Steve Ryder previews the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.
The Sandy Lane Stakes is a Group 2 run over 6f at Haydock which this year is run on Saturday 25th May at 2:58 for which eleven horses are currently entered.
Sandy Lane Stakes Winners, Trends & Stats
The Sandy Lane Stakes is often a stepping stone towards the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Both Harry Angel (2017) and Little Big Bear (2023) won this race before finishing 2nd in the Commonwealth Cup before Inisherin (2024) became the second horse to win both races emulating Quiet Reflection in 2016.
- 11 of the previous 12 winners were having their first start at Haydock
- 11 of the previous 12 winners had already won over 6f
- 11 of the previous 12 winners had their last run within 43 days
- 10 of the previous 12 winners were rated 106 or higher
- 10 of the previous 12 winners had at least two career wins
- 7 of the previous 12 winners won on their previous start
Sandy Lane Stakes 2026 Odds
| Horse | Highest Odds |
|---|---|
| Venetian Sun | 5/2 |
| Coppull | 10/3 |
| Division | 7/2 |
| Brussels | 11/2 |
| Rock On Thunder | 10/1 |
| Five Ways | 11/1 |
| Spicy Marg | 12/1 |
| May Angel | 25/1 |
| Aqpan | 50/1 |
| Figjam | 66/1 |
| Splish Splash | 100/1 |
Sandy Lane Stakes 2026 Runners Guide
VENETIAN SUN
Karl Burke trained filly who won the Group 1 Prix Morny prior to finishing 3rd behind Precise in the Moyglare Stud Stakes over 7f on her final start last season. She faded late on in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket over a mile on her reappearance and now returns back to 6f where she is unbeaten in her three starts over this trip.
COPPULL
Clive Cox trained colt who has won three of his six career starts. He was 3rd beaten less than a length on his final start last season in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes but made a winning reappearance in the Group 3 Pavilion Stakes reversing that form with Wise Approach.
DIVISION
Completed a hat-trick of wins last season including over this course and distance before finishing 5th in the inaugural running of the Two Year Old Conditions Stakes in Champions Day at Ascot. He finished 3rd beaten less than a length behind Coppull on his reappearance despite a tardy start.
BRUSSELS
Aidan O’Brien trained colt who is yet to record another win since his debut success at the Curragh last season. He split Wise Approach and Coppull in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket before finishing 2nd in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. He could only finish 6th beaten 4 ¾ lengths by Coppull on his reappearance at Ascot.
ROCK ON THUNDER
Has to concede race fitness to all of his other runs as this is his reappearance run after 245 days off the track. The Kevin Ryan trained colt finished 2nd in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at York before finishing 6th in the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes on his final start last season. Connections did win this with Inisherin in 2024.
FIVE WAYS
Andrew Balding trained colt who won the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes at Kempton last season before finishing 4th behind Wise Approach, Brussels and Coppull in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. He could only finish 7th against his elders in the Group 2 Palace House Stakes on his reappearance.
SPICY MARG
Speedy Michael Bell trained filly who ran with credit when finishing 8th beaten only 5 ¼ lengths in the 1000 Guineas on her reappearance. She had previously won three times last season over 5f twice and 6f on her final start when beating the subsequent Nell Gwyn Stakes winner Azleet by two lengths.
MAY ANGEL
95 rated gelding whose only victory came in a Southwell novice race last season. Campaigned exclusively over 7f to date, he had placed on both occasions so far this season in handicaps at Newbury and Ascot.
AQPAN
Justified short odds to get off the mark at the third attempt on his reappearance at Southwell before finishing 6th in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury. Dropped down to 6f for the first time at Newbury in the listed Carnarvon Stakes, he finished 8th beaten 6 ½ lengths by Song Of The Clyde on Saturday.
FIGJAM
Katie Scott trained filly who finished 7th beaten 3 ¾ lengths in the Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes on her reappearance over 7f. She had previously won a Leicester novice race before finishing 2nd in the listed Prospect Stakes at Doncaster at the end of last season.
SPLISH SPLASH
Eve Johnson Houghton trained filly who only has an official rating of 87. She won over this course and distance last season in a maiden before finishing 3rd behind Spicy Marg at Newmarket on her final start last season. She finished last of 14 on her reappearance at Newbury over 7f in the Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes.
Sandy Lane Stakes 2026 Trainers to Watch
Kevin Ryan has won this race twice recently with Hello Youmzain (2019) and Inisherin (2024) and Karl Burke has also recorded two successes with Quiet Reflection (2016) and El Caballo (2022).
Sandy Lane Stakes Betting Tips
As discussed in the trends video for this contest, COPPULL (best priced at 10/3) is the only horse who hits all six trends highlighted above. The Clive Cox trained colt had some high class form as a juvenile and ended last season with a close 3rd in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes behind Wise Approach and Brussels.
Coppull reversed that form with both of those horses in the Group 3 Pavilion Stakes on his reappearance and despite Division catching the eye late on, I do think he will confirm that form. Rohaan in 2021 won the Pavilion Stakes before winning this race and hopefully Coppull can do the same this year.
Recommended Bet: Coppull 10/3 (1pt WIN)
