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Richard Hannon believes Toormore will have a "huge chance" of claiming Group One gold in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

The trainer thinks his five-year-old must surely be among the top rank of milers this term after finally starting to recapture the kind of form that saw him crowned champion juvenile in 2013.

The son of Arakan opened his account this year with victory in the bet365 Mile at Sandown when he had the reopposing Dutch Connection a neck back in second and that pair clash again, although Toormore does not have to concede 3lb this time.

Hannon said: "I was delighted with his run at Sandown and he would have needed that badly. He carried a 3lb penalty so you've got to say everything is positive.

"Toormore has claims to being the best miler, he's already a Group One winner and was champion two-year-old, he was only beaten narrowly last year and he must have a huge chance."

Toormore is one of four runners for Godolphin, with the Charlie Hills-trained Dutch Connection and Roger Varian's pair of Barchan and Belardo, seventh and fourth respectively at Sandown, also sporting the royal blue colours.

Varian told www.godolphin.com: "Belardo is in good form and he will appreciate the rain that Newbury has had. I anticipate him running a big race on Saturday. He lost nothing in defeat last time and is in good heart.

"Barchan, a front-runner, is in as well but has a lot to do on form."

Hills said: "Dutch Connection came out of his run at Sandown in great form and did a nice piece of work last week.

"They have obviously had a lot of rain at Newbury and I am hoping for a couple of drying days. We will have a look at the ground on Saturday and go from there. I think the mile at Newbury will suit him, providing the ground is all right."

Prior to the rain which fell on Tuesday and Wednesday, Henry Candy's Limato had been ante-post favourite but he is at his best on a sound surface.

He is also stepping up to a mile for the first time and his participation rests on a course walk from Candy and owner Paul Jacobs at midday.

Candy said: "Mr Jacobs will have the final call but it is looking more hopeful, I must say. If he jumps out of the stalls and says 'I want to be a sprinter' then it is going to be very embarrassing and he isn't going to get the mile.

"When he's fresh, like he is at the moment, it could be doubtful whether he does get the mile but when he starts taking the mickey like at the end of last season then I think he will.

"The harder the ground the better, he absolutely floats. He coped with good to soft at Doncaster whereas Longchamp was a little bit softer."

Clive Cox's Kodi Bear missed his Classic opportunity last term but bounced back from a late start to the campaign to win three of his five outings.

Cox said: "He's very special to me. He was Group One-placed at two and last year he won a Group Three and a Group Two.

"Hopefully he can capture a Group One this year. They are tough to win, we are full of respect for the opposition but it's satisfying having one good enough to take them on.

"The ground doesn't hold any fears to us either way. It's pleasing to have a horse you don't lose any sleep over with the going."

Ger Lyons' Endless Drama is another who suffered an interrupted three-year-old campaign, finishing second in the Irish 2,000 Guineas before being sidelined for the rest of the season.

Lyons said: "If he isn't top class then I don't have one. He was second in a Guineas so you'd like to think that he is.

"His work has been fantastic but what I'm asking him to do is huge.

"You never want to see horses injured, but with him it may have been a blessing.

"Sheikh Fahad allowed me to back right off him and when you see how he's developed, you'll wonder how he ever ran at two."

Marco Botti's Euro Charline is the only filly in the line-up and she arrives fresh from two good efforts in Dubai over the winter, most notably when chasing home Japanese ace Real Steel in the Dubai Turf.

"We have been pleased with Euro Charline since she returned from Dubai," said Botti.

"It was a big shock that the ground changed dramatically. Ground on the soft side of good would be fine but she would not want it too soft."

John Gosden runs Gm Hopkins, Johnny Barnes and Mahsoob.

Of the latter, racing manager Angus Gold said: "He is moving well and is a nice horse but whether he has got the pace only time will tell. I am sure if he did he would be campaigned over a mile but we have to see firstly if he has that speed."

Peter Chapple-Hyam's 2014 Derby fourth Arod has generally excelled since returning to a mile and lost little in defeat on his reappearance when third to Gm Hopkins at Sandown last month.

Chapple-Hyam said: "Arod is in great form. He has come on a lot from his outing at Ascot as he always needs his first run badly. We will see what the going is like on Saturday as I am worried about the ground.

"I think if everything was right and the ground was good to firm, he would win. We will just have to see but he is in great order."

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