INTILAAQ can secure his place in Roger Varian's Royal Ascot team by landing the Brigadier Gerard Stakes, the feature event of Sandown's fantastic evening meeting.

The four-year-old has always been held in high regard by the Newmarket handler, as evidenced by Varian's decision to switch him straight up to last year's 2000 Guineas after winning a Newbury maiden last April.

That decision did not pay off as he was well beaten by Gleneagles and he took a bit of time to get over that Classic outing, not reappearing until last July when he ran out an easy winner of a Listed event at Newbury.

A Group Three outing seemed a natural progression from there and Intilaaq duly made quite a splash when triumphing by five lengths at Haydock.

That prompted plenty of talk about a possible Champion Stakes run, although he eventually bypassed the race after a lacklustre gallop.

Connections' patience could finally come to fruition this term as while Intilaaq's debut effort in the Dubai Turf was not exactly eye-catching, he was actually only beaten just under four lengths in eighth by Real Steel.

The nine furlongs that day may well have been a touch sharp and it was his first outing in seven months, so he is entitled to make more than a little progress for the run.

Intilaaq is only rated 1lb inferior to Time Test but the conditions of the race mean he is 5lb better off, which certainly puts him in the driving seat as today's nap selection under Paul Hanagan.

MAX DYNAMITE has his first run since finishing second in the Melbourne Cup last November and he appears head and shoulders above the rest in the Henry II Stakes, with Ryan Moore taking the ride.

The six-year-old has mixed and matched on the Flat and over jumps but his sights appear likely to be trained on the top staying events this term following an excellent 2015 campaign.

After finishing second in the Northumberland Plate, he went on to fill the runner-up spot in the Galway Hurdle but victory in the Lonsdale Cup at York showed he was a serious performer on the level.

His trip to Melbourne ended in heartbreak as he could not find the necessary space at the crucial point of the race and eventually kept on to be beaten half a length – form that makes him the one to watch in the marathon division this term.

The Hannon team have a rich history in the National Stakes, fielding five of the last 10 winners, and MEHMAS can keep up the good work with Frankie Dettori on board.

King Of Rooks was successful for the yard in 2015, with Tiggy Wiggy striking gold the year before, and Mehmas looks a likely type after winning each of his two starts this term.

ZONDERLAND was not disgraced in finishing fifth in the 2000 Guineas and a drop to Listed level for the Heron Stakes should see him get back on the winning trail.

He looks as though he may stay in excess of a mile in time but this looks a nice opportunity to get off the mark in 2016. Adam Kirby takes the reins.

EXOTERIC hit the bar at Chester earlier this month but he can come good for Charlie Hills in the Morpeth Practice Horsey Maiden Stakes at Newcastle, while FASHION PARADE is the pick in Haydock's ApolloBet Home of Cashback Offers Maiden Stakes.

Things did not pan out in favour of KREB'S CYCLE last time out but, granted a bit more luck, the Conquer The Course 16th July EBF Stallions Novice Stakes at Chelmsford can go his way.

They race over the jumps at Bangor, where SLIDECHECK can strike in the Derek Burridge Golf And Racing Novices' Handicap Chase.