2023 Sandy Lane Stakes Tips

Little Big Bear will be aiming to bounce back in the 2023 Betfred Nifty Fifty Sandy Lane Stakes on Saturday, with the Aidan O’Brien-trained charge having flattered to deceive in the recent 2,000 Guineas. Sent off at odds of 5/1, the horse was bumped around and finished at Newmarket lame, although we could see his truer colours at Haydock Park.

The three-year-old enjoyed a string of victories last season as a juvenile, with Little Big Bear collecting wins at Naas and Ascot before a double at the Curragh. The last one of these victories was a Group 1 success in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes and perhaps a return to form is on the cards although there are other alternatives in the betting.

Bradsell runs for Archie Watson and was sent off as the 13/8 favourite in a recent clash at Ascot for the Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes. However, he was only able to finish third and it’s interesting that the winner of that race also lines up here at Haydock. Cold Case was able to register a victory by one and a half lengths, with that coming over six furlongs.

Cold Case was also on the winning trail towards the end of last season when picking up victories at Doncaster and Redcar, with the horse looking a backable price from an each-way perspective, while Mischief Magic is the Godolphin runner in the field and the Charlie Appleby horse didn’t show his true colours when finishing well down the order last time out.

Calyx is one of the hottest horses in Flat racing after the three-year-old’s blistering start to his career, with the John Gosden-trained charge having gone unbeaten in three races thus far.

The horse obliged in a Novice Stakes race back in July before winning as the 2/1 favourite in last year’s Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and Calyx is bidding to return to the meeting in June where he’s likely to run in the Commonwealth Cup.

Calyx was at the Ascot track recently where Frankie Dettori steered him to a facile victory in the Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes, with the runner looking impressive over six furlongs and it now appears that Haydock will be the final destination before Royal Ascot.

The Sandy Lane Stakes takes place on Saturday 25 May and the horse is trading as the 1/4 favourite, with John Gosden confirming the plan was for his charge to line up in a seven-runner race.

"John has been very happy with Calyx since his comeback," said Teddy Grimthorpe, owner Khalid Abdullah's racing manager.

"He's been working nicely since, doing everything well, and this race looks suitable.

"He's in good form, and we've talked about this race since then."

Calyx is trading at around 6/4 for the Commonwealth Cup and an impressive performance at Haydock this weekend is sure to see the price shortening, although there are some that feel he still has plenty to prove.

It’s recently been pointed out that Calyx is rated only 2lb superior to Kevin Ryan’s Hello Youmzain, with the latter having recently finished fourth in the Greenham after winning a French Group Two race last year.

Ten Sovereigns is thought to be the main challenger to Calyx’s Commonwealth Cup hopes, with Aidan O’Brien saddling this horse although the runner could only manage fifth place in the recent 2000 Guineas despite being sent off as favourite for the race.

"There was always the possibility that Ten Sovereigns wouldn't quite get home," O'Brien said after the race.

"He was on the side where there was no pace and Ryan had to be more forward than he would have liked. He knew the other side was ahead of him. He still ran a very good race and I would imagine we will come back to six now for the Commonwealth Cup. That's the plan."

Lady Kaya is also likely to take her chances in the race, with connections preferring to run the talented mare over six furlongs, with trainer Sheila Lavery confident of a big showing at Royal Ascot.

"She ran an absolute cracker and I couldn't be prouder of her. I never let myself dream at any stage during the race as we all knew that she had to get home over a mile.

"She travelled beautifully through the race and the plan now is to drop her back to six furlongs and have a go at the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

"She won't run again before then I don't think and we will go straight there. She has loads of speed, so a stiff six furlongs at Ascot should really suit her."