Comeback of Derby winner Desert Crown

Sandown, Thursday 25 May: Tonight`s event at Sandown has it all as the Brigadier Gerard Stakes (4th race/20.42pm/£80,000/2002m) sees the Sir Michael Stoute-trained English Derby winner Desert Crown (Richard Kingscote) make his comeback. He faces Owen Burrows Hukum (Jim Crowley), who was successful in the Coronation Cup (Group 1) the day before the Blue Riband and has also not raced since. Prior to that, the Sea-The Stars son won the Dubai City of Gold (Group 2) at Meydan. The season debutants could steal the show from Cash (Jamie Spencer), who finished a very good second at Listed level about three weeks ago.

The Henry II Stakes (3rd race/20.12pm/80,000 pounds/3218m) will be another Group 3 race decided over the long way. Last year`s winner Quickthorn is not in the running, but second-placed Nate The Great (William Buick) and Enemy (Frankie Dettori), who was fifth and finished a respectable eighth in the Dubai Gold Cup (Group 2) this year ahead of, among others, Sisfahan, in front of whom Nate The Great was fifth in the Red Sea Turf Handicap (Group 3). It should be between them, but the consistent Roberto Escobarr (Richard Kingscote) is also expected to finish well ahead.