John Gosden accepts the trophy after Western Hymn’s win at Sandown in April.

By Simon Jackson.

Western Hymn, sixth to Australia in the 2014 Investec Derby, is one of 14 entries for the £65,000 Group 3 Cantor Fitzgerald Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown Park on Thursday.

The John-Gosden-trained four-year-old bids for back to back wins at the Esher racecourse after his impressive win on his comeback in the Group 3 bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes on April 24.

The victory followed a successful three-year-old campaign where six runs in 2014 secured three wins including the Group 3 bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown and the Group 2 Prix Eugene Adam (Grand Prix De Maisons-Laffitte) at Maisons-Laffitte.

The son of High Chaparral was fourth in the Qipco Champion Stakes when last seen out on Champions Day in October and Gosden was pleased with the manner of his victory at Sandown last month.

“It was a good effort. He likes it here and has come here today and shown his class,” Gosden said at Sandown of his charge who is entered in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes and Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“He is a nice character. It is good to have him back,” he added.

Thursday’s card also includes the £65,000 Group 3 Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Trusts Henry II Stakes and a brace of Listed contests.

“We are delighted with the quality of the entries for both the Henry II Stakes and the Brigadier Gerard,  Andrew Cooper, Head of Racing and Clerk of the Course, Sandown Park Racecourse, said.

“The Cantor Fitzgerald Brigadier Gerard Evening remains the most valuable evening racing staged in the UK which is reflected in the calibre of the horses entered and it looks like it will be a competitive evening of racing.”

Read ‘Horse Talk with Simon Jackson’ at London24 for the latest horse racing news.