Kingman justifies the hype

Connections tried to play things cool, but Kingman’s bloodless performance at Sandown on Saturday still went a little way to justifying the hype.

James Doyle’s much-publicised debut as Khalid Abdullah’s new retained rider went off without a hitch as next year’s 2000 Guineas favourite made a second successful visit to the racecourse in the Betfred Mobile Solario Stakes at Sandown.

A two-length defeat of rivals rated over 100 in a Group Three event was more than respectable but, unlike the juvenile’s explosive entrance at Newmarket in June, this was more a performance of controlled power.