Kick-off to the Summer Festival at Sandown

Sandown, Friday 7 July: The two-day Summer Festival begins today at Sandown Park Racecourse with Saturday`s Eclipse Stakes taking centre stage.

In the second Listed race, the Sandown Marathon (3rd race/16.05pm/50,000 pounds/3260m), Estacas (Billy Loughnane), formerly trained by Andreas Wöhler and bred by Fährhof Stud, faces five rivals. His main rivals include the over three million pound Yibir (William Buick), who was only sixth in the Ascot Gold Cup (Group 1) last time out. Sleeping Lion (Ryan Moore) rehearsed for today`s task here in the Henry II Stakes (Group 3) when third. Ocean Wind (Jim Crowley) achieved the same placing two years ago. Since then, the ex-series winner has not been at the expiry.

In the Gala Stakes (5th race/5.15pm/50,000 pounds/2000m) it should be enough for John and Thady Gosden`s Saga (Ryan Moore) to win. In the Wolferton Stakes (List race) he was fifth in the picture, while Poker Face (James Doyle), Notre Belle Bete (William Buick), Savvy Victory (Tom Marquand) and Certain Lad (Hollie Doyle) running in the same race came away empty-handed, but should do better this time.