Nathra ready to bounce back at Sandown

Four-year-old can give John Gosden back-to-back wins

NATHRA can give John Gosden backto-back victories in the Atalanta Stakes at Sandown.

Gosden won the Group Three a year ago with Persuasive and must surely fancy his chances of repeating the dose with this daughter of Iffraaj.

Runner-up in the Fillies’ Mile as a juvenile, the four-year-old has perhaps not quite kicked on as one might have expected.

But she ably demonstrated at Newbury last time that there are still good races to be won with her.

Nathra was having just her second run of the year in the Hungerford Stakes – her seasonal debut can be forgotten about as she had no luck whatsoever – and she stayed on nicely to get to within two-and-a-quarter lengths of Massaat.

That was an especially pleasing effort as she probably found seven furlongs too sharp.

Gosden has made the utterly obvious decision to step back up to a mile in the Atalanta, and it should eke out just enough improvement to get her head in front.

The Solario Stakes is always a tricky one, but there could be some mileage in supporting MASAR.

Godolphin’s young colt won a most informative novice stakes at Goodwood on his debut and was then given the go-ahead to run in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Charlie Appleby was proud in defeat at the big meeting as he finished third behind September and Nyaleti in a hot renewal of the Listed race.

Masar has since been out of action, but fitness should not be an issue as his trainer has this season consistently yielded positive dividends by adopting patient tactics with his juveniles.

At Hamilton, KATEBIRD can land the spoils in the Bet Totewin at Betfred. com Handicap. SELECTIONS: HAMILTON: 4.15 Whipphound, 4.50 Equitant, 5.25 Colour Contrast, 6.00 Isabella, 6.35 Katebird, 7.05 Wensley, 7.35 Jessinamillion.

SANDOWN: 1.50 Bahamian Sunrise, 2.25 Masar, 3.00 NATHRA (NAP), 3.35 Shabbah, 4.10 Alkhalifa, 4.45 Grand Inquisitor, 5.20 New Agenda.

DOUBLE: Nathra and Masar.