Mick Channon believes Barbill is developing into an exciting sprinter and can rediscover his best form this year.
Barbill rose to prominence in 2018, winning at the Curragh in Ireland and at Chantilly in France to suggest he had a bright future ahead of him.
Last year didn’t exactly go to plan as a couple of fourths early in the campaign at Newcastle and Newbury were followed up by some disappointing outings.
Barbill was never in contention in the Marchand D’or Listed Stakes at Maisons-Laffitte and then struggled in a Class 2 contest at York in mid-June.
However, he turned in a more encouraging display in the Class 1 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury in July, when finishing fifth, and Channon believes he has matured nicely as he prepares to return to action.
Channon told Sporting Life: “He was a typical very good two-year-old who just missed his three-year-old career. They say good two-year-olds make very good four-year-olds and he’s in good form.
“He’s off 92 and I think that’s a winning mark. He won a Group Three as a juvenile, he’s been gelded and is a different horse now. I think he could make up into a really nice sprinter.”
