Henry II Stakes 2010

7.10 Sandown
Blue Square Henry II Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (4YO plus)
Winner £56,770

Pick: Saptapadi (e/w)

Balkan Knight: Performed will in a few races over trips but missed all of 2009 and has not group win; That makes him impossible to recommend.

Eradicate: Progressed over the jumps, landing a neat Huntingdon event and then Swinton Hurdle; Stamina could be put to good use here and not one to be discounted although is flat form is of no real use here.

Furmigadelaguista: Improved lots for Karl Burke last year but made an inauspicious start to career for new stable when well beaten fifth at Doncaster and this is a big step up in class.

Illustrious Blue: Admirable campaigner who has excellent record at Goodwood (6 wins there) and improved for first try over this trip when winning Sagaro Stakes at Ascot; That form decent but this is harder.

Akmal: Ran on a real streak in 2009, getting 7 wins and landing 2m Group 3 at Newmarket on final start; Hasn’t run up to same form this year, but excuses on first start and if he can settle better, would have to be a major player here.

Darley Sun: Couldn’t stop improving last year, romping away with 2m handicap at Ascot before only just losing out to Askar Tau in Lonsdale Cup and then hacking up in Cesarawitch on final start; Since been switched to Goldophin and if he was to be fit and ready here, would have to take all the beating.

Montaff: Showed some very nice form early on last season and run with credit in races won by Sabotage, Opinion Poll and Illustrious Blue this year, but no reason why he should beat that trio this time; Temperamental sort too.

Opinion Poll: Progressive sort who fairly romped away with big 12f handicap last year at Ascot and is even better with cut in the ground, as he showed when looking like Group horse all over when cantering away at Nottingham last time; Can defiantly make mark in this company but needs to improve again.

Sabotage: Actually improved for switch to Godolphin in Dubai, improving when upped to 2m when winning at Meydan in February; Possibly undone by drop back in trip last time when finishing well and should put in big effort.

Saptapadi: Lightly raced 4 year old, having run very well in Group company on 2 out of his 4 starts last year; Returned with good win in Doncaster maiden and should really relish this step up in trip; Unexposed and could be anything.

VERDICT: A mix of noted improvers versus some old stagers. Darley Sun’s form last year would entitle him to go very close here and he’s a worthy favourite, although he could need the run here and it’s hard to know how he’ll react to switching stables. Sabotage holds some really good from and should also be right there. It’s worth noting that he was Frankie Dettori’s original pick. Opinion Poll is an improving horse and should be right in the shake up, but has to prove that he can improve again. SAPTAPADI has been quite highly tried, and having had only 4 runs is sure to improve. His 2 runs last year suggest that he is capable of racing to a decent level and he should like this step up in trip.