20:05 Sandown

Thursday 29 May 2025

All18:0518:3519:0519:3520:0520:40

Star Sports Heron Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 20:08 | Winning time: 1m 42.45s

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Selected odds by:

(4)

Bay City Roller²⁵⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Callum Shepherd| T: George Scott| OR: 110| C

9/2

Promising New Bay colt who was unbeaten in 3 outings over 7f as a juvenile, notably the Group 2 Champagne at Doncaster (good) in September. Debut success came at this track. Has a 5 lb penalty to shoulder but still much respected.

Form: 111-

(2)

Jackknife³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: R Varian

9/2

Kameko half-brother to high-class winner up to 13f Defoe and looked a useful prospect when making a winning debut over 8.5f at Epsom (good to firm) 37 days ago. More to come but this is quite a big ask on only his second start.

Form: 1

(1)

Matauri Bay⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Hector Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 106

13/2

Chased home Field of Gold in the Group 3 Solario here (7f, good) on only his second start but well below that level in his 2 outings since, latterly the Craven at Newmarket on reappearance. Still early days, though, and the Ralph Beckett stable has really found form in recent weeks.

Form: 126-8

(3)

Nebras^p1²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Hollie Doyle| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 97| D

8/1

Half-brother to connections' Nashwa and made a winning debut in 1m Newmarket maiden last autumn. Beaten at short odds in 1m Southwell novice on reappearance but back on the up when 3 lengths second to Alpine Trail in 1¼m Newmarket listed race 27 days ago. First-time cheekpieces are applied.

Form: 17-22

(7)

Opera Ballo^h1⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 106| D

5/4

Winner of maiden and conditions event over 1m at Kempton this year, easily seeing off some useful opposition latterly. Raced too keenly when only 7 lengths sixth of 9 to Field of Gold in Craven at Newmarket (1m, good) 43 days ago and now fitted with a hood. Worth another chance.

Form: 116

(6)

Pellitory²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: S De Sousa| T: James Owen| OR: 104

12/1

Won twice as a juvenile and improved again to land a 7f conditions race on return at Newmarket in April. However, subsequent effort in a listed race at the same course represented a big backward step and others arrive with more compelling claims.

Form: 1231-19

(5)

Suhail Star⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Szczepan Mazur| T: Mohammed Khalifa Al

125/1

A winner at up to 7f on AW and turf in Qatar earlier in the year but very much pitched in at the deep end on this first outing in Britain.

Form: 51512

Forecasts

Opera Ballo (5/4), Bay City Roller (9/2), Jackknife (9/2), Matauri Bay (13/2), Nebras (8/1), Pellitory (12/1), Suhail Star (125/1)

The hood goes on OPERA BALLO now and he's worth a chance to bounce back from a slightly disappointing run in the Craven given how impressive he'd been in a useful race on AW prior to that. The returning Bay City Roller has to shoulder a 5 lb penalty for his Champagne win but might still provide the chief threat. Matauri Bay should also get involved if he can bounce back to last year's Solario form.