1

Muthmir

Back to his best after a disappointing 2016. Fast ground suits but he still managed a strong late thrust to win a G2 at Chantilly in June on a slow surface. Late headway saw a good fourth to US star Lady Aurelia in a Royal Ascot G1 last time.

2

Alpha Delphini

This speedster’s five wins have all been at this distance. His last two starts were both good in very demanding races, and he was only 5 lengths behind US star Lady Aurelia when sixth in a Royal Ascot G1 despite not having an ideal trip there.

3

Goldream

Progressed from a successful handicapper to a dual G1 winner – landing two of Europe’s top 1000m sprints in 2015. He’s gone close to winning two of his three starts in 2017 and can never be ruled out when the ground is fast.

4

Gracious John

Running over Sandown’s stiff track for the first time in his 27-race career whilst his four turf wins have all come on a good or soft surface. He’s run one or two good races this season but wasn’t fast enough at a high level on his last two starts.

5

Line Of Reason

A fast ground specialist who is the veteran of 61 runs and 10 wins and he’s shown his current wellbeing by winning handicaps on his last two starts. However he has usually struggled above handicap company so this may be tricky.

6

Mirza

This veteran speedster has won 11 of his 58 starts, his last win coming when outspeeding seven rivals at Leicester last October – over a similar trip to this on fast ground. Showed he still has plenty of speed when close-up on last month’s return.

7

Willytheconqueror

No match for Lady Aurelia and others when 8 ¾ lengths 13th of 17 in a Royal Ascot G1 last time. Also only seventh in this dash last year though he had previously won a handicap on slow ground over this course and distance.

8

Spring Fling

Quite a lightly raced six-year-old who had done most of her racing over 1200m but successfully dropped back to 1000m to land a Listed prize at Ayr last month, accelerating well from off a fast pace. She looks versatile groundwise.

9

Battaash

Rumoured to have been working well prior to his 2017 debut over this course and distance last month, and, though slow from the gates and too keen early on, he produced a strong surge down the outside to land that Listed event. He’s fast.

10

Kyllang Rock

Three-year-olds have quite a good record against their elders in this sprint and he is in strong and improving form with one narrow win and two narrow defeats this season, latterly in Listed company. Easing ground would help his cause.

11

Tis Marvellous

A G2 winner over 1100m at Maisons-Laffitte as a two-year-old and he has run well in both 2017 starts, including his 6 ¾ lengths sixth in a red-hot 1200m Royal Ascot G1 last time. Down in distance but Sandown’s uphill track will surely suit.