Sandown Park Racecourse. Pic: Steve Parsons/PA

Horse Talk: Top horse-racing tips and the latest news

Racing commences at Sandown Park at 6pm for the first of three successive Thursday evening meetings and the once-raced Lucanin could prove to be the best bet tonight.

The Michael Stoute trained three-year-old faces the starter for just the second time after finishing runner-up in a one mile Class 4 on soft ground at Newbury last month under tonight’s jockey Ryan Moore.

At Newbury the son of Galileo was sent out 4-1 joint favourite and stayed on in the closing stages, despite running greenly. His engagement tonight, a 10 furlong Class 5 maiden at 8.10pm, represents a step up in distance, but a drop in class and he is fancied to prevail.

In the opening race, nine of the 10 runners are making their debut. The exception is the Simon Dow trained Fiducia who finished third in both of her two starts to date.

But despite her consistency, preference is for the Richard Hannon trained Jubilee Diamond who also has the services of Richard Hughes.

Nice Rose is fancied to follow up on her victory at Newcastle last month in the next race, a 14 furlong Class 5. At Newcastle she led all the way to easily win a one mile four and a half furlong maiden and the step up should pose no problems.

Top weight Flaxen Flare may be the answer in the 7.05, which looks a trappy affair. But a better bet is the consistent Mizbah in the 7.35 where he is fancied to put a disappointing run on soft ground at Beverley behind him.

Buzkashi is taken to win the finale at 8.40pm on her handicap debut.

Meanwhile, next week’s card has been boosted by the news that Monterosso, the Dubai World Cup winner, is set to contest the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at the Esher track on May 31.

Trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni is using the race as a build to Royal Ascot. But the Godolphin owned five-year-old is likely to face a stiff task there as he looks set to collide with 2011 King George winner Nathaniel and the Queen’s Carlton House who are both intended runners.