Brigadier Gerard Stakes Tips: Ombudsman The One To Beat At Sandown

The Brigadier Gerard Stakes takes centre stage at Sandown this evening, with Ombudsman the headline act as he returns to the race he finished second in 12 months ago. The Group 1 winner has a penalty to defy and Royal Ascot may well be the bigger target down the line, but he still brings the standout piece of form into this six-runner Group 3. Billy Grimshaw has taken a closer look at the field and believes the favourite remains the one they all have to beat.

Sandown’s Brigadier Gerard Stakes has a habit of telling us a bit more than the bare Group 3 label suggests, and tonight’s renewal has a proper top-of-the-market clash to get stuck into. OMBUDSMAN is the class horse in the race, that much is obvious, but this is not quite as simple as saying the best horse wins. He has a 7lb penalty to carry, Royal Ascot is the bigger target looming large on the horizon, and there is a progressive four-year-old in Gethin waiting to pounce if the favourite is even slightly below concert pitch.

That said, I still find it hard to get away from the favourite He was second in this race last year before developing into a genuine top-level performer, and his profile since then makes him stand out a mile in this field. The Dubai Turf win in March was another reminder that he has both the class and the gears for this sort of trip, and Sandown should suit him well enough provided William Buick can keep him in a comfortable rhythm. The 7lb penalty means he cannot afford to sleepwalk through it, but he sets a standard the others simply have to reach.

Gethin is the interesting one. Owen Burrows has always given the impression he holds this colt in high regard, and his Kempton comeback win suggested there is more to come this season. The switch to Wathnan Racing adds another layer of intrigue, and James Doyle looks a good booking for a horse who should be able to sit handy and make Ombudsman work for it. If there is one in here with the potential to bridge the gap, it is him.

Almeric is not one I would be in a rush to write off, despite the suspicion that softer ground might bring out the best in him. He has already shown smart form at Listed level and his return here last month was not a disaster by any means, but he does need to step forward again. Arabian Light and Bedouin Prince give Charlie Appleby a double hand, though both probably need a career best, while Wimbledon Hawkeye has smart back form but may just need this after a layoff.

The race could get tactical with only six runners, and that is probably the one small concern with the favourite. If it turns into a crawl and sprint, the penalty becomes more of an issue and Gethin’s freshness could make him dangerous. Even so, OMBUDSMAN has the strongest form, the best turn of foot and the look of a horse who can win this without being absolutely cherry-ripe.