Pipe team dream of Gerard glory

Connections of Pipedreamer are optimistic of a big run from the five-year-old in the Blue Square Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown.The John Gosden-trained entire made a pleasing reappearance when short-headed by Tartan Bearer over the course and distance last month, and it is the latter's stablemate, Conduit, who is likely to prove a major stumbling block in this Group Three contest."He's in cracking form, he showed a lot of speed in his last race and we're definitely happy with he way he has come out of it," said Chris Richardson, racing manager to owners the Cheveley Park Stud."Obviously we've got an interesting event and the favourite (Conduit) to beat, I suppose. All things considered - they've had a drop of rain - we're going there with a horse that's improved and a chance of running well."Last time we thought we'd nicked it. He's a really lovely horse to be around and takes all his work in his stride. It's an opportunity to see where we go before tackling the Royal meeting for maybe the Prince of Wales's Stakes."Making his seasonal debut is Campanologist, who lowered Conduit's colours in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot last year. Godolphin's charge was then fourth in the Coral-Eclipse over this course and distance and runner-up to Pipedreamer at York in July, but he has not run since."Campanologist has been working well and I have been happy with his build-up to this race," said trainer Saeed bin Suroor. "He is making his seasonal return and I think that he will come on for the run but he is ready to race."It will be a very tough renewal of the Brigadier Gerard and it looks more like a Group One than a Group Three contest, but Campanologist goes there in good order and I am hopeful that he will run a nice race on his first start of the year," he told www.godolphin.com. Allied Powers is taking a huge rise in class following his victory in a Listed handicap at Hamilton two weeks ago. However, trainer Michael Bell believes the progressive four-year-old deserves the chance to show if he is up to the task."We are really testing the water to see if the horse is up to Group class, but he is improving fast and is in good form," said the Newmarket handler.