Horse racing tips for Sandown's Brigadier Gerard meeting on Thursday

The Ratings Choice

Enemy - 19:12 Sandown

Enemy was below his best when only fifth of six in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester a couple of weeks ago, but he was unsuited by how that race developed - more emphasis was placed on speed than stamina - and he is better judged on previous efforts.

Enemy failed to land a blow in the Dubai Gold Cup on his penultimate outing, but had run up to his best in handicaps on his two previous starts, winning at Meydan and finishing runner-up in a hugely valuable event at King Abdulaziz racecourse.

The form he showed there was of a similar level to the pick of his efforts in Britain last season, namely a comprehensive success in a Musselburgh handicap and a close-up third in the Sagaro Stakes. He heads Timeform's weight-adjusted ratings by at least 5 lb here and has an obvious chance on these terms.

The Big Improver

Yaanaas - 20:12 Sandown

Yaanaas, a 320,000 guineas purchase as a yearling, boasts an excellent pedigree being out of a sister to the top-class Almanzor and he has made a really promising start to his career.

He won his first couple of outings on the all-weather, landing a maiden at Newcastle before beating Quantico in a much better novice at Kempton, and he shaped well despite losing his unbeaten record on his handicap debut at Ascot a few weeks ago.

Yaanaas had to settle for second at Ascot but he travelled for a long way like a horse ahead of his mark and he ought to be a bit more streetwise with that experience under his belt. There is more to come from this well-bred and lightly-raced four-year-old.

The Timeform Flag

Blue Storm - 18:42 Sandown

Flags: Horse In Focus, Hot Trainer, Top-Rated

There are a host of exciting, unbeaten two-year-olds in a fascinating edition of the National Stakes but Blue Storm makes greatest appeal.

The form of his debut win at Newmarket could hardly have worked out better as the second, third, fourth and fifth have all won next time.

Blue Storm, a son of Blue Point out of a listed winner, scored in ready fashion at Newmarket, where he showed a nice turn of foot to scoot a length and a quarter clear in the style of a good prospect. That form is right up there with the best on offer, his trainer James Tate has his string in fine form and there should be more to come from Blue Storm.

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