Sir Michael Stoute's Adilabad can confirm himself a top-class performer with victory in today's Credit Suisse Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown.

Stoute is undeniably a master with older horses and the four-year-old son of Gulch is just the type of horse to thrive this term. Adilabad could have saved Darryll Holland a 14-day ban for dropping his hands if he had got a clear run at Chester last time. He had a difficult passage under Kieren Fallon in the listed Huxley Stakes but was absolutely flying at the finish and caught Holland and Island House on the line. Stoute's colt has now won five out of his eight career starts and has valid excuses for his three defeats. Adilabad loves to hear his hooves rattle and the prevailing fast conditions at the Esher track will suit him. He will probably stay further than this 10 furlongs and could be a real force in all the top middle-distance events this term.

Mizillablack looks the one for the listed Credit Suisse First Boston National Stakes. Nerys Dutfield enjoys great success with her two-year-olds, as Molecomb winner Misty Eyed demonstrated to great effect last season.

Mizillablack stepped up on her third-placed debut at Windsor with a cosy success in a conditions event at Salisbury earlier this month. She travelled particularly well throughout the five-furlong event and was not troubled to beat Madame Boulangere by two lengths.