Stoute to score at Sandown

Sandown stages one of the best evening meetings of the year today, featuring 2 group and 2 listed races. Main vnt is the Henry II Stakeovr 2 miles at 20.10 CET. Patkai (Sir Michael Stoute/ Ryan Moore) is favourite for the Ascot Gold Cup and should win this, although Geordieland (Jamie Osborne/ Shane Kelly), twice runner-up to Yeats at Ascot,would be a big threat if in the right mood. The same connections can also take the Brigadier Gerard Stakes over 10 furlongs at 20.45 with Conduit, although this is not quite so straightforward; Conduit, as a Group One winner (Breeders Cup Turf and St.Leger) has to concede weight all round, he is running over a distance short of his best and he may need the race, but he is still the class act here and can defeat Pipedreamer (John Gosden/ Jimmy Fortune) and Campanologist (Saeed bin Suroor/ Ted Durcan). Monsieur Chevalier (Richard Hannon/ Richard Hughes) and Raines Cross (Peter Winkworth/ Jim Crowley) are both unbeaten and clearly two of the best 2yos seen out so far; they can dominate the listed race over 5 furlongs at 19.35, while the mile race for 3yo´s at 21.20 looks very tricky.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Kensington Oval - Moves Goodenough - Wiggy Smith
2. Race: Monsieur Chevalier - Raine`S Cross - Star Rover
3. Race: Patkai - Geordieland - Fiulin
4. Race: Pipedreamer - Conduit - Campanologist
5. Race: Racketeer - Ashram - Border Patrol
6. Race: Cadre - Wintercast - Axiom