The Group 3 Coral Charge (14:05) comprises an assembly of sprinters that perhaps lacks the biggest names but certainly isn't wanting for Group 1 form. That's certainly the case with Stepper Point, who was very much second-best to Sole Power in the King's Stand, but second nonetheless. That was the first time he'd really shown up well in a top-level race, though it's the high-water mark of what's been his best season yet on form. A listed win at Lingfield on reappearance showed us Stepper Point's speed, while he wasn't exactly stopping come the finish of the King's Stand, doing enough to hold off Hot Streak for second. In between he's made the frame on all starts bar one doomed experiment over six furlongs. Stepper Point is all about speed and that's what Sandown's five-furlong track rewards more than anything. As a habitual front-runner he'll also be out of the trouble that often colours races on the course.
The following mile handicap (14:40) is as competitive as you'd expect of one on this card, three- and four-year-olds making up the vast majority of the 14 declared runners. The one to be with is Russian Realm. He's on a recovery mission after failing to justify favouritism in a Royal Ascot handicap, though there's always plenty time for Sir Michael Stoute horses to recover, their progress more staggered than most. Russian Realm didn't do all that badly at Ascot for all the ninth-placed finish, getting caught wide from his draw and duly being unable to truly get in the action. In anticipation of no such traffic issues in this round-course race, Russian Realm should be able to show what he can really do here.
This meeting is built around the Eclipse (15:50), of course, and it's in that race that our final bet comes along. It's a major junction in the racing season, being the first time the three-year-olds meet the older horses, and here Night of Thunder (first 2000 Guineas winner to contest the race since Sea The Stars) and Kingston Hill offer interesting angles on the race. Neither will probably match up to The Fugue, though, if this latest dawn in the career of the John Gosden-trained mare proves to be the decisive one. She has the talent to match just about any 10-furlong horse in the world but hasn't always delivered upon it. By now we know this: The Fugue is suited by having a fair pace to run at and by ground that allows her to best exercise a marvellous turn of foot; both are provisionally in place here. If William Buick avoids trouble on The Fugue she'll be tough to beat.
Timeform UK SmartPlays
All at Sandown
Back Stepper Point in the 14:05
Back Russian Realm in the 14:40
Back The Fugue in the 15:50
