Jamie Spencer says The Grey Gatsby’s big heart gives him a big chance

In the Coral Charge at 2.00pm I’m on Salt Island. He ran really well at Royal Ascot in The Commonwealth Cup. Obviously that was a Group 1 so dropping back to Group 3 is a help. He’ll run very well just as long as the ground stays fast, he needs fast conditions. I can’t see the dropping back to five furlongs being a problem. It’s a new thing for him but I can’t see it being an issue. He ought to have a good chance. Waady of John Gosden’s has been winning well at Sandown. I think he’s won three times at the track already in a pretty light career. He’s three from six at Sandown. So he looks the one to beat. Salt Island has definitely got his chance. He’s uncomplicated and he can race close to the pace. He’s drawn alongside Stepper Point and there’s not a huge amount of pace. It might pay to be handy in the race and that’s the plan.

You need a lot of luck at Sandown on this five furlong sprint track because it’s kind of on a slant and when horses start getting tired they roll onto the rail rather than off it. So it’s often hard to get a run. You need plenty of luck in running. Sometimes they spread out a bit when they cross the pathway just at the furlong pole so that’s a help, but you always need plenty of luck.

The Commonwealth Cup felt like a good Group 1 race but Salt Island didn’t surprise me as he’s always felt like a good horse. You know he’s just needed a bit of luck. He’s one of those horses. Things haven’t quite gone right for him. The ground wasn’t right for him at Haydock and the time before at Newbury nothing went right and he came home well to be third. So I think he got to show his true potential at Royal Ascot and hopefully he can step up again.

In the Coral Challenge I ride Fire Ship for William Knight. He’s a consistent horse. Always runs well and gets in the placings but he has no secrets from the handicapper. It’s that type of race. When you get into these open handicaps they are all decent horses so he’s got his chance. He has a nice draw in nine as he likes to race close to the pace, so that should help too. Front runners go well at Sandown as there are a lot of ridges up the straight and the home bend is quite tight so it’s one of those courses where you need a lot of luck. It’s tough for horses to make up ground up the straight. It just seems to suit front runners especially when the ground’s fast as you stay over against the far rail.

In the Coral Distaff I’m on Hundi for Charlie Hills. She won her maiden over six furlongs and then she stepped back up to a mile at Royal Ascot and she ran well enough in the Sandringham finishing sixth. She’s got a chance but she’s got plenty of ground to make up with Jellicle Ball, and on the ratings will probably struggle to beat her. Hopefully she can get a bit of black type and a finish in the first three would be great.