Francis-Henri Graffard will head to Ascot with a handful of live hopes this week, including Repel who will be looking to fend off the home challengers in a typically competitive looking Sandringham Stakes.

A winner over 1100m at Deauville in the summer, she found the step up to group company too strong when well held in the Group 3 Prix Imprudence (1400m) before readily returning to winning ways with a facile success at Nancy earlier in the month.

The Juddmonte-owned daughter of New Bay is yet to test her metal in handicap company and whilst understanding of the competitive task ahead of her, Graffard feels there is plenty of upside to her challenge.

He said: “She won very easily the other day in what was not much more than a morning gallop. The Sandringham is never easy, but she has run on the straight so it's worth a try.”

Saffie Osborne has been recruited to do the 8st 6lb on fellow New Bay filly Symbol Of Majesty. John and Thady Gosden’s contender won her first two starts before finishing a never nearer fifth on her handicap debut at Wolverhampton.

Charlie Fellowes is no stranger to big handicap success, and he’ll be hoping Rosa Inglesa, who struck at Nottingham last time to double her tally, can defy a 9lb hike in the weights to provide him with another Royal winner.

Ralph Beckett described She Commands as a filly who has “done well from two to three” so there could be more to come from her on her handicap bow after a reappearance success in a novice event at Wolverhampton.

The booking of Oisin Murphy catches the eye on Glyfada, who moves into handicap company as a dual winner from three starts following a comfortable strike at Killarney, while

Darn Hot Gallop will evidently find this easier than when surrendering her unbeaten record in the Group 1 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Newmarket in May.

Potent combinations of Charlie Appleby and William Buick and William Haggas and Tom Marquand also team up with live contenders courtesy of Act Of Kindness and Zooming respectively.

Photo: Focus On Racing