Godolphin’s retained trainer Charlie Appleby remains bang in-form, so Beyond Reason is worth a wager at 7/2 with Betway in the Listed 1m Coral Distaff for three-year-old fillies at Sandown on Eclipse day this Saturday (15:00).
This daughter of Epsom Derby winner Australia had a fine juvenile campaign landing three of her seven starts.
After winning an all-weather novice event on her second racecourse outing, connections pitched Beyond Reason in at this level when fourth in the Chesham Stakes.
That was a typically hot Royal Ascot race and her first try over 7f. Although headed entering the final furlong, Beyond Reason kept on nicely and was beaten four lengths by Arthur Kitt.
She stepped up on that effort when landing back-to-back group races over in France at Deauville.
In the first of those, Beyond Reason came with a sustained late run, hit the front 75 yards from the line and then held on in game fashion.
When following-up in the Group 2 Prix du Calvados, she was very impressive. Beyond Reason made most and drew clear when pushed along two out.
She then just needed keeping up to her work for a comfortable three-length victory.
Although Beyond Reason then found Group 1 company too hot at The Curragh and Newmarket, this is much easier than either of those assignments.
While top weight Main Edition finished in front of her on Irish Champions Weekend when a 7 3/4 lengths sixth in the Moyglare Stud Stakes, Beyond Reason now meets that re-opposing rival on 5lb better terms.
That looks more than enough to reverse form with just a couple of lengths to find.
With in-form jockey James Doyle now in the saddle, plenty points to Beyond Reason coming out on top here.
Encapsulation and Muchly respected on Sandown Eclipse day
While she is the only one of the eight fillies without a run under her belt this season, Beyond Reason tops adjusted ratings.
She has 5lb and upwards in hand on the field off these terms, according to official figures, and that makes her a punt on Sandown Eclipse day.
The main dangers, if the betting is any indicator, are Andrew Balding new recruit Encapsulation and the John Gosden trained Muchly.
Dealing with the former, who is a daughter of Zoffany that used to be in the care of Noel Meade, she drops back in trip to a mile for the first time.
Encapsulation has had just three career starts and won a Clonmel maiden decisively in April.
She was then pitched straight in at this level for the Salsabil Stakes at Navan where she chased home leading Epsom Oaks fancy Pink Dogwood.
As Encapsulation only went down by half-a-length and the winner finished a gallant runner-up in that Classic, the form is respected. Going down in trip should suit her and odds of 5/2 with Bethard reflect that.
Muchly, meanwhile, is two from two over this distance and landed a competitive class 3 event on Royal Ascot Trials day on her penultimate start.
This Iffraaj filly made all under Frankie Dettori and just held Queen Power by a short-head.
The runner-up came out and won a Listed event at Newbury over further, and they pulled three lengths clear of the third – Modern Millie – who re-opposes off the same terms here.
As Muchly found 1m 2f beyond her at Goodwood last time out, the drop back is fine. She is 5/1 with Betfair to resume winning ways with Dettori now back on board and could be well worth another crack at this level.
Garrus the Coral Charge choice
Sandown Eclipse day kicks off with the Group 3 Coral Charge – a sprint contest over the flying 5f (13:50).
Garrus gives jockey Doyle leading claims of a double now partnering the three-year-old for the first time.
This grey Acclamation colt has joined Charlie Hills’ stable after winning both his previous starts this season for now retired former trainer Jeremy Noseda.
Garrus won twice as a juvenile over further and was far from disgraced when fourth in the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury, or next time up when filling the same spot in a Listed event at Doncaster.
He dropped back in trip and resumed winning ways on reappearance at Nottingham. Garrus then timed his run to perfection and got up close home for a short-head Listed success at the York Dante Festival.
The runner-up, Shades Of Blue, has since scored at that level and the third home, Soldier’s Call, filled the same spot behind sprint king Blue Point in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot.
That gives Garrus’ form a solid look. This obviously demands more, but a BHA rating of 109 puts him bang in there off these terms.
Doyle is operating at a 32 per cent strike rate in the last fortnight at the time of writing, so Garrus has plenty going for him at 7/2 with BetVictor.
For punters seeking an each-way alternative, Kurious loves this venue and represents in-form trainer Henry Candy. The three-year-old has form figures of 121 over course and distance.
While this is tougher than his novice win in June 2018 or his Listed success last month, the Esher hill clearly suits Kurious. Odds of 12/1 with Unibet are thus well worth considering for him to make the frame.
Falcon Eight the Marathon fancy
In a fascinating renewal of the Listed Coral Marathon over an extended 2m (16:45), Irish raider Falcon Eight can go one better than last time out.
Trained by Dermot Weld, the four-year-old Galileo colt really caught the eye in a similar grade affair at Leopardstown. Although Falcon Eight hasn’t won beyond 1m 4f, that doesn’t tell the whole story.
After winning both of his first two starts comfortably last season, he was a fine third when stepped up to this distance in the Group 3 Loughbrown Stakes.
While Twilight Payment confirmed that form with Falcon Eight in the 1m 6f Saval Beg on reappearance, he finished with a real rattle when beaten three-quarters of a length.
The way he ran on to be nearest at the finish suggests the extra two furlongs of this is no problem. Twilight Payment also boosted the form when landing the Group 2 Curragh Cup.
Master Of Reality, who was fourth home under a penalty in the Saval Beg, placed a close-up third in the Ascot Gold Cup.
Falcon Eight is very lightly-raced for his age with just four outings under his belt and open to the most progress in the field.
With more to come and Dettori taking the ride, he heads the betting at 7/4 with Betfred now back up in trip.
Falcon Eight is preferred to Mekong, who was very disappointing at York for Sir Michael Stoute last time out.
Royal Ascot winner Cleonte drops down in distance and looks a bit of each-way value at 6/1 with Ladbrokes despite only six runners lining up.
This six-year-old is an out-and-out stayer trained by Balding and took the Queen Alexandra Stakes which closed the prestigious meeting last time out. Cleonte could well hit the frame again.
