Sandown Mile For Belardo, Toormore & Barchan

Time/Date - 14.55hrs local time/Friday, April 22, 2016
Racecourse/Country - Sandown Park/UK
Surface/Distance - Turf/1m

Former champion two-year-olds Belardo and Toormore spearhead a strong Godolphin challenge in the G2 bet365 Mile at Sandown Park, UK, on Friday, April 22.

Belardo (Roger Varian/James Doyle) was crowned Europe's top juvenile in 2014 following victory in the G1 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes and ended 2015 with a fine second to Solow in the mile G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Sponsored by QIPCO at Ascot in October.

The four-year-old made a winning start to this campaign at Doncaster on April 2 when easily scoring on soft ground in the Listed Betway Doncaster Mile.

Toormore (Richard Hannon/William Buick), who was champion two-year-old in 2013, gained two G2 victories last year, in the seven-furlong Qatar Lennox Stakes at Goodwood in July and the International Topkapi Trophy over a mile at Veliefendi, Turkey, in September.

The five-year-old was beaten a neck by Night Of Thunder in the mile G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes in May and makes his first start since coming home 11th in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin in December.

Four-year-old Barchan (Roger Varian/Andrea Atzeni), a decisive winner of a Tapeta handicap over seven furlongs at Wolverhampton in December, also lines up for Godolphin in the seven-strong field.

Roger Varian commented: "Belardo is in great form. I have been more than happy with him since Doncaster and it looks like he will get conditions to suit him at Sandown.

"He didn't have a hard race at Doncaster and can only have come on for it. It was a nice start to the season and hopefully he can continue it on Friday.

"This is a better contest but he probably brings the best form to the table, with his two-year-old form and his second to Solow in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

"Barchan is likely to be ridden prominently. He is a good horse in his own right and is there on merit. If he can run a big race, we would be delighted."

Richard Hannon said: "Toormore is in good form. He switches on when he comes to the racecourse.

"He is likely to need the race badly and this is his prep for the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury (G1, Newbury, May 14)."