks Be [4]	3	8-0	33/1	Charlie Fellowes	Hayley Turner
2018	Agrotera [5]	3	8-7	11/2F	Ed Walker	Jamie Spencer
2017	Con Te Partiro [11]	3	9-5	20/1	Wesley A Ward	Jamie Spencer
2016	Persuasive [17]	3	8-9	11/4F	John Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2015	Osaila [14]	3	9-7	13/2	Richard Hannon	Frankie Dettori
2014	Muteela [22]	3	8-13	9/2F	Mark Johnston	Paul Hanagan

Key race stats 2024

Key trends

Lost maiden tag, 9/10
Drawn in the six highest or the five lowest stalls, 8/10
Carried no more than 9st 3lb, 7/10
Won over 7f or a mile earlier that season, 7/10
No more than three juvenile starts, 7/10

Other factors

Five winners ran in handicaps as three-year-olds (four won at least one; exception finished second).

Four winners had contested a Listed or Group race at three.

What happened in the Sandringham Stakes last year?

COPPICE won quite comfortably on her handicap debut, aided by her high draw and her irrepressible rider. She went off favourite for the Nell Gwyn although she didn’t perform in the soft ground that day. Breege, seventh to Tahiyra in the Irish Guineas, ran on well from the back to finish second having been dropped into handicap company. Balalaika had raced prominently on most of her previous starts but was dropped out right at the back and it brought about a big performance, with the filly’s stamina not in any doubt.

Sandringham Stakes Handicap

17:05 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats 2024

What happened in the Sandringham Stakes last year?

All Races