Charlie Appleby’s stable is some way short of its title-winning form of the past two seasons in the current campaign, but there are still dozens of lightly raced, blue-blooded juveniles at Moulton Paddocks and Aablan (3.38) is an interesting runner for the yard in the Group Three Solario Stakes at Sandown Park on Saturday.
On paper, Aablan’s debut success in a seven-furlong maiden at Newmarket in late July gives him something to find with Mortlake, the likely favourite, who powered five lengths clear of his field to break his duck at the second attempt last time out.
Aablan’s success, though, was the fourth in a row for Appleby in a maiden that he clearly targets for an above-average juvenile each season, including Modern Games, a subsequent Group One winner at two, three and four, who came home in front in 2021.
Brighton 1.50 Secret Handsheikh 2.25 Horse Whisperer 3.00 Edergole’s Gift 3.35 Lilkian 4.10 No Diggity 4.45 Reel Power 5.20 Intercessor
Chepstow 2.10 Airshow 2.45 Unleash Hell 3.20 Hey Lyla 3.55 Solray 4.30 Bama Lama 5.05 Montevideo 5.40 Daarree
Windsor 3.45 Another Gift (nb) 4.20 Hurricane Power 4.55 Havanagreattime 5.30 Falling for You 6.00 Five Towns 6.30 Bungle Bay 7.00 Mrembo (nap) 7.30 Galactic Glow
Appleby has also saddled two Solario winners in the last six runnings, including Masar, the 2018 Derby winner, six years ago. Aablan is unlikely to scale quite the same heights but he stopped the clock in an impressive time for a debutant at Newmarket and is a decent bet at around 7-2 to improve his trainer’s record to three from seven.
Chester 1.35 Stall one is ideal for Lord Bertie, whose opening mark also looks very fair.
Sandown 1.50 The step up to seven furlongs saw an improved performance from the progressive Tough Enough over track and trip last time and he should cope with a 4lb rise in the weights.
Beverley 2.05 The ultra-consistent Dancing In Paris could be the way to go as several of the market leaders have questions to answer.
Sandown 2.25 The beautifully bred Coppice acquitted herself well at Group One level last time and this drop back to Group Three company should see a return to winning form.
Beverley 2.40 Apollo One has been in excellent form in some of the season’s toughest sprint handicaps and has a good chance here to get a first win of the campaign.
Sandown 3.00 If a wind operation has addressed whatever was worrying Groundbreaker last time, he could well outrun his price of around 10-1.
Chester 3.20 Military Order is odds-on despite finishing last when 9-2 second-favourite for the Derby, and Lone Eagle, touched off in the Irish Derby two years ago, is a fair price at 7-2 to notch a first victory since his switch to Ralph Beckett.
