27 April 2023 , 16:00
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LIGHT INFANTRY (3.00, Nb) can march his way back to winning form on his return to Britain at Sandown on Friday.
The lightly raced four-year-old had his last start in Australia during a short stay with Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, earning £94,000 for finishing sixth in the Golden Eagle.
Now back in Newmarket with David Simcock he seeks his first win in two years in the Group 2 bet365 Mile.
It represents a drop in class from last season in Europe where he ran in three Group 1 races, finishing ninth in the 2,000 Guineas, second in the Prix Jean Prat and second in the Prix Jacques Le Marois.
He has won on soft and should be hard to beat ahead of a return to top level prizes.
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The Mile is one of three Group races on the Sandown card, the first of which should see 2021 Derby winner ADAYAR (2.25) open his account for the year in the Gordon Richards Stakes.
He ran only twice last year but looked as good as ever when going down by half a length to Bay Bridge in the Champion Stakes.
Adayar finished second in the bet35 Classic Trial two years ago. Flying Honours represents the Godolphin stable but ARREST (3.35) showed he could handle heavy ground when beaten a head in France last year.
Adayar winning the 2021 Cazoo Derby at Epsom (Getty)He went down by a head to Dubai Mile and the son of Frankel, a 20-1 chance for the Derby, looks a stayer in the making.
LOCAL DYNASTY (1.50) can kick off the afternoon for Charlie Appleby and William Buick by landing the Esher Cup.
Perth’s feature is the BetVictor Highland National in which top weight INNISFREE LAD (2.05, NAP) should show his appreciation of the extreme distance.
He won easily off the same mark at Hexham in February and ran well again to finish second over 3m7f at Wetherby next time. He seemed to find three and three and half miles not long enough on his two latest starts.
GINGER MAIL (1.30) can end a run of near-misses in the opener in first time cheek-pieces.
FRIDAY SELECTIONS
SANDOWN
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1.15 KUWAIT CITY
1.50 LOCAL DYNASTY
2.25 ADAYAR
3.00 LIGHT INFANTRY (NB)
3.35 ARREST
4.10 INFINITE COSMOS
4.40 MAASAI MARA
PERTH
1.30 GINGER MAIL
2.05 INNISFREE LAD (NAP)
2.40 CHARLES ST
3.15 READYSTEADYBEAU
3.50 SAINT ARVANS
4.25 CHUMLEE
5.00 SANOSUKE
5.30 EL ELEFANTE
PUNCHESTOWN
3.40 FR GILLIGANSVOYGE
4.15 SO SCOTTISH
4.50 INSTIT
5.25 STATE MAN
6.00 IMPAIRE ET PASSE
6.35 ANNAMIX
7.10 SA MAJESTE
7.45 LECKY WATSON
CHEPSTOW
4.45 FORTUNA LIGNA
5.20 KINGSMILL GIN
5.50 HUNTERS SONG
6.25 NOTHIN TO ASK
7.00 SOUL ICON
7.35 FIRST PREFERENCE
8.10 EQUINUS
DONCASTER
1.40 HOOTS TOOTS
2.15 UNITED APPROACH
2.50 ROYAL DRESS
3.25 BILL SILVERS
4.00 OUTRACE
4.30 MY LITTLE QUEENS
5.05 QUERCUS ROBUR
5.35 ANNIE LAW
SOUTHWELL
4.35 MIDNIGHT MARY
5.10 JOLY MAKER
5.40 SUNDAY SOLDIER
6.15 SWAPPED
6.50 THANKSFORTHEHELP
7.25 MONTMARTIN
8.00 RED VISION
NEWSBOY’S DOUBLE: INNISFREE LAD AND LIGHT INFANTRY