19:35 Sandown

Thursday 29 May 2025

All18:0518:3519:0519:3520:0520:40

Star Sports Brigadier Gerard Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 19:38 | Winning time: 2m 6.03s

(4)

Ombudsman²⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 112| D

5/4

Unraced at 2 yrs but quickly made up for lost time in 2024, winning each of his 4 starts, culminating in a Group 3 success at Longchamp (1¼m, good to soft). That form is solid and while further progress will be needed if he's to maintain his unbeaten record here, there may well be better to come.

Form: 1111-

(6)

Aafoor⁹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Szczepan Mazur| T: Mohammed Khalifa Al| OR: 90| D

200/1

Good second in 1m Newmarket handicap (good) on latest start in Britain last August and since enjoyed a productive winter campaign in the Middle East, winning 3 times and a good fourth in the Qatar Derby towards the end of December. However, he'll need to be better than ever to take this.

Form: 1082-15

(1)

Almaqam³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: E Walker| OR: 116| C

7/4

Listed winner over a mile here last May and subsequently progressed in Group company, rounding off last season with a near-miss in the Prix Dollar at Longchamp and reappearance third in the C&D Gordon Richards Stakes can be marked up (denied a clear run at a crucial stage). Major player.

Form: 11632-3

(9)

Cicero's Gift³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Watson| T: C Hills| OR: 110| C

14/1

Failed to build on his winning reappearance over a mile here last season, but underwent a wind op during the winter (also gelded) and resumed with a good third back here (1m, good to soft) in April. However, while this new trip is well worth exploring, he needs to raise his game another level.

Form: 17487-3

(7)

Enfjaar²⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: R Varian| OR: 109| BF| D

7/1

Progressive last term, winning twice before going close in a valuable Glorious Goodwood handicap. Signed off with a solid second to Persica in listed company at Ayr (1¼m, good to firm) in September and wouldn't be without an each-way chance if fully tuned-up for this assignment.

Form: 6/11252-

(10)

Military Order³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 112| D

11/1

Something of a stop-start theme to his career, but there's no doubting his ability and he looked on good terms with himself back from a year off when scoring in decisive fashion at Kempton (1¼m). Solid claims.

Form: 05/217-1

(3)

Phantom Flight²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Callum Shepherd| T: George Scott| OR: 112| D

22/1

Made winning return for new yard in listed race at Newbury (1¼m) in July and back to that sort of form when scoring twice in Bahrain earlier this year. Probably found 1m too sharp returned to these shores at Ascot last month but, in any case, he's likely to have his work cut out in this company.

Form: 5-11246

Non-Runners

(8)

Persica¹²

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: R Hannon J: S M Levey

(5)

Ancient Wisdom³⁴

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: C Appleby J: James Doyle

(2)

Bolster²⁰

Weight: 9-2| Age: 5

T: K R Burke J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

Forecasts

Ombudsman (5/4), Almaqam (7/4), Enfjaar (7/1), Ancient Wisdom (8/1), Military Order (11/1), Bolster (12/1), Cicero's Gift (14/1), Persica (14/1), Phantom Flight (22/1), Aafoor (200/1)

Having shaped encouragingly when third on his return over C&D last month, ALMAQAM looks the way to go. Indeed, on that evidence he could still be progressing and the 4-y-o is taken to inflict a first career defeat on Ombudsman, who has to be respected given his 100% record and potential. William Buick prefers Military Order ahead of Ancient Wisdom and understandably so, on the back of the former's tidy reappearance success on the all-weather.