Betfred Nifty Fifty Sandy Lane Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3YO only)
6f Good to Firm (Good in places)
raced on near side rail, chased leaders, led going well over 1f out, ran on strongly and came clear inside final furlong
held up, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, went 2nd entering final furlong, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
prominent near side rail, pushed along to lead 2f out, headed over 1f out, no chance with winner, lost 2nd entering final furlong, weakened
raced in centre of course, led until ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders ridden over 2f out, weakened quickly
slightly slowly into stride, soon recovered chasing leaders, weakened quickly over 2f out
raced in centre of course, chased leader, ridden and weakened over 2f out, behind and eased final 2f
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| Betfair SP | £2.09 |
| CSF | £13.75 (4, 6) |
| Tricast | £39.46 (4, 6, 2) |
| Win | £2.00 (4) |
| Place | £1.50 (4), £3.90 (6) |
| Swinger | £1.30 (2, 4), £6.20 (2, 6), £3.00 (4, 6) |
| Exacta | £10.40 (4, 6) |
| Trifecta | £44.70 (4, 6, 2) |
A race which saw the return to winning form of last year’s champion two-year-old in Little Big Bear, but it raised more questions than answers otherwise, only the first 2 figuring in the closing stages and there appearing to be a major track bias in favour of those (the first 3) racing closest to the stand rail on what was heavily watered ground, conditions on the easy side of good on this day judged on times and outright “good to soft” 24 hours earlier. It was a well-run race, with first (98.7% finishing speed) and second (99.0% FS) close to course-and-distance par.
LITTLE BIG BEAR (118 here, 124 previously) won in fine style and could well be as good as he was last season, when he was champion two-year-old, though any such conclusion needs to be provisional on account of an apparent significant track bias. He raced close up nearest to the stand rail, led just after 2f out, and forged on, mostly under hands and heels in scoring with something to spare, drifting a bit left late on. He looks a major contender for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot but could do with the second here confirming his apparent improvement along the way.
SHOULDVEBEENARING (114? here, 102 previously) seemed to excel, though this was not a satisfactory contest and confirmation would be desirable. He was switched to track the winner, possibly on the fastest part of the track, then switched back out a bit wider and ran on well without troubling the winner, well clear of the rest by the line.
BRADSELL (86+ here, 113 previously) should have been less inconvenienced than some in racing only 1 or 2 horses wide of the winner but found nothing after going a shade freely close up, even leading briefly around 2f out.
MATILDA PICOTTE (78+ here, 102 previously) is best forgiven this as she raced in the centre, which was very likely a disadvantage, leading there until nearly 2f out but soon beaten.
COLD CASE (0 here, 108 previously) was beaten a long way and in trouble soon after halfway, so this goes down as a discouraging run even though he was probably disadvantaged to a degree by being away from the stand rail.
MILL STREAM (0 here, 101 previously) had the better of the draw than some but was in trouble by halfway and came back well beaten, this his first run for 9 months.
THE RIDLER (0 here, 109? previously) was probably disadvantaged by racing in the centre but in trouble so far out that this has to go down as another off-putting run.
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Good | 10 | El Caballo | 11 | 3 | 9 2 | - | 211-111 | 36 days | K R Burke (100 miles) | Clifford Lee | 7/ 2 | 1:11.76 |
| 2021 | Heavy | 10 | Rohaan | 10 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 252151 | 24 days | P Evans (143 miles) | Shane W Kelly | 33/ 1 | 1:18.15 |
| 2019 | Good to Firm | 4 | Hello Youmzain | 3 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 121-4 | 42 days | K Ryan (45 miles) | Kevin Stott | 5/ 1 | 1:12.13 |
| 2018 | Good | 8 | Sands Of Mali | 6 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 71109-1 | 43 days | R Fahey (107 miles) | Paul Hanagan | 10/ 3 | 1:09.53 |
| 2017 | Firm | 7 | Harry Angel | 1 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 21-2 | 24 days | C Cox (192 miles) | Adam Kirby | 5/ 6 | 1:08.56 |
| 2016 | Good | 7 | Quiet Reflection | 3 | 3 | 8 11 | - | 1511-1 | 48 days | K R Burke (100 miles) | Dougie Costello | 7/ 1 | 1:10.57 |
| 2015 | Good | 10 | Adaay | 9 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 1183-31 | 14 days | W Haggas (191 miles) | Paul Hanagan | 6/ 1 | 1:13.22 |
| 2014 | Good to Soft | 7 | Aeolus | 6 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 5112-36 | 14 days | E McMahon (77 miles) | Richard Hughes | 3/ 1 | 1:14.22 |
| 2013 | Good to Firm | 8 | Professor | 8 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 1451-41 | 29 days | R Hannon (184 miles) | Pat Dobbs | 11/ 8 | 1:11.09 |
| 2012 | Good to Firm | 7 | Slade Power | 1 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 21-12 | 31 days | E Lynam | Wayne Lordan | 5/ 1 | 1:11.17 |
| 2011 | Good to Firm | 8 | Show Rainbow | 8 | 3 | 8 9 | - | 221-403 | 7 days | M Channon (173 miles) | Jamie Spencer | 5/ 2 | 1:13.88 |
| 2010 | Good to Soft | 8 | Bewitched | 9 | 3 | 8 9 | - | 67317-1 | 17 days | C O'Brien (126 miles) | Kieren Fallon | 5/ 1 | 1:13.73 |
| 2009 | Good | 7 | Danehill Destiny | 5 | 3 | 8 9 | - | 04430-3 | 42 days | W Haggas (191 miles) | Ryan Moore | 15/ 8 | 1:12.21 |
| 2008 | Good | 8 | Fat Boy | 9 | 3 | 9 3 | - | 7121-21 | 15 days | P Chapple-Hyam (191 miles) | Tom Queally | 10/ 11 | 1:13.15 |
| 2007 | Good to Soft | 9 | Prime Defender | 6 | 3 | 9 3 | - | 301-210 | 21 days | B W Hills (170 miles) | Michael Hills | 11/ 8 | 1:12.19 |
| 2006 | Heavy | 8 | Skhilling Spirit | 6 | 3 | 8 11 | - | 1721-52 | 8 days | D & N Barron (111 miles) | Jamie Spencer | 3/ 1 | 1:17.68 |
| 2005 | Good to Firm | 7 | Camacho | 1 | 3 | 8 11 | - | 13 | 255 days | Sir H Cecil (191 miles) | Richard Hughes | 8/ 1 | 1:11.12 |
| 2004 | Good to Firm | 9 | Moss Vale | 9 | 3 | 8 11 | - | 5163-41 | 17 days | B W Hills (170 miles) | Kevin Darley | 5/ 2 | 1:12.11 |
| 2003 | Heavy | 10 | The Kiddykid | 8 | 3 | 9 7 | 98 | 385-321 | 7 days | P Evans (143 miles) | George Duffield | 7/ 1 | 1:19.78 |
