Gethin can make winning start for Wathnan in Brigadier Gerard

Ombudsman was unable to give Almaqam 3lb in last year’s Star Sports Brigadier Gerard Stakes and this time around he could struggle with the concession of 7lb to Gethin at Sandown on Thursday.

While subsequent events have shown that giving weight to Almaqam was no mean feat, the fact the Owen Burrows-trained Gethin has just been bought by Wathnan Racing suggests they are of the belief he can reach similar heights.

So Ombudsman is going to need to be not far off his very best to concede 7lb – and with Royal Ascot on the horizon he has bigger fish to fry.

Gethin’s Classic season was interrupted by injury last year, as after easily beating the now Group One-placed Saddadd in April, he was not seen again until the back-end of the campaign when second in two Listed races.

He looked a different specimen when easily accounting for an at the time 112-rated rival on his reappearance at Kempton and that was despite not looking particularly at home around the sharp bend.

This track should suit him better and while he has not been given any Ascot entries yet, he is in the Eclipse over this course and distance. Burrows is no stranger to victory in this race, either, as he sent out Hukum to down Derby winner Desert Crown in 2023.

Ryan Moore was booked at the five-day stage for John and Thady Gosden’s Yazin who can continue his progression in the Star Sports Heron Stakes.

A winner of three of his four races, Moore was on top at Southwell in April when he comfortably beat Charlie Appleby’s promising Golden View.

This is a big step up in class but he should prove up to it if his St James’s Palace Stakes entry is anything but pie in the sky.

Adaay Of Scarlett can make it three out of three in the Star Sports National Stakes.

Very well backed ahead of making a sparkling winning debut at Newmarket, he then defied a penalty in a muddling three-runner race at Ascot.

He will be up against plenty of classy types by the time he gets to Royal Ascot, so connections will be keen to make hay while the sun shines.

Furthur ran well for a long way in the Yorkshire Cup and the 6lb he receives from Sweet William in the Star Sports Henry II Stakes could just tip the scales in his favour.

The race also sees the return of last year’s Derby second Lazy Griff but after so long off and on his first attempt over 3200m, he is best watched on this occasion.

Furthur actually ran in the Melbourne Cup in November and was not disgraced at all when 11th of 24.

Tim Easterby runs three in the Ripon Cathedral Handicap at the Garden Racecourse, including course specialist Garden Oasis.

However, stablemate Financer now looks well treated on a mark of 76, his lowest for two years.

The Gosdens’ Shiyam will have those who follow bloodlines watching closely as he is the first offspring of the champion miler Baaeed to make the track in the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes at Yarmouth.

As Baaeed was far from precocious himself, not running until the June of his three-year-old season, it is no surprise his runners are taking a bit more time than some but it is exciting nonetheless. – Press Association

TAB is betting on 5 UK meetings on Thursday. Here are the tips.

RIPON: Race 1: 15.05 Etonnante, Race 2: 15.35 Vega’s Virtue, Race 3: 16.07 North West Gal, Race 4: 16.40 Financer, Race 5: 17.10 Jet Warrior, Race 6: 17.45 Sir Edward Leer, Race 7: 18.20 Canaria Queen.

YARMOUTH: Race 1: 15.18 Pierian, Race 2: 15.48 Jakarta, Race 3: 16.23 Shiyam, Race 4: 16.53 Hengest, Race 5: 17.23 First Folio, Race 6: 18.00 El Fox.

WORCESTER: Race 1: 15.25 Auntie Maggie, Race 2: 15.55 Mt Fugi Park, Race 3: 16.30 King’s Scholar, Race 4: 17.00 Mexican Stan, Race 5: 17.30 Siam Park, Race 6: 18.05 Playful Fox.

SANDOWN: Race 1: 18.10 Akirra, Race 2: 18.42 Adaay Of Scarlett, Race 3: 19.12 Furthur, Race 4: 19.42 Yazin, Race 5: 20.12 GETHIN (NAP), Race 6: 20.45 Cogitate, Race 7: 21.20 The Joker.

MARKET RASEN: Race 1: 19.00 Aimeric, Race 2: 19.30 Play By The Rules, Race 3: 20.00 Lone Star, Race 4: 20.32 Jackstell, Race 5: 21.07 Catchim, Race 6: 21.42 Ruler Legend.

ALL TO COME: Adaay Of Scarlett and Gethin (Sandown, Races 2 and 5).