bet365 Mile (Group 2)

Off time: 13:51 | Winning time: 1m 37.18s

(1)

Mutasaabeq^b²²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Hills| OR: 113| CD

4/1

Smart colt who was narrowly denied in this race (at Sandown) last year. Reacted well to blinkers (retained) when landing Group 2 Joel Stakes over C&D on his final start of 2022. Goes well fresh but he will likely require a career best to defy his penalty.

Form: 123241-

(5)

Checkandchallenge²⁰²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: W J Knight| OR: 112| D

11/1

Smart colt. Won a 1m Group 3 at Deauville last summer. Good 2½ lengths fourth of 9 to Bayside Boy in Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot (1m, good to soft) on final 3-y-o start. Has gone well fresh before.

Form: 027134-

(2)

Imperial Fighter³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 109| BF

22/1

Third in last year's Irish 2000 Guineas but down the field in the French Derby a fortnight later and not seen again at 3. Disappointing so far this year.

Form: 25/330-6

(3)

Light Infantry²⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: J P Spencer| T: D M Simcock| OR: 120

5/1

Runner-up twice a Group 1 level in France last summer, including pushing Inspiral close in the Prix Jacques le Marois over this trip. Better than result in very valuable conditions race in Australia on final start. Should go well on reappearance.

Form: 11/922-

(4)

Native Trail²⁶¹

8/11

3-y-o campaign ended on a low note in the International at York but he showed high-class form prior to that, second in 2000 Guineas over C&D before winning the Irish version (also good close third in Eclipse). Has had wind surgery. The one to beat.

Form: 1/12135-

Forecasts

Native Trail (8/11), Mutasaabeq (4/1), Light Infantry (5/1), Checkandchallenge (11/1), Imperial Fighter (22/1)

NATIVE TRAIL escapes a penalty for his Irish 2000 Guineas win last year and should be hard to beat on his return from wind surgery (goes well fresh). Light Infantry can give him most to do ahead of Joel Stakes winner Mutasaabeq.