3 minute read
Workforce has been installed 5-6 favourite to beat eight rivals in the Piper Heidsieck Champagne Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on Thursday by Victor Chandler, but will have to overcome the poor record of favourites in the Group 3 race.
Last season's Investec Derby and Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner has not been seen since his Longchamp victory and faces a tough task on his seasonal reappearance, with only one favourite in the last ten years obliging.
However, supporters of the Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt will be buoyed by the fact that Notnowcato - trained by Stoute - was the last to buck the trend in 2006, winning at 5-4 - the same price Ladbrokes offer about Workforce taking the race.
Jan Vermeer, who started 9-4 favourite for last year's Derby but was 11 and a half lengths behind Workforce in fourth, runs for the first time in 316 days and is a 5-1 with Ladbrokes and 11-2 with Victor Chandler to gain his revenge.
Elusive Pimpernel continues on the comeback trail for John Dunlop and is 7-1 third favourite with Victor Chandler. He finished fifth in the 2,000 Guineas last year, but missed the rest of the season and returned to action in the Weatherbys Earl of Sefton Stakes last month.
"He suffered a problem after the Guineas which unfortunately held him up and he didn't run again," Dunlop said on Tuesday.
"He worked all through the spring and ran a very good race in the Earl of Sefton [finished third], he just got tired in the final furlong and this was the next step.
"It's a tough race with Workforce and Jan Vermeer, but he's done everything right in the last month. He hasn't gone a mile two furlongs yet - I think he will stay and it will be fascinating to find out."
Dunlop also saddles last year's winner Akmal in the Henry II Stakes on the same card.
"He ran at Newbury last time and ran very well," Dunlop added.
"The mile five there was too short and - as a front-runner - he's always vulnerable to anything that can come from behind. Sandown is a good track for front-runners and we thought we'd give it another go."
The going at Sandown is described as good, good to firm in places.
