Evening racing at Sandown

this evening´s card at Sandown is probably the best of the entire year for evening racing, with two group and two listed races. Main event is the Brigadier Gerard Stakes over 10 furlongs at 20.55 CET, in which Carlton House (Sir Michael Stoute/ Ryan Moore) beaten favourite last year for both the Epsom and the Irish Derby runs for the first time since those defeats. He is almost certain to start favourite again, as his Dante win last year is easily the best form on offer here. Carlton House is owned by the Queen and all her trainers are trying extra hard this week to saddle a winner in the royal colours, as her Diamond Jubilee celebrations start at the weekend. Stoute and Moore had a winner for her yesterday evening (as we predicted) and despite the 10 month break should win this as well; Colombian (John Gosden/ William Buick), winner of a similar race over this CD on very heavy ground last time, and the mare I´m a Dreamer (David Simcock/ Jimmy Fortune) can take the minor plac es.

Thee Henry II Stakes over 2 miles at 20.20 has a much stronger field, although Godolphin´s Opinion Poll (Mahmood al Zarooni/ Frankie Dettori) is a worthy favourite following his good efforts in Dubai. He is a very consistent stayer and has finished first or second on all his last 7 starts, including when runner-up in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, which is his target again. Askar Tau (Marcus Tregoning/ George Baker), who has a German pedigree, looks held on that form, while Blue Bajan, who won this race last year, was even further behind. Godolphin´s second runner, the ex-French Ley Hunter (Saeed bin Suroor/ Mikael Barzalona) could run well but possibly needs soft ground, while the ex-German Ibicenco (Luca Cumani/ Kieren Fallon) is a very interesting cendidate. The Schlenderhan-bred has had a recent run and, in view of the doubts surrounding several of the principals here, might be a decent each-way bet.

The listed National Stakes for 2yo´s at 19.45 has some of the fastest juveniles yet seen out in the field. Richard Hannon has a good record here and saddles Sir Prancealot (Richard Hughes), but Mark Johnston´s pair Storm Moon (Joe Fanning)and yesterday´s non-runner Baileys Jubilee (Silvestre de Sousa) look dangerous.

The other listed race, the Heron Stakes over a mile for 3yo´s at 21.25, looks wide open. Khalid Abdullah has two good chances with Stipulate (Sir Henry Cecil/ Tom Queally) and Top Offer (Roger Charlton/ James Doyle), but Eastern Sun (Gosden/ Buick), Cogito (Brian Meehan/ Dettori), Irish History (al Zarooni/ Barzalona) and Tales of Grimm (Stoute/ Moore) are also contenders.