OMBUDSMAN showed himself to be in fine form with a solid success in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on Thursday evening.

Not seen since winning in Dubai at the end of March, the five-year-old was sent off the odds-on favourite to go one place better in this race than he had last year (second to Almaqam) but he had to work hard to wear down the up-and-coming Gethin, trained by Owen Burrows and recently purchased by Wathnan Racing.

However, time may tell that Ombudsman did well to give the runner-up 5lb and a neck beating.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Ombudsman is now expected to meet the Arc winner Daryz in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.

John Gosden said: “He needed the race last year and honestly he hasn’t seen grass since Meydan, he’s trained entirely on all-weather, that’s how much we’ve had a drought and no rain at all.

“He’s gone through his girths there and is a bit of a pro now who just does what he has to.

“I thought it was a good performance giving 7lb and I thought the second ran a grand race. I’m very happy and that’s exactly what I expected.

“I’m delighted and he was coming here at 85 per cent. It was a trial for Royal Ascot and that puts him spot on, so I couldn’t be more pleased with him. He’s a very cool customer these days and isn’t too flashy and they get old and wise like boxers.

“I have certainly found the more they race the smarter they are about the way they race and don’t waste a lot of energy.”

Gosden also ruled out a step up in trip, and added: “I think it will be an exciting race with Daryz coming over and he looks a phenomenal horse and it will be a proper Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

“I think Ombudsman is a bigger, stronger horse than he was 12 months ago and I’m delighted with how he has matured. He was second in this race last year then got on a roll.

“I think the pace of the race is important to him and I don’t see any reason why he won’t continue to run well throughout the year.

“I don’t think a mile and half is in my circumference and I’m not mad to go up in trip with him. There are so many lovely races at a mile and a quarter which is a beautiful distance I think.

“I like Arcs and King Georges, but I’m not going to suddenly throw him in those sort of races and for me this is what racing is all about, proper older horses meeting over a mile and a quarter and to me that is blue riband stuff.”

Unlike Ombudsman, there will be no Royal Ascot for the Owen Burrows-trained runner-up Gethin, who having produced a career best in his first start in the colours of Wathnan Racing is poised to return to Sandown for the Eclipse in early July.

Burrows said: “He’s run a massive race and has taken his form to a massive high. We’re gutted to get beat and I know he was receiving 7lb and Ombudsman might not have been 100%, but not that many get that close to him.

“We’re thrilled with him and there was a moment you are hoping Ombudsman might have been a gallop short, but then we haven’t run for seven weeks either and the experience of running in a race like this, I’m sure he will take a step forward.

“His comeback wasn’t the greatest race in the world at Kempton, but he was impressive and that’s taken his form to another level.

“We’re not going to think about Ascot and let’s sit and watch that race and we might be back here for the Eclipse. I wouldn’t be afraid to come back for that.

“I’m adamant he will get further in time, but I’m happy to stick to 10 furlongs now. We don’t need to rush up in trip just yet.”

Henry II Stakes

Dubai Future served a reminder he is not short of class on his day with a 28/1 surprise in the Star Sports Henry II Stakes.

The Group 3 affair looked to revolve around 8/13 favourite Sweet William, as the Sagaro Stakes scorer sought to reclaim top spot in a race which he won two years ago.

Furthur took them along over the two miles, closely attended by Lazy Griff on his first start since finishing third in last year’s Irish Derby, having been runner-up to Lambourn at Epsom.

Keeping tabs was David Probert on the Saeed bin Suroor-trained runner, who would make an eyecatching move that saw him lead into the home straight, from where he really kicked inside the two-furlong marker to go clear.

Sweet William was bustled along to give chase, but the bird had flown, even though the ultimate margin was just a neck, while Lazy Griff came home with plenty of enthusiasm in third to suggest he has good things ahead of him.

Heron Stakes

Talk Of New York was the talk of Sandown with a sparkling display in the Star Sports Heron Stakes.

Surprisingly beaten first time out this year in Dubai, he put that record straight in a conditions race at the Newmarket Guineas meeting and took this step up to listed company very much in his stride.

The Charlie Appleby-trained winner’s stablemate Nation’s Hope ran too free for his own good in the early exchanges, tracked by Wise Prince, and as a result the runners were well strung out.

By the time they got to three out the field had closed right up and just as another Appleby representative, Time To Turn, got to the front, Talk Of New York (even-money favourite) rocketed into it under William Buick and powered clear from a furlong and a half out.

Appleby later indicated that the winner will take on Guineas winners Bow Echo, Gstaad and Rayif in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

National Stakes

Where Love Lives took his unbeaten record to two with a tremendously brave performance in the Star Sports National Stakes.

Right up with the pace set by 50/1 outsider Bill The Bull, the 7/2 chance had just about mastered Adam Kirby’s runner when Princesse d’Orange on one side and the well-fancied Adaay Of Scarlett on the other put down strong challenges.

The Kevin Ryan-trained colt was not for passing, however, and held on to score by half a length from Adaay Of Scarlett in the hands of Kevin Stott, with Princess d’Orange a further neck in arrears, the same distance ahead of the gallant Bill The Bull.

The winner was made a 20/1 shot for the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot and Stott believes five furlongs could prove the ideal distance to remain at for the youngster’s outing at the summer showpiece.

Stott said: “It just took him a bit time to get there and on this track with the road a furlong out it can find them out. I had to get him balanced and then he took a bump, so I had to get him balanced again, but he’s tough.

“He’s got bags of speed, but mainly he’s tough and genuine. He’s a bit of a boy but that’s him and I got him down to the start nice and relaxed. He jumped a bit left but he was quick into stride and I really like how he put his head down in the last furlong.”

He added: “I can’t see why you wouldn’t go to Royal Ascot, he’s won his maiden nicely and then gone and won this nicely. I think he’s still learning, he’s a big horse and Ascot will probably suit him.

“I think five furlongs at Ascot would suit, but I think he will probably get six in time. For now though, he has bags of speed and I think he will take another step forward from this.

“He has learned a lot from this mentally and I can’t see any reason not to go to Ascot with him now.”