Another Premier Raceday on Saturday and this week, Group 1 action comes from Sandown.
The Eclipse is the feature race on Saturday, backed up by a couple of Pattern races and intriguing handicaps.
We have seven horses to follow on the card and they include a couple of value selections at what may be rewarding odds.
Clive Cox excels with his sprinters and Kerdos got right back on track with a Group 1 fifth at Royal Ascot last month.
Top Belgian pilot Christophe Soumillon is over for the ride, and this is Kerdos' first run down at Group 3 level in more than a year. Therefore, he could take some stopping if he runs to the level of his Ascot fifth.
Selection: Kerdos
There could be an uncontested lead on the cards for Mirsky, who may represent some value in the betting. He was well-backed for his all-the-way success at Epsom and was always going to struggle to make all the running at Royal Ascot since.
A return to a mile will certainly be in his favour and he's taken to dominate these rivals from the front.
Selection: [Mirsky}(/betting)
The unbeaten Victory Queen may have been a bit underestimated in the betting markets after two narrow victories so far.
She gave the impression that she was only doing enough in the closing stages at Ascot last time out and it's notable that this half-sister to Coroebus (2,000 Guineas winner) goes for this rather than a handicap off a mark of 89.
Selection: Victory Queen
Ombudsman has been all the rage since his Ascot success, but it's a fairly swift turnaround after such an outstanding effort and it may be worth taking a chance on Delacroix.
Aidan O'Brien's first-string had dual Derby winner Lambourn in behind earlier this season and he clearly didn't act at Epsom last time, so he looks worth chancing with Ryan Moore keeping the faith with the three-year-old.
Selection: Delacroix
Dance In The Storm took his form to a new level when bolting up in a course and distance handicap last month, seemingly appreciating the fitting of a hood, which helped him settle better.
That piece of headgear is retained and a 7lb rise for that easy win underestimates the quality of the performance. He could be tough to beat for a yard amongst the winners.
Selection: Dance In The Storm
Juddmonte-owned Dissident has shaped with a fair amount of promise in a trio of runs in maiden/novice company so far and expect him to progress now handicapping from a workable mark.
He shaped like he needed his return at Windsor last time and there's every chance he's going to improve for this step up in distance on handicap debut.
Selection: Dissident
Arabian Light didn't fire at Royal Ascot when last seen, but he had looked highly progressive previously and there's potential for more to come on his first start at 1m2f.
He's less exposed than his main rivals on just this eighth outing and he's taken to defy topweight before going on to Pattern level.
Selection: Arabian Light
The two-day meeting at Sandown gets underway, and it’s bound to be a cracker with the Eclipse shaping up to be a great race on Saturday. There’s a lot to get stuck into beforehand though, with three Listed races taking place on Friday as they race at the Esher venue from 13:50-17:20. Our expert has a race-by-race look at the Sandown card on day one.
Atlantis Blue is one of three distance winners in the field, picking up two wins over a mile last season. He gets the exploits of Mr Simon Walker, who is without a doubt the most experienced rider in the field, with more winners in the last five years than the other jockeys combined. He’s yet to get off the mark this season but has run ok on both occasions, not being beaten by far. You are almost guaranteed a good run from him, and with a more experienced jockey on board, he should get over the line.
Selection: Atlantis Blue
Five unraced two-year-olds go to post for this novice stakes contest. All five look well-bred, and it’s probably not the race you would be backing something with strong belief or confidence, unless you have a good eye for one in the parade ring. But the Charlie Appleby-trained Key Of Magic stands out of the five. Appleby has two in the race, and this one is ridden by William Buick, so we can safely assume this is the number one in the Godolphin ranks. He’s a son of Justify, who, even in his early days, has proved himself as a top sire. Appleby has won two of the last three renewals of this, and may win another here.
Selection: Key Of Magic
Military Code drops back to five furlongs after a disappointing run in the Coventry at Ascot, where he didn’t fire over six. His five-furlong form still stands out - last time at the trip he gave weight away under a penalty and beat two debutants who both won next time and ran well at Royal Ascot. A Listed race over this trip should be within his reach.
Selection: Military Code
He had been disappointing on his first two starts of the season, but based on his run on his most recent start at Sandown in a Listed race, you’d expect Pearl Of Wisom to be capable of winning off a mark of 84. He was a 33/1 outsider and slow out the gates, but he managed to finish within two lengths of 98-rated winner Town And Country, as well as finishing behind 97-rated Hold A Dream and 100-rated Star Of Mehmas. He’s been put up 3lb for that run, but a replication of that form and he’s without a doubt well handicapped for this. He also has a win here last year, so clearly relishes the Surrey track.
Selection: Pearl Of Windsor
It’s that time of year when three-year-olds take on older horses with a big weight-for-age allowance. While none have won this race in the last decade, it’s worth noting that very few even line up, the last was in 2021. Windlord returns here after being used as a pacemaker in his last two runs, masking his true ability. He’s rated 105 and could be better than that if ridden to win. With his weight pull and the older pair Checkandchallenge and Cash struggling to hit their marks this season, the three-year-old looks a strong contender to get the better of his older rivals
Selection: Windlord
Trueshan and Coltrane bring top-class form but look vulnerable. Trueshan may not run if the ground is quick, and Coltrane faces a quick turnaround from the Ascot Gold Cup. Term Of Endearment is progressive and shaped well over this trip in Dubai. She’s worth another shot at two miles and could be a value alternative to the old guard.
Selection: Term Of Endearment
Five runners go to post in the last, a handicap over one mile six furlongs, and the one that instantly appeals is the Sir Mark Prescott-trained Pendragon. This horse is a textbook Prescott horse, with him earning a mark in races he had no business in, and then stepping up markedly in trip for handicaps over further. He’s already gone up 18lb for his two wins, making a mockery of the opposition, and looks likely to land a quick-fire hat-trick. He’s already proved himself over slightly further and won’t have an issue over a stiff one mile six.
Selection: Pendragon