The Brigadier Gerard has produced some classy winners in recent times, including Bay Bridge, Hukum, Poet’s Word, Lord North, Carlton House, and the then-reigning Arc winner, Workforce.
But is there a class act lurking within the ten-strong field?
Get the best Brigadier Gerard Stakes odds from the online horse racing betting sites here.
Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes runner by runner betting guide – 1m2f
🏇 1 Ombudsman (4)
- Age: 4
- Weight: 9st 5lb
- Form: 1111-
- Rating: 112
- Jockey: Ryan Moore
- Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
- Odds: 9/4
Despite not being the pick of Godolphin’s retained jockey, William Buick, Ombudsman, has been instaled as the favourite for the Brigadier Gerard. He doesn’t get a downgrade on the jockey side of things, as Ryan Moore gets the leg up and comes here with an unblemished record.
Having won all four of his starts to date, which includes a Group 3 win on Arc weekend at Longchamp, Ombudsman is the clear lurker in the field who could have a lot more improvement to come.
He’s having his first run on the back of 263 days on the sideline, and if he is to continue his progress, he will need to be razor-sharp to get the better of some race-fit rivals while conceding weight to all bar one rival. No matter what he does here, he will have an exciting season ahead.
Star rating: ⭐️⭐⭐️⭐️
🐎 Bet on Ombudsman with Betfred 🐎
🏇 4 Almaqam (1)
- Age: 4
- Weight: 9st 2lb
- Form: 1632-3
- Rating: 116
- Jockey: Oisin Murphy
- Trainer: Ed Walker
- Odds: 5/2
Almaqam has become a consistent performer who just lacks that little bit extra to be a Group 1 level performer, but he is more than capable of making his mark at this level. Since his maiden win in April of last year, Almaqam has won a listed race over this course and then found Rosallion too hot to handle in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, finishing just over five lengths sixth on the day.
On his following outing, he bumped into Economics and then was unlucky in France, finding Jayarebe a head too good for him in a Group 2 at Longchamp. That was a career-best performance, and with race fitness now in his favour after running a more than satisfactory race over course and distance on his comeback last month, he should be primed for a big run here. He’s a danger to all.
Star rating: ⭐️⭐⭐️⭐️
🐎 Bet on Almaqam with SBK 🐎
🏇 9 Military Order (10)
- Age: 5
- Weight: 9st 2lb
- Form: /217-1
- Rating: 112
- Jockey: William Buick
- Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- Odds: 6/1
Military Order is the pick of William Buick from Godolphin’s three runners, and that has to hold some significance even with Ombudsman, the shorter of the three in the betting. Military Order comes in here on the back of a comfortable win after being off for over a year despite being very weak in the market.
For all that his best performances have come on the all-weather, he has more than enough form on turf to suggest that he can take a race of this nature, and given that he looked better than ever on his comeback, Military Order looks sure to play a big part in the finish here.
Star rating: ⭐️⭐⭐️⭐️⭐️
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🏇 5 Ancient Wisdom (5)
- Age: 4
- Weight: 9st 2lb
- Form: 813-72
- Rating: 114
- Jockey: James Doyle
- Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- Odds: 9/1
There’s not much separating Ancient Wisdom and Almaqam on their meeting in the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown last month, but with Almaqam having race fitness on his side, it’s hard to see Ancient Wisdom uphold that form. This former two-year-old Group 1 winner is not without an each-way chance but will likely find a few too good for him today.
Star rating: ⭐️⭐⭐️
🐎 Bet on Ancient Wisdom with bet365 🐎
🏇 8 Enfjaar (5)
- Age: 5
- Weight: 9st 2lb
- Form: 11252
- Rating: 109
- Jockey: Jim Crowley
- Trainer: Roger Varian
- Odds: 12/1
A fresh Enfjaar may be the time to catch this Roger Varian-trained gelding. The only time he hasn’t won on the back of a break was when disappointing as the favourite for a 0-105 handicap at Haydock back in 2023. Besides that, Enfjaar has won three times when fresh.
Persica got the better of him in the Listed Doonside Cup at Ary last season, but he meets that rival on better terms today, and given his record when fresh, Enjaar has every chance of reversing that form. He may not be good enough to win, but he could give them something to think about at the finish.
Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
🐎 Bet on Enfjaar with Paddy Power 🐎
🏇 6 Bolster (2)
- Age: 5
- Weight: 9st 2lb
- Form: 7211-4
- Rating: 111
- Jockey: Pierre-Louis Jamin
- Trainer: Karl Burke
- Odds: 14/1
Bolster took his form to a new level when getting back up when headed inside the final furlong in a Listed race at Newmarket on his final start of last season.
He was no match for The Foxes on his comeback at Chester at the beginning of the month, but he is entitled to come on for that run, and if so, he can put up a brave showing from the front. He could be hard to pass if he gets loose on the lead. He’s a lively outsider.
Star rating: ⭐️⭐⭐️
🐎 Bet on Bolster with Ladbrokes 🐎
🏇2 Persica (8)
- Age: 4
- Weight: 9st 5lb
- Form: 18-318
- Rating: 112
- Jockey: Sean Levey
- Trainer: Richard Hannon
- Odds: 16/1
Having to give 3lb to all bar one of his rivals, this on paper looks like a tough assignment for the only course and distance winner in the lineup. He has gotten the better of Enfjaar in the past, but he meets that rival on worse terms for a half-length win, which in theory should see Enfjarr finish ahead of him today, but as we know, that is not always the case.
When last seen, Persica was finishing last of eight in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, but he will not have to face anything of that calibre here. Even so, he needs to leave that run behind and bounce right back to the form that saw him make a winning return at this level at Newmarket. The weight concession doesn’t help his cause, but he is a big price for what he has achieved.
Star rating: ⭐️⭐⭐️
🐎 Bet on Persica with Tote 🐎
🏇7 Cicero’s Gift (9)
- Age: 5
- Weight: 9st 2lb
- Form: 7487-3
- Rating: 110
- Jockey: Jason Watson
- Trainer: Charles Hills
- Odds: 20/1
Cicero’s Gift started last season looking as if he was going to have a fruitful campaign, but he failed to kick on after his win at this track. He returned this season having undergone wind surgery, and it seemed to have had the desired effect when he ran on strongly in the closing stages to grab third place, over one mile behind the now Group 1 placed Dancing Gemini.
On the back of that run, today’s step up in trip is well worth exploring. Now that he knows he can breathe with no issues, we may be about to see an improved performance from Cicero’s Gift today.
Star rating: ⭐️⭐⭐️
🐎 Bet on Cicero’s Gift with Betfred 🐎
🏇10 Phantom Flight (9)
- Age: 6
- Weight: 9st 2lb
- Form: -11246
- Rating: 112
- Jockey: Callum Shepherd
- Trainer: George Scott
- Odds: 33/1
Phantom Flight has his own way of doing things, but when he is on a going day, he can be very good. He showed the good side of him last season when getting the better of the classy Al Aasy at Newbury, and backed that win up with a close defeat to the same rival, and then found the progressive See The Fire too good for him at York in a Group 3.
He bounced right back to form after a break, winning his first two starts in Bahrain, and also ran well in his final two starts there. On his return to the UK, Phantom Flight ran like he who would come on for his run, and with the guaranteed pace in the race, this could set up for a closer like him. You will know your faith early on with Phantom Flight, but if he settles and travels away, he has the class to cause an upset.
Star rating: ⭐️⭐⭐️
🐎 Bet on Phantom Flight with SBK 🐎
🏇3 Aafoor (6)
- Age: 4
- Weight: 9st 2lb
- Form: 24-115
- Rating: 107
- Jockey: Szczepan Mazur
- Trainer: M Al Attiya
- Odds: 66/1
Having had one run for Joseph O’Brien in Ireland, Aafoor was quickly on his way to the Middle East to start the next chapter in his career. Aafoor has won four races in his new homeland, but he also made his way back to the UK for three races last season, where he was sent off at 66/1, 100/1, and 8/1.
He was well beaten on his first two runs in the UK, but put up a much better display at a lower level at Newmarket. Now connections are once again returning for a crack at UK glory, but if they want to win a race in the UK, they need to run him in a much less competitive race than this. He is not up to this level.
Star rating: ⭐️
🐎 Bet on Aafoor with talkSPORT BET 🐎
Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes verdict
The unbeaten Ombudsman is the most interesting runner in the field, but he will need to hit the ground running here to make a winning start to the season. There is no doubt that he can improve even further this season, but a chance is taken that MILITARY ORDER can bring his classy all-weather form to the turf.
He has always promised to be better than this level on turf, and if he comes forward for his comeback win, he will be bang there at the finish, and at worst, he will place.
About the author
Andrew Halligan
My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube’s The Finishing Line Podcast. Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you’re a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.
You can follow Andrew on X (@Halligan88).
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