Sandown Park’s Brigadier Gerard Evening on 29 May is a charming fixture in that it offers pattern races on a midweek twilight card. Most Listed and Group action takes place at weekends or as part multiple-day meetings and festivals.
The Esher track in Greater London stages the eponymous Brigadier Gerard Stakes for Prince Of Wales and Eclipse hopefuls, but also another Group 3 contest. That is the Henry II Stakes over two miles, the final Gold Cup trial before the Royal meeting in June.
Both of these feature races can shake up the markets for two of Ascot’s biggest races of the summer. Those gunning for Gold Cup glory know their task has become easier thanks to the recent retirement of dual champion stayer Kyprios, meanwhile.
Supporting races at Sandown include a couple of Listed events in the National Stakes for juveniles and three-year-olds only Heron Stakes over a mile. Concluding the card is the Whitsun Cup, a longstanding handicap at the same trip but open to older horses.
In advance of this Thursday night action, leading horse racing betting sites have prices on all these events. We also look to our experts, who know the importance of course form at Esher, for a bit of value in their markets.
Brigadier Gerard Evening Preview from Sandown for 29 May
6:35 – Listed 5f National Stakes
Never a fan of tipping juveniles this early in the season, but we’ll make an exception here. Looks a match on paper between Karl Burke’s CLEAR FORCE and Richard Hannon inmate First Legion. Both won nicely last time, but preference is for the former.
Clear Force made all unchallenged at Ripon, which has undulations in the home straight that stand him in good stead for tackling Sandown’s all uphill sprint course here. Richard Hughes’ Sayidah Hard Spun will find this test different to the tight turns on the level around Kempton.
Of the others, punters shouldn’t discount Rod Millman filly Anthelia, who escapes a penalty for winning both starts and has experience of stiff uphill finishes from those outings. Kamakamelon looks to have a miler’s pedigree, while the other two don’t appeal.
7:05 – 2m Group 3 Henry II Stakes
What a finish!
VAUBAN just holds off Al Nayyir in the G2 Lonsdale Cup. #eborfestival
pic.twitter.com/PLpeLClZjz— World Horse Racing (@WHR) August 23, 2024
A repeat of that from Al Nayyir throws his hat into the ring for the Gold Cup. Old rival Trawlerman is obviously feared most. Without Kyprios around, he now represents the best of Ascot form for Godolphin and the Gosden stable.
Trawlerman weakened into fifth in the big staying race in the Middle East, however, after having the run of the race. Al Nayyir wasn’t that far behind him and got hampered late on, so the disparity in price looks too great.
Fortunate Champion Hurdle second Burdett Road tries again to prove his Flat stamina, meanwhile. James Owen’s runner is the youngest in this line-up aged five. Coltrane, a former winner of this, looks very exposed, however, and Tashkhan will surely need his reappearance.
7:35 – 1m 2f Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes
Godolphin run three with Ancient Wisdom finishing ahead of Almaqam here last month. The Gordon Richards form has been advertised by the fifth home coming out and bolting up against fellow females at York. That makes Ancient Wisdom interesting, but he must all prove himself on this sound surface.
Also representing the boys in blue is the Gosdens’ unbeaten Ombudsman, but it’s his return to action. This is deeper than the Listed and Group 3 races he won in France, however. Military Order, a horse you suspect is better on the All-Weather than turf, completes the Godolphin trio.
John Smith’s Cup hero Enfjaar isn’t out of it either, albeit he hasn’t had a recent run. If forgiven his Lockinge flop, then Persica could cash in on an ease in grade for Hannon. He won a decent handicap over the course and distance on the Eclipse card last summer.
The best each-way value, however, could be CICERO’S GIFT, who had to weave in and out of runners to get third in the Sandown Mile here in Group 2 company last month. Charlie Hills’ five-year-old still remains unexposed over this far and, now he’s an older horse, might be more likely to stay it. Cicero’s Gift could get in amongst the market principals if stripping fitter as expected.
8:05 – Listed 1m Heron Stakes
Two down the field in the Craven behind subsequent Irish 2000 Guineas hero Field Of Gold look dangerous. Opera Ballo ran sixth for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby in that Classic Trial. He was race-fit on that occasion, whereas Ralph Beckett’s MATAURI BAY made his return to action.
If coming on for the run and reproducing his earlier running on second to Field Of Gold over 7f here in the Solario Stakes as a juvenile, then he looks value. Matauri Bay should go well, while connections of Opera Ballo reach for a first-time hood.
Cheekpieces go on Nebras, meanwhile, as he drops back in trip. Like Matauri Bay, he is one from four on the track. Qatar Racing’s once-raced Jackknife could be anything after his cosy neck success around Epsom. The others don’t seem to have the same scope for further progress.
8:40 – 1m Class 3 Whitsun Cup Handicap (0-95)
Hickory lowers the track record at @Ascot!🔥
The new @osbornejamie recruit stays on strongly for @OsborneSaffie to get up on the line in the Schweppes Victoria Cup! pic.twitter.com/lGETWNdheP
— Sky Sports Racing (@SkySportsRacing) May 10, 2025
Few other in-form horses tackle this grand old handicap. Those with wins against their name saw success happen at the end of last season. Golden Ocean is an interesting recruit for David Menuisier and has a blend of speed and stamina in his pedigree. He won twice around Navan when trained in Ireland and has only run four times before.
Doncaster Spring Mile fourth Surrey Shadow wasn’t beaten far in that consolation race for the Lincoln, so looks worth trying over a mile again here. Hughes fits Whip Cracker with cheekpieces for the first time, meanwhile, and they could eke out improvement if they have the desired effect.
