15:00 Sandown

Friday 26 April 2024

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

bet365 Mile (Group 2)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 1m 45.17s

(2)

Poker Face^p1¹⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: James Doyle| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 116| D

9/2

Smart performer who won listed race at Pontefract, Prix Quincey at Deauville and Prix Daniel Wildenstein at Longchamp last year. Found just one too strong in Group 2 at Milan (8f, soft) when last seen in November and makes seasonal return sporting first-time headgear.

Form: 021112-

(6)

Charyn³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: S De Sousa| T: R Varian| OR: 114| D

9/4

Very smart performer who proved better than ever returning from 7 months off when bolting up in listed race at Doncaster (8f, heavy) last month, able to find cover from a strong headwind but clearly the best at the weights anyhow. Every chance of following up with a repeat.

Form: 43833-1

(5)

Lord North²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: W Buick| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 118| D

10/3

Came up short bidding for a fourth successive win in Dubai Turf at Meydan (9f, good) last month. He may be an 8-y-o now but remains a very smart performer and shouldn't be far away with William Buick on board for the first time.

Form: 54/11-28

(1)

Nostrum²⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 114| BF| C| D

5/2

Won his first 2 starts as a juvenile and returned last season with success in listed race at Newmarket. Possibly unsuited by ground at Goodwood a month later and returned lame when last seen in Group 3 at York (8.8f, good to firm) 8 months ago. Yard had just the six runners in 2024 so far.

Form: 113/126-

(4)

Pogo²⁰⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: K Shoemark| T: C Hills| OR: 109| D

28/1

Smart performer whose best efforts in 2023 when in frame in Criterion Stakes at Newmarket and Prix de la Foret at Longchamp. Has gone well fresh before but is now an 8-y-o and it's likely he'll prove vulnerable to younger legs after 6 months off (also best up to 7f nowadays).

Form: 003904-

(7)

Witch Hunter^p²⁰⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 113

20/1

Really smart effort when coming from last to first in Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap) at Royal Ascot. Placed at listed level on next 2 outings, and back to winning ways in Group 2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury (7f) in August. Was amiss on final outing however, so others appeal more on return.

Form: 133410-

Non-Runners

(3)

Flight Plan²³⁰

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: K R Burke J: D Tudhope

Forecasts

Charyn (9/4), Nostrum (5/2), Lord North (10/3), Poker Face (9/2), Flight Plan (8/1), Witch Hunter (20/1), Pogo (28/1)

NOSTRUM has looked like a potential star at times in his short career to date, including when scoring on return as a 3-y-o, so Sir Michael Stoute's colt is fancied to repeat the feat at the expense of Lord North, who was unable to land a fourth successive victory in the Dubai Turf at Meydan last month but rates a major player with Buick on board for the first time. Charyn was impressive at Doncaster last month, so he's another who shouldn't be far away, too.