English Racing Sandown report and previewShield did enough to convince trainer Gerard Butler that he was ready for the rigours of the world's most famous Flat race as he made a winning reappearance at Sandown yesterday.

The handsome son of Barathea looked as if he was going to be an unlucky loser when trapped on the rails a furlong out under Eddie Ahern.

But the Irishman extricated Shield from the pack 100 yards from the line and led in the closing strides of the Group Three contest to beat Inch Again by half a length.

Favourite Strength'n Honour appeared to have no excuses a further three-quarters of a length back in third place.

"He'll go straight to the Derby now, there is nothing more that he needs to prove," said Butler.

Shield, who will only be Butler's second runner in the Vodafone Derby, is available to back at 33 to 1 with Ladbrokes, Victor Chandler and William Hill.

Stormez is as short as 5 to 1 in some lists to give Tony McCoy a second consecutive victory in the £150,000 Gold Cup at Sandown Park today.

McCoy has deserted last year's winner Bounce Back in favour of Stormez, who finished a gallant neck second to Ryalux in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr two weeks ago.

The champion jockey believes he has a "really good chance" of landing the end-of-season highlight again.

Today is the final day of the jumps season and both McCoy and Martin Pipe have their respective titles sewn up once again.