With all five races being handicaps it should certainly be competitive and when the action concludes race goers will get to enjoy arguably one of the best sunsets in the world of racing.
The main event on track is the Quilter Cheviot Evening Feature Handicap (7.40 pm) over 1m 1f. Five go to post but all eyes will be on Black Night as he bids for not only a tenth career success but also to establish a modern day weight-carrying record in the Channel Islands.
The James Moon-trained Black Night has already won twice this season, taking the Jersey Guineas by eight lengths and then following up at the last meeting when taking a handicap by the same margin. The official handicapper put him up to a rating of 99 following that latest success – no horse has defied a rating that high to win a race here in recent history.
Effectively the diminutive Black Night has to concede 18 lb, or more, to all of his rivals and although statistics are against him Black Night is no ordinary horse and he can win for the ninth time at Les Landes.
Major dangers, to the likely odds-in favourite, should be Ice Royal and Flutterbee. Ice Royal is a new recruit to Jersey this season but has so far struggled to really find his best form at his new home. However, if he does return to something like the form which saw him win a one-mile handicap at Sandown in July 2016 he would be a major player here.
Like Ice Royal, Flutterbee represents the Aly Malzard yard and she was much better than her final finishing position suggests here at the last meeting. It is possible that Flutterbee will make a bold bid from the front.
Former multiple champion trainer Aly Malzard has a third runner in the race in the shape of Hard To Handel, who chased home Black Night when runner-up in the Jersey Guineas in April. Strictly at the weights Hard To Handel should prove the hardest nut to crack.
The opening race of the evening is the 2m 1f UBS Handicap Hurdle (6.30 pm) in which five runners go to post. In a tricky contest it may be worth taking a chance on Order of Service who will be jumping hurdles for the first time on Jersey.
The Karl Kukk-trained eight-year-old is a prolific winner on the flat having already registered eight wins (five on turf and three on the all-weather) but his only two runs so far over jumps last year in the UK were only moderate. Arguably the opposition he faces here, however, is a little weaker than he faced in the UK and, given that he has run well on the flat already this season, he may be able to open his jumps account now.
Recent hurdling form comes in the shape of Samuel French, who was runner-up to stablemate Veronica’s Napkin at the last meeting and Cahill who has not run for a long time but who was runner-up in the 2016 Channel Islands’ Champion Hurdle.
Seven sprinters go to post in The Prince of Wales Inn and Green Island Restaurant Handicap (7.05 pm). Sing Something has been very impressive winning his first two races in Jersey and the Christa Gilbert-trained five-year-old is taken to complete his hat-trick at the chief expense of course specialist Country Blue. The latter recorded his third win in the prestigious Jersey Bullet at the last meeting but that day he benefited from an excellent tactical ride from Mattie Batchelor and, at the revised weights, he may now struggle to confirm that form with Fruit Salad.
No horse currently in training has won more races around Les Landes than the Tony Le Brocq-trained ten-year-old Grey Panel. He can take his track record to 15 victories by taking The Glorious Les Landes Races Handicap at 8.15 pm.
Grey Panel may very much be in the veteran stage of his career but he shows no sign of slowing down and, as well as finishing runner-up in this race 12 months ago, he finished an excellent close second to Tellovoi over this exact course and distance on 13 May.
Major dangers are Hawaiian Freeze, who was possibly unlucky not to win over 1m 4f at the last meeting, and another prolific course winner, Pas D’Action.
There are three UK-trained runners on tonight’s card and one of that team, Barwick, can take home the prize in the 1m 4f finale at 8.50 pm. Trainer George Baker has an excellent record when he sends raiders over to Jersey and Barwick, already a winner here in Jersey and more recently in Belgium, appears to have a real class edge in this final race which should be run at a scorching early gallop. With eight runners going to post this looks the most competitive race of the night and chances can also be given to hat-trick seeking Gabster and another dual winner already this season, Ocean Crystal.
