Group Two bet365 Mile Guide 2023

113-rated sprinter who came second in this race last year, finishing a neck behind 17/2 winner Lights On but ahead of 7/4fav Alcohol Free.

The five-year-old has since been in decent form, winning last time out at Newmarket in group two contest over 1m as well as second at Ascot in group two back in July last year. He probably has the second best run of form on his side in this contest and he usually goes well fresh.

Jim Crowley is booked to ride and the five-year-old should be there or thereabouts at the end with a chance winning back-to-back races for the second time in his career.

Oisin Murphy rides market outsider Imperial Fighter in this year’s renewal of the bet365 Mile at Sandown for Andrew Balding, with the four-year-old having a somewhat disappointing season last year after early promise in 2021. The gelding finished third on his first two runs in 2022 at Newcastle and Curragh in Listed Burradon Stakes and Irish 2000 Guineas respectably but was 13th in group one at Chantilly and last of six in Listed Doncaster Mile on reappearance this year.

The four-year-old is difficult to back here on that form and others are very much preferred to win this race.

David Simcock sends four-year-old Light Infantry to the bet365 Mile after the colt has had 257 days off the track since his last run, running multiple group one winner Inspiral very close to finish second in the Group One Prix Jacques le Marois. Apart from winning the Group Three Horris Hll Stakes at Newbury in 2021, he hasn’t managed to claim victory at this sort of level.

He finished ninth on his only group one outing in Britain, in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket but a couple of good runs in France at this level and higher have him down as the market favourite for this contest. The one to beat.

William Knight has one in the bet365 Mile with four-year-old Checkandchallenge. The colt has made an indifferent start to life on the flat, winning his first two starts which includes the Listed Burradon Stakes at Newcastle before finishing 14th in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Has since been inconsistent and struggled to challenge at the higher levels but did land Group Three Prix Daphnis Stakes at Deauville back in August last year. Decent fourth in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot last time out provides some encouragement ahead of his seasonal reappearance here. Considered.

Champion 2yo in 2021 winning four straight races including the Group One National Stakes at the Curragh and then at Newmarket in the Group One Dewhurst Stakes.

Native Trail last season started his season off by finishing second in the Guineas, followed by redemption in the Irish 2000.

He then went straight to the Eclipse where he was involved in a tight knit finish with Vadeni, Mishriff and Lord North when finishing third, but he ended his season with a below par run when only fifth of six runners in the Group One Juddmonte International at York.

Back this season and given plenty of time since that run, he has every chance of bouncing back into the horse he once was.