Excellent evening card at Sandown

Plenty of racing today, but easily the best racing is at Sandown´s evening fixture, with two group and two listed races. The Henry II Stakes over 2 miles at 20.10 CET is a trial for the Ascot Gold Cup and looks a very open affair. Godolphin field two runners, German-bred Darley Sun - running for the first time in the blue colours and since his impressive Cesarewitch win last October- and Sabotage (Ted Durcan), runner-up in a similar event last time, while Opinion Poll (Michael Jarvis/ Philip Robinson), lso a very easy winner last time, only runs if the going is not too firm. Nicky Henderson´s Eradicate (Jamie Spencer) is an interesting runner; he won a valuable hurdle race at the beginning of the month, but has not raced on the flat for 21 months. Saptapadi (Sir Michael Stoute/ Ryan Moore) is taking a huge leap in class after easily winning a maiden last time; however he is bred for the job, and his trainer is a past master at improving older horses, so it would be no surpris e to see him score here.

The Brigadier Gerard Stakes over 10 furlongs at 20.45 also has a good field, with mostly the same trainers involved. Once again Godolphin have two runners, the ex-German Peligroso (Dettori) and Prince Siegfried (Durcan), who both would probably prefer softer going, while Stoute and Moore are represented by the improving Glass Harmonium, and Jarvis/ Robinson by Sri Putra, both winnners of similar events last time.

The National Stakes over 5 furlongs at 19.35 looks like the best 2yo race of the season so far. Richard Hannon has his juveniles, as so often, in tremendous form and has won this event repeatedly. He can keep up this record by winning with Cape to Rio (Richard Hughes), who has won both his starts so far in great style.

The Heron Stakes for 3yo´s over a mile at 21.20 could see another colt keep up his unbeaten record - John Gosden´s Fallen Idol (William Buick), who is moving up in grade but certainly seems capable of holding his own at a higher level.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Laudatory - Make Amends - Mannlichen
2. Race: Cape To Rio - Chilworth Lad - Scarlet Rocks
3. Race: Opinion Poll - Darley Sun - Sabotage
4. Race: Glass Harmonium - Sri Putra - Peligroso
5. Race: Fallen Idol - No Hubris - Lord Zenith
6. Race: Invisible Man - Docofthebay - Dunn`O