Brian The Snail heads to Sandy Lane

Three-year-old colt Brian The Snail steps up to G2 level for the Sandy Lane Stakes (15.30hrs local time) at Haydock Park, UK, on Saturday, May 27. 

The Richard Fahey-trained sprinter returns to six furlongs after coming home last of five over a furlong shorter in the Listed Westow Stakes at York on May 18. 

He was unbeaten on his first three starts, winning twice over five furlongs as a two-year-old and enjoying an easy victory on his first appearance of 2017 in a six-furlong handicap at Pontefract on April 11.

Tony Hamilton takes the ride on Brian The Snail, who tackles six other three-year-olds from stall seven, including G2 winner Harry Angel and Mubtasim, who were second and third behind Blue Point in the G3 Pavilion Stakes at Ascot earlier this month. 

Richard Fahey commented: “Brian The Snail was extremely disappointing at York, but seemed fine after the race. 

“William Buick was adamant that it was the ground – Brian The Snail won on soft at Catterick last year but it was a better class of race at York, so possibly the going was a factor.

“He scoped clean, trotted out sound and has been in good form since, so we will see what happens on Saturday.”