The best evening race card of the season takes place at Sandown Park on Thursday 24th May. This meeting features two Group Three races on it's six race card, the HENRY II Stakes run over 2m, we hoped we might have seen the return of the popular stayer BIG ORANGE here prior to another Ascot Gold Cup bid but has not been declared sadly and THE BRIGADIER GERARD Stakes which is run over a distance of 1m 2f. When you throw in a couple of decent listed contests too it is no surprise that ITV have chosen to send cameras and broadcast this evening fixture live.
This is a meeting that I attend each year as it falls close to my older brother's birthday, so we will make a night of it with some of his boys, and finding a few winners would be nice. A link to the evening race card can be found here;
-- http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/sandown-park/24-05-2018/fast-cards
Praying that the weather is good, and the beers are better than those recently served up at Ascot. So here are the evenings races and my selections;
6:00pm -- MATCHBOOK EXCHANGE HANDICAP STAKES
1 mile 2 furlongs.
Tonight LIVE on ITV gets underway with this competitive handicap over 1m 2f. Fifteen go to post, and STORMINGIN [2nd 9/2] will be very popular with Ryan Moore booked which might jut tip the balance in his favour after some recent place efforts.
Not much to shout about amongst the rest, although WHAT A WELCOME [WON 15/8F] has won his last three overall and his race at Newbury looks strong if he's there come the final furlong up the hill.
6:35pm -- THE NATIONAL STAKES (Listed Race)
(2yo only) 5 furlongs 10y.
The first of the quality races, a 5f sprint down the middle of the course, where WEDDING DATE [5th 9/2] is appealing getting a few pounds for her fillies allowance and won well at Chester so in good order. The Mick Channon yard have started the season well and his KINKS [6th 4/1] looks a good one here too having won two from three although you would be wise not to rule anything out in this contest, but these two against the field for me tonight.
7:05pm THE HERON STAKES (Listed Race)
1 miles.
A field of nine but it's all focused around WITHOUT PAROLE [WON 4/6F] for the Gosden / Dettori team. Looks sure to improve as a 3yo and could have most to fear from the Sir Micheal Stoute representative REGAL REALITY [6th 14/1] another to have won at Yarmouth and Ryan Moore could have a good night here with Poet's Word in the big race later.
7:35pm THE HENRY II STAKES (Group 3)
2 miles 50yds.
TIME TO STUDY failed to impress when I selected him for the Ascot Sagaro stakes and comes here on a rescue mission as far as the big staying races are concerned. WEEKENDER [3rd 9/4F] looks a strong fancy for Gosden / Dettori team once more and could be doubling up here.
An interesting place option is SHEIKHZAYEDROAD [8th 6/1] who has has some good place results in Dubai and has been campaigned in top company last year including a 6th in the Ascot Gold Cup over further and 2m seems about his limit.
8:10pm THE BRIGADIER GERARD STAKES (Group 3)
1 mile 2 furlongs.
Only a small field of five for the feature event tonight, POET'S WORD [WON 4/6F] might have scared some off having been runner up at the Dubai World Cup meeting (Sheema Classic) and if it's not run at a crawl this should take all the beating.
FABRICATE [4th 3/1] will be popular as he runs in the colours of Her Majesty The Queen and appeals as the strongest alternative to the odds on fav.
8:40pm Whitsun Cup Handicap
1 mile.
Our finale is a field of 14 but it's interesting to see if last months easy Ascot winner MOUNTAIN ANGEL [3rd 4/1] is as easy to back as he was then. Won by 4L there, albeit on soft going and it was also an apprentice race he will find this more difficult and the ground totally different here too but respected in his current good order.
HAKEEM [9th 4/1] hasn't done much wrong so far, and is well bred, CLIFFS OF CAPRI [10th 33/1] has been campaigned on the all weather till now and if he takes to grass will be big price at 12/1 with his experience.
Have a fun evening and Happy Birthday brother Graham.
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