Group Three bet365 Classic Trial Sandown Guide 2023

Sir Michael Stoute sends one to the bet365 Classic Trial with Circle Of Fire, who has impressed on his first two outings so far. He finished third of six in class four novice at Leicester in August before landing nine-runner novice at Salisbury, powering home to beat Tabaretta by over three lengths and after 239 days off the track, he now makes his grouped debut here.

This son of Almanzor looks at home over a trip around 1m after running on well in that Salisbury victory and is another in this contest who shouldn’t be taken lightly on grouped debut.

Charlie Appleby sends one to this contest in the form of three-year-old Flying Honours, who arrives at Sandown having had a promising year last term. The colt won a couple of times during 2022, here in a class four novice and in listed event at Salisbury before stepping up to Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes over 1m at Newmarket in September, where he finished third at 2/7 favourite.

He made amends for that poor run last time out in Group Three Zetland Stakes at Newmarket in October, beating Blanchland and now returns for the 2023 season in this contest. The son of Sea The Stars is well in the conversation for victory and it looks set up to be a good race between him and Arrest, with the others not underestimated.

John & Thady Gosden send one to the bet365 Classic Trial over 1m 1f at Sandown on Friday with Arrest, the three-year-old who makes leading claims after winning two of his first four races on the flat at Ffos Las and here in August last year. His first foray into grouped company came on his last run of the season last year, finishing second in Group One Cric.st-cloud Stakes over 1m 1f at Saint-Cloud in October, a head behind winner Dubai Mile.

The colt has less experience at this level compared to Charlie Appleby’s Flying Honours, but this son of Frankel is the one to beat on form and pedigree.

Andrew Balding sends 91-rated sprinter Relentless Voyager to Sandown for the bet365 Classic Trial after three runs on the flat, where he claimed victory at Kempton and finished runner-up twice at Windsor and Kempton before that first win.

Has continued to improve with each run and was impressive last time out, winning by seven and a half lengths to justify 1/4 favouritism and in truth came close on the occasion before, finishing just under a length behind Bold Act.

Comes down slightly in trip here and this demands more than the class four and five level he has run at so far but should not be discounted in what looks like a strong race with many in with a chance.

Ralph Beckett boasts one in this contest with Salt Bay, who has made a good start to life on the flat on his two runs so far. After winning Haydock class four maiden in September, two lengths ahead of Arkendale, he finished third in Group One Criterium International at Saint-Cloud in October on his final appearance of 2022 which cannot be underestimated.

The three-year-old can make his mark on grouped company in England here with a big run and should not be taken lightly after that impressive run in France. Rossa Ryan does the steering.