In the circumstances (sweated up, proved difficult to load, met trouble in running and lost a shoe during the race) the Queen’s colt Carlton House ran a great race to finish third in last weekend’s Derby and, allied to the midweek injury scare, it was very much a case of what might have been at Epsom.

Pour Moi was a brilliant winner and the first for France in 35-years but I’m not convinced he’ll beat Her Majesty’s horse next time they meet which is likely to be at Longchamp in the Arc.

A cracking and ultra competitive card at Sandown Park on Saturday and Mashaaref (3.50) was arguably fortunate to beat Maali at Nottingham last time but that colt ran very well behind the progressive Alkimos at Doncaster last week.

He looks to have been given a fair mark for his handicap debut and as long as he behaves himself in the preliminaries (has been a bit coltish shall we say) he has more to offer. If he doesn’t don’t be surprised if he has the cruellest cut of the lot before his next run!

Night Carnation (3.30) didn’t impress everyone with her high head carriage at York last time but she appeared ill at ease on the fast ground.

She returns to the scene of her impressive seasonal reappearance on Saturday and as long as the ground is no quicker than good she can maintain her unbeaten record this season. The 10f maiden looks a fascinating contest and a chance is taken on the well-bred newcomer Qahriman (4.40) a half-brother to the stable’s Afsare a winner at Royal Ascot last year. As is always the case with newcomers from the Cumani stable a check of the market is advised especially as there is plenty of decent form on offer and High Jinx and Momaris are others to consider in a race that looks sure to throw up plenty of winners.

Gifted Leader is owned in partnership by new West Ham boss Sam Allardyce and ran, arguably, a career best when runner up in a similar heat at Newmarket last time. That said he has been raised 5lbs for the run and marginal preference goes to Crocus Rose (5.15) who finished runner up in the corresponding race last year and looked to be coming to hand at Wolverhampton last time.

There is no question that Antigua Sunrise (2.10) hit the front too soon in the Queen Mother’s Cup at York last year and, despite being 3lbs higher this year, Richard Fahey’s five-year-old mare can make a bold bid in a race she looks to have been laid out for again this year. Luck in running will always play their part in races for lady amateur riders’ but this dual C&D winner must go close in a race where Fahey has 4 of the 30 five-day entries.

Desert Law (7/1 with Victor Chandler) was clear of the third when just failing to make a winning reappearance at Newmarket in a valuable 3-y-o handicap on Guineas Day. The fact that he has been raised 6lbs for that narrow defeat makes life more difficult and he only meets the winner Majestic Myles on 1lb better terms.

The obvious danger is recent Ripon winner Elusive Prince who escapes a penalty for that success but, at the time of writing, he is not guaranteed to get into the race and Godolphin’s Ahtoug is another who merits serious consideration in a terrific race.

For all your sporting odds this weekend check out victorchandler.com