Sandown hosts a good flat card today with the Group Two Bet365 Mile the highlight.
The favourite Belardo is one of two ex-champion two-year-olds in the race, and he’s the only one to have had a domestic run this season.
He won that easily to confirm his return to form after a disappointing three-year-old season which ended on a high, chasing superstar miler Solow home at Ascot.
He’s got a big chance and deserves to lead the market.
The other past champ and the only other Group One winner in the field is Toormore for Richard Hannon, but, to quote his trainer, he’ll badly need the run and has to give weight away today.
Adaay runs for William Haggis but steps up in trip and hails from a yard whose horses often aren’t at their best first time out, though he does have the also-reappearing Breton Rock held on form.
Whilst the drying conditions will suit Dutch Connection, I don’t think his best form adds up to enough to trouble the favourite first time out.
GABRIAL is the one I like, with Ryan Moore on board.
He was third behind Belardo at Ascot in October so doesn’t have too much to find on form – and Moore is the likeliest of all to find it.
He too has had a run, but it was over at Meydan where he failed to feature in a hot Group One, and if he’s race fit as a result then he should have a decent chance today.
He’s 11/1 in places and I’d say that’s a nice price for an upset.
0.5pt win Gabrial @11/1, 14:55 Sandown
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