ALMAQAM THE ONE TO BEAT IN BRIGADIER GERARD

By Molly Hunter, PA

Almaqam can make a winning return to Sandown with victory in the Star Sports Brigadier Gerard Stakes for Ed Walker and Oisin Murphy.

The Lope De Vega colt won the Listed Heron Stakes at the meeting last season, prevailing by three and three quarter lengths ahead of Frankel's half-brother Kikkuli.

He would run once more over a mile to finish a not-disgraced sixth behind Rosallion in the St James's Palace at Royal Ascot, after which he ventured towards the 10-furlong trip.

Third behind Economics in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano on his next outing, Walker's charge ended his term with a narrow loss to Jayarebe in the Group Two Prix Dollar at Longchamp.

His comeback run was a pleasing performance in the Gordon Richards Stakes, where he was third, beaten just over a length over the same course and distance he encounters in this Group Three feature.

Any rain over Esher would be to his benefit, but the forecast looks to favour him and he can outperform the horses belonging to the strong hand held by Godolphin.

On the same card Trawlerman can prevail for the royal blue silks of the latter in the Star Sports Henry II Stakes.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained seven-year-old is a consistent type in these staying events, with the most notable piece of form in his record a defeat of Kyprios in the 2023 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup.

He was a length behind the same horse in the Gold Cup last year, and began this campaign with a fifth-placed run in the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan.

With that pipe opener under his belt he can get the better of a small field under William Buick.

Goldolphin also have a chance in the Star Sports Heron Stakes, where Charlie Appleby's Opera Ballo can return to winning ways.

The Ghaiyyath colt looked a real force to be reckoned with in his first two starts on the all-weather earlier this year, winning by large margins, both times over a mile.

His next port of call was the Craven Stakes at Newmarket in April, but he could not achieve the hat-trick and was eventually sixth of nine runners.

His hard-pulling run was unlikely to have aided his cause and though the winner, subsequent Irish 2,000 Guineas hero Field Of Gold, was well clear, Opera Ballo was not too far from the placed horses in spite of his over-enthusiasm.

Away from the questions posed by the Rowley Mile he looks poised to regain the winning thread at Listed level.

At Yarmouth Simon and Ed Crisford's Spinning Wheel can strike again to win the Winning Experience With Moulton Racing Novice Stakes.

The Postponed three-year-old won on debut at Beverley last month, taking a 10-furlong novice from nine rivals.  

He steps up in trip now, which his pedigree suggests will be to his liking as his dam, a Sea The Stars daughter of the Group One-winning racemare Gossamer, was placed over a mile and a half.

Top tips for today’s UK meetings

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.

YARMOUTH: Race 1: 15.10 Create, Race 2: 15.40 Man Of Vision, Race 3: 16.10 Miss Cartesian,
Race 4: 16.40 Show Biz Kid, Race 5: 17.10 Spinning Wheel, Race 6: 17.45 Dark Side Thunder,
Race 7: 18.20 Flag Of St George.

RIPON: Race 1: 15.20 Solana Rose, Race 2: 15.50 Martha Costello, Race 3: 16.20 Rumba Bay,
Race 4: 16.50 Let's Dream, Race 5: 17.20 Hurstwood, Race 6: 17.55 Curran, Race 7: 18.30
Cosmos Raj.

LINGFIELD: Race 1: 15.30 Queensland Boy, Race 2: 16.00 Born Ruler, Race 3: 16.30 Miss
Herschel, Race 4: 17.00 Headmaster, Race 5: 17.30 Bluesy Moon, Race 6: 18.05 Step Along.

SANDOWN: Race 1: 19.05 Wicked, Race 2: 19.35 Clear Force, Race 3: 20.05 TRAWLERMAN
(NAP), Race 4: 20.35 Almaqam, Race 5: 21.05 Opera Ballo, Race 6: 21.40 Arkhalia Flynn.

DOUBLE: Clear Force and Trawlerman (Sandown, Races 2 and 3).

For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab.co.za