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/ Timeform / 24 May 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Last year's Derby winner Workforce reappears at Sandown on Thursday
"if Workforce manages to run anywhere near his Timeform master rating of 133, he will be hard to beat."
Sir Michael Stoute's 2010 Derby and Arc hero Workforce is set to return at Sandown on Thursday, but will he have it all his own way as he attempts to concede weight all round?...
In recent years Sir Michael Stoute has used the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard at Sandown as a stepping stone to kick-start his middle-distance superstar's seasons. He last took the race five years ago with Notnowcato, and in 2009 Conduit came into the race conceding weight all-round after winning the Breeders' Cup Turf, though the latter, who went on to secure a repeat win in America, could manage only second at Sandown, going down by a nose to Cima de Triomphe.
Last season's Derby and Arc hero Workforce is this year's representative for Stoute, and if he manages to run anywhere near his Timeform master rating of 133, he will be hard to beat. Being the only Group 1 winner in the field he does have to concede 7 lb, but nonetheless his rivals still have 5 lb to find on Timeform figures.
The Brigadier Gerard at Sandown is run over a mile and a quarter, which shouldn't be a problem for Workforce who is dropping in trip, as even if they do go steadily he has the gears to get himself out of trouble, as he showed in the Arc.
Workforce's performances at Epsom and Longchamp were arguably two of the best any racehorse produced in the world last year, breaking the track record at the former, but his flop in the King George at Ascot in between shows that he's not bomb-proof.
Two of Workforce's nearest rivals on ratings are Sri Putra and Cavalryman, though both have question marks over them, the former beaten at Lingfield last time when odds-on in a three-runner field and the latter probably better over a longer trip.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained Jan Vermeer looks one of the only other runners who could possibly trouble the likely market leader. He was sent off favourite in last year's Derby but his stamina was stretched and it resulted in him being well beaten by Workforce. The drop in trip should help Jan Vermeer get nearer to his old rival and the form of the stable is clearly a positive.
The other notable contender is Elusive Pimpernel, who made an encouraging return when third in the Earl of Sefton at Newmarket. That was his first outing since fifth in the previous year's 2000 Guineas and the step up in trip is expected to bring something more out of him.
A competitive one-mile handicap looks one of the best races at Ripon today......
Three bets for Tuesday's US action......
Today's placepot comes from Ripon......
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