April 26 / 15.00 Sandown

15.00

Good

bet365 Mile (Group 2)

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

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

5/2 (Won)

Form: 3833-1 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Acts on soft going; ran respectably in some top races won by Paddington last season; readily justified favouritism in the Doncaster Mile (Listed) on reappearance, recording an RPR that makes him an above-average winner of that race; looks set for a productive 4yo campaign and warrants respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(8)

19th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:15 Ascot

Charyn

9st 6lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Roger Varian

Won with something to spare in the Queen Anne over C&D (good to firm) in June and did likewise in another Group 1 at Deauville in August (1m, good; Prix Jacques le Marois); runner-up in Group 1 Prix du Moulin at Longchamp (1m, soft) last month behind one given an enterprising ride; leading claims.

13/8

1st

5

(9)

18th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:30 Ascot

Charyn

9st 2lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Roger Varian

in touch with leaders, good headway from over 3f out, pushed along to lead under 2f out, ridden and edged left inside final furlong, kept on well, readily

3/1

2nd

3

(6)

18th May 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newbury

Charyn

9st 2lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Roger Varian

Acts on soft; ran respectably in top 1m races won by Paddington last season; 2-2 this term, readily winning the Doncaster Mile (Listed) then coming with a late surge to beat Poker Face in the bet365 Mile at Sandown (Group 2); better than ever as a 4yo and may well improve further; major player.

9/2

Form: 21112- D BF

Last run: 166 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Has won on good ground but raced mainly on softer; beat Flight Plan on worse terms at Pontefract (1m Listed) last July then won a couple of French Group races; below-par favourite in Italy on final outing but generally progressive otherwise and remains of interest; headgear applied.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(8)

4th Dec 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

19:10 Kempton (AW)

Poker Face

9st 6lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

in rear

9/2

1st

4

(8)

4th Dec 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

19:10 Kempton (AW)

Poker Face

9st 6lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

in rear

9/2

12th

5

(7)

19th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:15 Ascot

Poker Face

9st 6lb

J: James Doyle

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Won a Group 3 and Group 2 in France last season (1m, soft/good to soft); this prominent-racer has run well in defeat in 1m Group 2 races on his last three starts (soft/good) but needs something extra today.

66/1

Form: /11-28 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Four-time Group 1 scorer at 1m1f/1m2f; only midfield at Meydan last month when bidding for a fourth success in the Dubai Turf, albeit things didn't pan out perfectly; still needs to show he retains every ounce of ability aged eight but sets a high standard on his best figures.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

(5)

19th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

16:25 Ascot

Lord North

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

Won this race in 2020 and gained further Group 1 wins in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Dubai Turf; only midfield in this year's edition of that 1m1f race at Meydan but he was a close third in Group 2 at Sandown (1m) on latest outing; this step back up in trip will surely suit but, as an 8yo, he's probably no longer at the level required to win this.

25/1

3rd

4

(5)

26th Apr 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Lord North

9st 3lb

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

Four-time Group 1 scorer at 1m1f/1m2f; only midfield at Meydan last month when bidding for a fourth success in the Dubai Turf, albeit things didn't pan out perfectly; still needs to show he retains every ounce of ability aged eight but sets a high standard on his best figures.

3/1

33/1

Form: 03904- D

Last run: 208 days

W: 9st 3lb

8 yo Horse

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
1m scorer earlier in career but has gained all Group wins over 7f; failed to hit the target last term and, while he ran respectably in the Foret on final start, doesn't appear to be crying out for this step back up in distance; opposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

3

(1)

11th Oct 2024

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Pogo

9st 5lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Charles Hills

prominent towards far side

33/1

8th

3

(2)

14th Sep 2024

Good

0m 7f 6y

Class 1

15:00 Doncaster

Pogo

9st 6lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Charles Hills

8yo who ran creditably in the frame in 7f Group 3s at Haydock and Newmarket in June but was below par when fifth (2l behind Kinross) in the Lennox at Goodwood last time; fully exposed and would be a surprise winner.

25/1

5th

6

(3)

30th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Goodwood

Pogo

9st 6lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Charles Hills

Front-runner who was a short head behind Kinross when third in this race two years ago; his enthusiasm appears to remain intact at the age of eight, but his losing run is up to 12 and he finished just over 2l behind Noble Dynasty when fourth of five in a Group 3 on the Newmarket July Course last month; unlikely to gain an uncontested lead here and has a bit to find in any case.

25/1

25/1

Form: 33410-

Last run: 209 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Similar type to Pogo, being best known as a 7f performer; successful in Royal Ascot handicap and Newbury Group 2 over that distance last term; below best in races won by Poker Face on last two attempts at 1m; not the percentage call.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

2

(14)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 14y

Class 2

13:40 Newcastle (AW)

Witch Hunter

9st 7lb

J: John Fahy

T: Richard Hannon

Now 5lb lower than for his 1m win here in January and there have been excuses for several of his defeats since; plausible outsider.

20/1

19th

30

(3)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Witch Hunter

9st 0lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Richard Hannon

Defied a 5lb higher mark in the 7f handicap at this meeting three years ago and scored over 1m on AW in January; has lost his form, most recently finishing last in the Newbury event won by Classic; further Royal Ascot glory looks unlikely.

50/1

Form: 3/126- C BF

Last run: 244 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Placed in the Dewhurst as a 2yo then won well at Newmarket (1m Listed) on 3yo reappearance; had excuses for short-priced defeats at Glorious Goodwood (soft ground) and York Ebor festival (finished lame) subsequently; still lightly raced and could well resume his progress; significant player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

12

(3)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

15:25 Newmarket (July)

Nostrum

8st 13lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Michael Appleby

Broadly disappointing since proving smart in his early days; form for new yard includes a couple of encouraging efforts but he dropped away rather tamely over C&D (race won by Dark Tornado) last time.

20/1

8th

8

(7)

25th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

12:45 Newmarket (July)

Nostrum

9st 3lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

Finished third in the 2022 Dewhurst; getting on for three years since his last win but he ran well for second at Sandown (1m, good) on his penultimate start; front-running fifth of 15 at Newbury two week ago; new cheekpieces need to spark something extra.

12/1

Non-runners

Flight Plan

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £11.87

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Charyn

TOPSPEED:

Nostrum

RP RATINGS:

Lord North

LAMBOURN:

Pogo

Telegraph:

Nostrum

The Guardian:

Nostrum

The Times:

Charyn

D Express:

Charyn

Daily Mirror:

Charyn

The Sun:

Charyn

The Star:

Charyn

Daily Record:

Charyn

POSTDATA:

Lord North

Daily Mail:

Pogo