Dandino can go one better in Hardwicke Stakes

Dandino ran a stormer when runner-up in the Hardwicke Stakes 12 months ago and looks decent value to go one better in today’s renewal at the Royal meeting (3.45).

The Morco Botti trained seven-year-old went down fighting by a length to Thomas Chippendale, before going on to land the American St Leger in good style.

The son of Dansili then rounding of the campaign with two cracking runs in Australia, finishing runner-up in the Caulfield Cup and a superb fifth of 24 in the ultra-competitive Melboune Cup.

Dandino stayed on strongly to be beaten 3 1/2 lenhgths in the latter having been given plenty to do by jockey Ryan Moore, and the ride came in for severe criticism from owners Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock.

There is little doubt that Dandino would have at least made the frame if ridden more positively, and it was a huge run in one of the toughest races in the world.

The Sir Michael Stoute trained pair on Telescope and Hillstar head the betting.

The former is favourite for the 1m 4f contest, and has finished runner-up behind Noble Mission on both starts this season.

That form looks strong with the winner having gone on to land the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, but Telescope has so far failed to live up to the hype and I think Hillstar may well the biggest danger to Dandino.

The colt was a progressive sort last season, starting life off in handicaps before landing the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at this meeting in good style from Battle of Marengo.

The son of Danehill Dancer then ran a cracker to finish a staying on third to Noveslist in the Group 1 King George, and was far from disgraced in two subsequent starts in the same grade behind the very smart Declaration Of War and Farhh.

That is very strong form, and Hillstar looked to be coming to hand when runner-up Brown Panther in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester last month.

His stable have already tasted big race success at the meeting, and with Frankie Dettori in the saddle a huge run looks on the cards.