Which improving four-year-old could topple Addeybb in Brigadier Gerard?

Thursday: 7.25 Sandown
Coral Brigadier Gerard Stakes (Group 3) | 1m2f | 4yo+ | RTV

The Brigadier Gerard is set up as a race in which the best of those returning to the middle-distance division get to sharpen up ahead of the summer Group 1s. Its success in providing that platform is creditable, if not quite stellar.

In the last ten years, only two winners have gone on to win a Group or Grade 1 in the same season. That is not great, but consider also that three beaten horses have also managed the feat and that in that time there have only been 53 runners. A conversion rate of almost ten per cent looks a lot more appealing than the headline figures.

Two of this year's six declared runners are already multiple winners at the top level. Addeybb's four Group 1s have all come at around this trip, on good or softer. Lord Glitters has won the Queen Anne and Jebel Hatta, both over shorter trips. They are eight and nine respectively and keep few secrets at this stage. Note that Lord Glitters' Group 2 win in Dubai over winter has earned him a 5lb penalty.

The early market has sided with potential, which would make sense on trends as seven of the last ten winners, and a significant majority of winners going back to when the race took its current name in the early 70s, have been four-year-olds.

Mostahdaf has already won the Brigadier Gerard's sister race, the Gordon Richards over course and distance in April, and in doing so elevated his form to the sort of level needed to win this race on Racing Post Ratings. Admittedly, some ratings are more solid than others and, in practice if not in theory, this race should set a stiffer test than the three-runner event he won here last month.

Sir Michael Stoute has won the Brigadier Gerard four times in the last decade and that acts as a vote of confidence for his runner this year, Bay Bridge.

Much like Derby favourite Desert Crown, Bay Bridge is classic Stoute. He did not win at two, progressed quickly last spring to land the London Gold Cup on his second start and was then not seen until the autumn when he added a handicap at York and Listed race at Newmarket.

The entries Bay Bridge holds should come as no surprise. He is in the Prince of Wales's and Hardwicke. Stoute hinted in October that he thought the horse would stay a mile and a half, so it is probably fair to guess that the plan has been to work back from the King George. Poet's Word took that route from winning this race in 2018 and this race will tell us a lot about Bay Bridge's prospects of following him in.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

Addeybb out to continue golden spell for Haggas

The widely popular Addeybb is reportedly as enthusiastic as ever ahead of a remarkable sixth campaign in training but William Haggas admits the four-time Group 1 winner faces stiff opposition on return.

Unlike the last two years, the eight-year-old did not start his season in Australia and is taken to Sandown as preparation for next month's Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Bay Bridge and Mostahdaf are key rivals but the sensational form of the Haggas yard certainly boosts Addeybb's claims. Sunday's Tattersalls Gold Cup was the latest big prize to head to Sommerville Lodge, a yard which has been operating at a 41 per cent strike-rate for the last fortnight.

Haggas said: "He's fine, he's in good shape and is ready for a race. It's not going to be soft but that's the way it is.

"He's against very good horses, Bay Bridge is a typical Sir Michael [Stoute] improver and Mostahdaf has only been beaten once in his life. They're good horses, but so is our fella.

"He's been a marvellous horse and he seems to retain all his enthusiasm. He needs a run before Ascot and he takes a bit of getting fit these days so we'll see."

Bay Bridge: has first start at Group levelCredit: Edward Whitaker

The seasonal debut of Bay Bridge is also highly anticipated. He won four on the spin last year, and was last seen fending off Majestic Dawn in the James Seymour Stakes at Newmarket in late October. That rival boosted the form only last weekend with an easy Listed victory at Goodwood.

Trainer Sir Michael Stoute said: "He's ready to start his season off in a competitive-looking race and I expect him to run well with the race putting an edge on him. We've had this race in mind for a while and he won't mind any type of ground, he's versatile in that regard."

What they say

David O'Meara, trainer of Lord Glitters
He had a great winter, he won the Bahrain Trophy and the Singspiel over in Dubai but life is going to be tough for him for a bit with the penalty for that Group 2 win. We need to get him started somewhere and I didn't think he was quite up to the Queen Anne this year.

John Gosden, joint-trainer of Mostahdaf
He has a penalty for his win there last time which makes things a bit tricky in what looks a competitive race. He's worked nicely since and likes the track so we'd be hopeful he can run another good race.

Saeed bin Suroor, trainer of Dubai Future and Passion And Glory
Dubai Future has been working nicely. Dropping back in trip should suit and he's ready to run, although this looks a very tough race. Passion And Glory is doing well but this looks a stiff task for him too.
Reporting by James Stevens

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