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16:00 Sandown Park

Ambant Gala Stakes (Listed) (Class 1)

  • 5 Runners
  • Distance: 1m 2f 7y
  • Going: Good to Soft (Good in places)
  • Surface: Turf
  • £37,000 added
  • Winner: £20,983
  • 2nd: £7,955
  • 3rd: £3,981
  • 4th: £1,983
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 2m 14.50s
  • Off Time: 16:00:54
  • 5 Ran
Go to Full Result
1
Silk -

Ayrad (IRE)

5/4

    2
    Silk -

    Spark Plug (IRE)

    7/2

      1(2)
      Silk - Light blue, dark blue chevrons and sleeves, dark blue and light blue quartered cap

      Gm Hopkins

      16 C
      9/4
      • Form 624-180
      • Age 5
      • Weight 9-8
      • Official Rating 112

      steadied start, soon tracked leading pair on inside until over 2f out, pushed along and unable to quicken over 1f out, went 3rd again inside final furlong and kept on but never going pace to challenge

      2(5)
      Silk - Dark Green, Beige stars on sleeves

      Ayrad (IRE)

      26 p
      5/4
      • Form 145-326
      • Age 5
      • Weight 9-5
      • Official Rating 109

      made virtually all, ridden and strongly pressed inside final furlong, stayed on to assert final 100 yards, well on top near finish (hand timed)

      3(3)
      Silk - Dark green, pink braces, quartered cap

      Spark Plug (IRE)

      16 p
      7/2
      • Form 765-650
      • Age 5
      • Weight 9-5
      • Official Rating 102

      soon held up tracking leading trio, headway on outside 3f out, 2nd 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong until no extra final 100 yards

      5(6)
      Silk - Purple and Royal Blue diamonds, Purple sleeves, Royal Blue cap, Purple diamond

      Jelly Monger (IRE)

      207 h
      33/1
      • Form 869606-
      • Age 4
      • Weight 9-0
      • Official Rating 90

      led briefly, soon steadied rear, pushed along and struggling inside final 3f, never involved

      6(4)
      Silk - Dark Blue, Red stars

      Dessertoflife (IRE)

      15
      10/1
      • Form 210-480
      • Age 3
      • Weight 8-3
      • Official Rating 99

      raced keenly, tracked winner until pushed along 2f out, soon ridden and one pace, no extra in 4th inside final furlong

      4(1)
      NR

      What About Carlo (FR)

      13 CD
      10/1
      • Form 49-3830
      • Age 5
      • Weight 9-5
      • Official Rating 99

      NonRunner

      Previous results

      2015
      (2)
      Silk -

      Tha'ir (IRE)

      11/4
      • Age 5
      • Weight 9-5

      2014
      (2)
      Silk -

      Windhoek

      5/4
      • Age 4
      • Weight 9-5

      2013
      (3)
      Silk -

      Mandour (USA)

      9/4
      • Age 4
      • Weight 9-5

      In depth

      Verdict

      Last year's Royal Hunt Cup winner Gm Hopkins has never raced over a trip this far though did win the consolation Cambridgeshire in 2014 over 1m1f. He has a penalty for a Listed success at Ascot in April but that's unlikely to prevent another big run. AYRAD avoids a penalty as his Listed victory was last May. Roger Charlton's charge has been placed in two Group 3 races subsequently and ran well for a long way in a Group 2 over 1m4f in France last time so gets the nod. Spark Plug was conceding Gm Hopkins 3lb when beating him in a Newbury handicap last May and has continued to run well without winning. He hasn't really proved himself over this trip and looks to have a bit to find with the selection. Three-year-olds have a poor record in this and the filly Dessertoflife, a Group 3 winner in Germany last year, might struggle despite her allowances. What About Carlo is a very useful handicapper who will love the trip and ground so can't be ruled out but Jelly Monger looks to have plenty to do on official ratings.

      Formwatch

      Gm Hopkins 12-1 (9-12) Mid-division, far side, outpaced when groups merged over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 21st of 28, 9l behind Portage (9-5) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) sft in Jun.

      Ayrad (IRE) (8-11) 6th of 8, 3 1/4l behind One Foot In Heaven (8-11) at Chantilly 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gs in Jun.

      Spark Plug (IRE) 33-1 (9-4) Towards rear, far side, outpaced over 1f out, stayed on into mid-division inside final furlong, never nearer, 12th of 28, 4 3/4l behind Portage (9-5) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) sft in Jun.

      Jelly Monger (IRE) 12-1 (9-4) Tracked leader 2f, tracked leaders, ridden on outside over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 7, 8 1/2l behind Super Kid (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (3) pol in Dec.

      Dessertoflife (IRE) 50-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, shortlived effort over 2f out, ridden and struggling inside final 2f, 12th of 14, 7 1/2l behind Even Song (9-0) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 2 fll stks (1) sft in Jun.

      What About Carlo (FR) 20-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, soon chasing leaders on inside, pushed along over 2f out, weakened 2f out, 13th of 15, 30 1/4l behind Sir Isaac Newton (9-0) at Ascot 1m 2f hcp lst (1) gs in Jun.