Group Three Gordon Richards Stakes Sandown Guide 2023

Sir Michael Stoute has one in the Gordon Richards Stakes, with eight-year-old Regal Reality making his first appearance in this contest. Is a C&D winner, having tasted success in the Group Three Brigadier Gerard Stakes back in 2019 but has been inconsistent since, winning just twice since that victory.

The eight-year-old won a group three at Windsor last campaign, a neck ahead of Grocer Jack but in this company, generally struggled to make a real impact last term despite second to Passion And Glory in listed event here in July. Trainer has a good record in this but it would be a surprise to see him claim victory against a good favourite and we saw Anmaat in good form last term.

Charlie Appleby sends two runners to the Gordon Richards Stakes in the form of Adayar and Highland Avenue. The latter arrives here as the market outsider for the four-runner contest after 419 days off the track. We saw him win three races in 2021, with two at Kempton followed by a win at Newmarket in the Listed Feilden Stakes over 1m 1f and since finishing second in listed event here in May 2021, we haven’t seen him trouble the leaders at the likes of Royal Ascot and Meydan.

Difficult to predict his chances after so long away from the track and this is a tough ask for him back in grouped company on reappearance.

Charlie Appleby sends two to the Gordon Richards Stakes, with Highland Avenue and market leader Adayar. The latter arrives here as the current 4/7fav, after 195 days off the track. The five-year-old finished second on his last outing, half a length behind Bay Bridge in the Group One Champion Stakes at Royal Ascot, ahead of the likes of My Prospero and the legendary Baaeed, who recorded his only defeat of his career.

If Adayar is on song, he probably wins this contest considering his experience at group one level. Boasts multiple wins at a higher level than this and is the one to beat. William Buick takes the ride.

Owen Burrows’ five-year-old Anmaat makes his first appearance of the season and it has been 209 days since we last saw him. He had three runs in 2022, winning all of them at York, Haydock and ParisLongchamp. That French success came in the Group Two Qatar Prix Dollar over 1m 1f and he also claimed British grouped success in Group Three Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock last August, beating Grocer Jack by four lengths in an impressive victory.

Has to be respected when considering his record on the flat (six wins from ten runs), but an in-form Adayar may be hard to stop here. He has a real chance of making it four wins in a row, however.