April 28 / 15.00 Sandown

15.00

Heavy

bet365 Mile (Group 2)

  • Prize money: £70887.5
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
ITV4
View Course
bet365 Mile (Group 2)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

Abandoned

Form: 23241- D

Last run: 217 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Bit frustrating on occasions but took well to first-time blinkers at Newmarket (1m, good; Group 2) when last seen, making all; headgear retained today; has won on soft/heavy; close second (shade unlucky) in this contest 12 months ago and should go well again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(2)

29th Sep 2023

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Mutasaabeq

9st 9lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Charles Hills

Made all in this last year (good) and did likewise on reappearance in another C&D Group 2 in May (good); below par at Royal Ascot and York the last twice and carries a 3lb penalty today, but five runs on the Rowley Mile have yielded four wins and he could bounce back to his best now returned here.

7/2

7th

5

(7)

26th Aug 2023

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 York

Mutasaabeq

9st 8lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: Charles Hills

Does most of his racing at 1m and made all in small fields for Newmarket Group 2s last autumn and this spring; has found the higher grade of the Lockinge at Newbury and Queen Anne at Royal Ascot beyond him since; now drops back in distance; enough to prove.

8/1

11th

8

(10)

20th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Ascot

Mutasaabeq

9st 2lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Charles Hills

took keen hold, towards rear

14/1

Form: 395-26 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Productive 2yo campaign ended with a couple of French Group 1 wins; mixed results since and disappointing back on optimal ground in France most recently (4-4 on softer than good previously).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(1)

21st Oct 2023

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Angel Bleu

9st 6lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

in touch with leaders, lost position 4f out, weakened from over 2f out

25/1

1st

2

(3)

26th Aug 2023

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Goodwood

Angel Bleu

9st 6lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

midfield, waiting for room over 2f out, ridden and switched left against near rail 1f out, headway final furlong, ran on well to lead towards finish

10/1

4th

3

(4)

15th Jul 2023

Good To Firm

0m 7f 213y

Class 1

14:20 Ascot

Angel Bleu

9st 3lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Added to his good record on softer than good when resuming winning ways in 7f Haydock Listed race last month; shaped better than the result after meeting trouble when seventh of 12 in the Queen Anne over the straight 1m here (good) at the Royal meeting; big run on the cards if the ground eases.

9/2

Form: 27134- D

Last run: 195 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Good second in useful C&D handicap on Eclipse day last year; bagged Group 3 honours in France in August and ran creditably in the QEII at Ascot (good to soft) on final outing; may have more to offer this season; one for the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(10)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Newbury

Checkandchallenge

9st 11lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: William Knight

7yo who's spent the vast majority of his career in Group or Listed races and this time last year he was fifth on this card in the Group 1 Lockinge; only his second handicap when, like so many others, he met traffic problems in the Spring Cup over C&D (28-1) four weeks ago; Rossa Ryan gets back on board and they are not totally dismissed.

20/1

10th

1

(23)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:10 Newbury

Checkandchallenge

9st 12lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: William Knight

Pretty consistent in Listed/Group races in 2025 without performing to his very best; losing sequence now stands at 18 and he reappears after seven months off in his first handicap since July 2022; cheekpieces left off and others preferred.

25/1

9th

3

(6)

24th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:35 Goodwood

Checkandchallenge

9st 4lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: William Knight

Retains plenty of ability and finished nicely for respectable effort in 1m Group 3 at Haydock most recently; going back up in trip looks a positive but his long losing sequence remains a negative.

20/1

Form: /330-6 BF

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Gelded prior to poor effort on heavy ground at Doncaster on reappearance; 0-7 since debut success but ran well in the Irish 2,000 Guineas last season and could bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

11

(8)

26th May 2026

Standard

1m 0f 0y

17:07 Dundalk (AW)

Imperial Fighter

9st 1lb

J: Luke McAteer

T: Patrick J McKenna

Well exposed but won on Tapeta at Wolverhampton last year; second to a subsequent improver over C&D in January; poor form since.

33/1

8th

3

(6)

23rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 0y

18:45 Dundalk (AW)

Imperial Fighter

9st 12lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: Patrick J McKenna

Two minor wins on Flat in Britain; failed to build on C&D second in January; best of six subsequent runs when fourth in C&D claimer; well beaten here (7f) on latest; new headgear is tried now.

25/1

9th

4

(13)

10th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 7f 0y

18:50 Dundalk (AW)

Imperial Fighter

10st 0lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: Patrick J McKenna

Two minor wins on the Flat in Britain; failed to build on a second placing over 1m here in January; best of four subsequent runs when fourth in a claimer; down the field over hurdles last time.

12/1

Form: /9226- BF

Last run: 181 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced and largely progressive colt; absent since his close sixth in valuable race in Australia six months ago; Group 1 form last summer when second in the Jean Prat and the Marois, both at Deauville (7f/1m, good to soft); 1-1 at Group 3 level (soft-ground win); leading contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(5)

9th Sep 2023

Good

1m 0f 37y

Class 1

13:50 Haydock

Light Infantry

9st 5lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: David Simcock

No win since his 2yo days but that doesn't really tell the story as he's regularly performed well at the very highest level, including when third to Inspiral in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville (1m) last month; raced only on good or softer so drying ground a slight concern but he's the one to beat on form with his sights lowered.

7/4

3rd

5

(2)

20th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Ascot

Light Infantry

9st 2lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: David Simcock

led, headed 2f out, lost second over 1f out

16/1

7th

6

(11)

20th May 2023

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newbury

Light Infantry

9st 2lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: David Simcock

Lightly raced colt; Newmarket reappearance (behind Mutasaabeq) didn't pan out ideally; this looks more suitable and he's 1-1 at Newbury (soft-ground Group 3 win as a 2yo); good second in two Group 1 races at Deauville (7f/1m, good to soft) last summer; capable of a big run.

10/1

Form: /284-1 C

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Defied top weight in the Lincoln on seasonal debut, producing a smart handicap performance and taking his record on heavy ground to 2-2; that form suggests he's well worth a crack at Group level; close second in the Esher Cup on this card in 2019; possibilities.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(11)

23rd Mar 2024

Heavy

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Doncaster

Migration

9st 13lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: David Menuisier

Ran four times last year and struggled on final three; however, he's run mighty races on his reappearances in each of the last two seasons, defying top weight in this contest 12 months ago (heavy); 4lb higher today; a major player if back to his best on this return to action; tongue-tie goes on.

12/1

18th

1

(11)

21st Oct 2023

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:25 Ascot

Migration

10st 1lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: David Menuisier

Didn't have the ideal passage in this race last October (good to soft; back from break) but he showed what could be done when making up a lot of late ground to win the Lincoln at Doncaster in April (heavy); up 6lb to career-high mark in first handicap since (absent since a Group 3 in May) but this type of race suits him so well, he may yet do even better.

8/1

1

(17)

21st Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Migration

10st 1lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: David Menuisier

Has bagged a few notable handicaps at 1m/1m2f, including this year's Lincoln on heavy ground; comfortably held in Newmarket Group 3 subsequently; returns to an ideal type of race but current mark presents a demanding task.

25/1

Abandoned

Form: 27714- CD

Last run: 217 days

W: 9st 0lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Fourth to Mutasaabeq at Newmarket on last appearance; best performance came over C&D (Group 3 win last August) and her connections won this race with a mare last year; something to prove on slow ground but otherwise interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(5)

7th Nov 2023

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 1

13:12 Lingfield (AW)

Potapova

9st 2lb

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Sir Michael Stoute

Won a Group 3 at Sandown (1m, good) in August last year and often there or thereabouts in Pattern company, as when just beaten in a Listed contest at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) last time; handles Polytrack, but she isn't the easiest and a couple of the others are more convincing.

7/2

2nd

6

(5)

29th Sep 2023

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Newmarket

Potapova

9st 4lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: Sir Michael Stoute

led, headed and prominent after 1f, led again 2f out, headed over 1f out, rallied and briefly led final 110yds, just held

11/2

Verdict

Lightly raced LIGHT INFANTRY (nap) has a good chance on the figures and is taken to regain the winning thread. Checkandchallenge, who may be capable of further progress this season, is second choice ahead of Mutasaabeq who ran well in this race 12 months ago.[Steve Boow]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Light Infantry

POSTDATA:

Angel Bleu

The Guardian:

Migration

LAMBOURN:

Mutasaabeq

NEWMARKET:

Potapova

RP Ratings:

Light Infantry

TOPSPEED:

Light Infantry

Daily Mail:

Light Infantry

D Express:

Light Infantry

Daily Mirror:

Light Infantry

The Sun:

Light Infantry

Daily Record:

Light Infantry

The Times:

Angel Bleu

Telegraph:

Angel Bleu

The Star:

Migration