The best quality evening race meeting of the season takes place at Sandown Park on Thursday 23rd May. This meeting features two Group Three races on it's six race card, the Henry II Stakes run over 2m, 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 a wonderful evening card and it was hoped that ITV would repeat their coverage on TV which they successfully trialled last season here, yet sadly it appears the cameras are not here which is disappointing.
It's 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; LINK
Hopefully the weather is good, and the beers are better than those recently served up at Ascot. So here are this evenings races and my selections for tonight;
6:00pm -- MATCHBOOK EXCHANGE HANDICAP STAKES
1 mile 2 furlongs.
Tonight's exciting meeting gets underway with this competitive handicap over 1m 2f. A field of 14 go to post, headed by UTHER PENDRAGON [3rd 10/1] who's record of 2 wins from 30 starts suggests that this higher grade will be too much and is left out. MATEWAN [13th 4/1] improving for the increase in trip and though this is seasonal debut the fact that Ryan Moore has been booked for the ride will put him high on the short list.
NAWAR [11th 14/1] is the one for the place bet, regularly reaching the frame and this trip should be well within his range so 12/1 looks appealing.
Winner - MY BOY SEPOY 5/1.
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, for which we have a short price favourite in FULL AUTHORITY a winner at Chester but this is a straight track and I can't be sure how good that form will be. which both FLIPPA THE STRIPPA [WON 16/1] and JIM JACKSON [2nd 10/1] could offer bit of value with champion jockeys in the saddle.
Winner - FLIPPA THE STRIPPA 16/1.
7:05pm THE HENRY II STAKES (Group 3)
2 mile 50 yards.
The first of our two Group Three's tonight, the stayers event will see recent Ascot Sagaro winner DEE EX BEE [WON 4/7] aim to cement his place in the Ascot Gold Cup reckoning (although Stradivarius is going to be hard to beat) certainly stayed on to win well at Ascot and will be fancied for the repeat.
Last years winner MAGIC CIRCLE [Non Runner] should be the main danger, the Chester Cup winner might have flopped in Melbourne but won by 6L last year and as long as a good gallop is maintained should be a good Gold Cup trial. While Sir Michael Stoute should never be underestimated his MEKONG might find this trip a step too far.
Winner - DEE EX BEE 4/7.
7:35pm THE BRIGADIER GERARD STAKES (Group 3)
1 miles 2 furlongs.
Only a small field of 6 for the feature event tonight, a race that might well end up as a match between MATTERHORN (M Johnston) and REGAL REALITY [WON 9/4] (Sir M Stoute). Can't really make a case for the others as HERE COMES WHEN surely needs soft ground to excel and that's not going to happen tonight. Ryan Moore could have a really good night and he can boot Regal Reality home who having already won a G3 race at Goodwood last year then competed at G2 level really has the best form on this going.
Winner - REGAL REALITY 9/4.
8:10pm THE HERON STAKES (Listed Race)
1 mile 2 furlongs.
A field of eight declared and we hope they will all stand their ground for the place options, while Stoute/Moore again have the fav with SANGARIUS there is a question as to what improvement has taken place from two to three with many of these so we are going to oppose this with the John Gosden trained KING OF COMEDY [WON 9/4F] with Detorri up. While doesn't have the form or fancy entries of the favourite has had a run this year winning at Yarmouth so fit and ready to do battle.
DARK VISION [4th 10/1] was outclassed in the 2000 Guineas but this is more realistic and is included in the place bets as long as all eight stand.
Winner - KING OF COMEDY 9/4F.
8:40pm WHITSUN CUP HANDICAP
1 mile.
Our finale is a field of 10 over the mile course before we all make a dash to the station for the train home. Top weight GREENSIDE won this two years back and could well have a say again, while LUSH LIFE [WON 11/4] would not be winning out of turn for Jamie Osborne and Jamie Spencer it would be nice if he did me a good turn for once. IVEGOTTHEPOWER [4th 16/1] should also be a lot better for the seasonal return and fast ground will be to his advantage a big price at 33/1.
Winner - LUSH LIFE 11/4.
That was a GOOD night out !!
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