Confront looks good for Gala win.

Byline: Saraband

THE Helical Bar Gala Stakes at Sandown looks at the mercy of Sir Michael Stoute's Confront, who will enjoy the step up to 10 furlongs after his second to Mac Love in the Diomed Stakes at Epsom.

He was not beaten that far on Derby day and was subsequently found to have lost a shoe so this looks a fine opportunity to resume winning ways.

Angel's Pursuit is considered much better than his Royal Ascot placing and deserves another chance in the Foundation Developments Dragon Stakes at Sandown.

One of a pair of Listed races on an interesting pre-Coral-Eclipse card, some sharp two-year-olds will be burning it up the fivefurlong course in the middle of the Esher venue.

That particular strip of ground provides rich pickings for the Richard Hannon team, who were very sweet on this half-brother to Group One winner Dark Angel after his encouraging debut victory at Newmarket.

They will be packing them in at Beverley's evening meeting and it looks a bit of a punting graveyard at this stage.

Richard Fahey had his smart filly Rose Blossom entered in the EBF William Jackson Bakery Novice Stakes earlier in the week and it looks significant that he chooses to rely upon On The Bounty instead.

The scene will be similar across the M62 at Haydock, where Tropical Bachelor can send racegoers home with a bit of holiday money in the kitty by landing the Balfour Beatty Handicap. Tim Pitt does not have the equine resources he once did but everything points to this front-running sort having another big run.

The small stable of Taffy Salaman has a quite outrageous strike-rate Saharan Royal makes appeal in Salisbury's Come Shopping At Castlepoint Bournemouth Fillies' Handicap.

Feelin Foxy is taken to defy topweight in Warwick's Blue Square Fillies' Handicap.

TODAY'S SARABAND SELECTIONS BEVERLEY: 6.20 Umverti, 6.50 Coole Dodger, 7.25 On The Bounty, 7.55 Exit Smiling, 8.30 Kames Park, 9.00 Only A Game.

DONCASTER: 2.00 Ross Moor, 2.30 Conquisto, 3.00 Speedy Senorita, 3.35 Navajo Nation, 4.10 Crime Writer, 4.45 Royal Dignitary, 5.15 Global Conquest. HAYDOCK: 6.40 Garstang, 7.10 Black Snowflake, 7.45 Almuntaser, 8.15 Itlaaq, 8.50 Silent Oasis, 9.20 Tropical Bachelor.

SALISBURY: 6.30 Go Forth North, 7.00 Belated Silver, 7.35 St Jean Cap Ferrat, 8.05 Yer Woman, 8.40 Fyelehk, 9.10 Saharan Royal. SANDOWN: 2.20 Biniou, 2.50 Angel's Pursuit, 3.25 Pytheas, 4.00 Confront (nap), 4.35 Australia Day, 5.05 Alanbrooke. WARWICK: 2.10 Cherry Belle, 2.40 Apostle Of Rome, 3.10 Double Moon, 3.45 Feelin Foxy, 4.20 New Leyf, 4.55 Kristallo, 5.25 Looks The Business. DOUBLE: Confront and Angel's Pursuit