One winner & two seconds for Top 40

Sandown staged an informative six race card on Thursday evening with the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes being the highlight. Almaqam had shaped with plenty of promise on his seasonal reappearance in the Group 3 Gordon Richard Stakes over the same C&D last month. Ed Walker's runner stepped up on that performance to score here by a length and three quarters making all under Oisin Murphy. Top 40 entry Ombudsman threw down a strong challenge inside the final quarter of a mile but his three pounds penalty and the lack of a recent run proved his undoing. The winner is a high-class horse whose programme will be determined by the ground - the son of Lope De Vega needs give underfoot to show his best. The Coral Eclipse in early July is a possibility provided their is sufficient ease in the surface. He deserves another crack at the highest level. The John & Thady Gosden trained runner-up may have lost his unbeaten record but it was still a highly encouraging reappearance. While entered in the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes, the Listed Wolferton Stakes may be a more sensible option at the Royal fixture next month. 

The Top 40 enjoyed better fortune half an hour later when Opera Ballo got his career back on track with a smooth success in the Listed Heron Stakes. Charlie Appleby's three year old pulled fiercely before disappointing in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket during the spring. Fitted with a hood on this occasion, the son of Ghaiyyath was once again enthusiastic during the early stages of the one mile contest but was able to relax once getting some cover leaving the backstraight. Leading over a furlong out, he quickly settled the issue pulling away to win by two and a half lengths. Rated 106 and receiving five pounds from the runner-up, William Buick's mount possesses a huge amount of talent but is still learning. The Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot is likely to come too soon and he may not want rattling fast ground either. Long-term, he is an exciting prospect and one can envisage him tackling the highest company at some stage. 

The final runner in the Top 40 came in an above average novice stakes at Carlisle with Push The Limit finishing second and unable to confirm placings with old rival The King's Falcon. The pair had met in a mile novice stakes at Kempton last Autumn with Ralph Beckett's charge coming out on top by a length and three quarters. The victor was ten pounds worse off here and it was William Haggas' runner who turn the tables scoring by two and a half lengths. Both horses look promising and could have a say in either the King George V or Golden Gates Handicap Stakes at Royal Ascot. Unfortunately, it has been the case for most of this spring, so many of the Top 40 have been running well without getting their heads in front. Hopefully, the tide will turn. Preferably before November.

Elsewhere, the well bred El Budoor (7/4) provided the Unraced Three Year Olds section in AOTF with another winner at Lingfield. Owned by Shadwell Estates, the daughter of Kingman was green on her debut at Ascot last month and, while showing her inexperience once again here, the John & Thady Gosden trained filly battled on well to edge out Miss Herschel in the ten furlongs fillies' maiden stakes. She can only improve this summer.