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Run over the straight mile at Newbury, the Lockinge is a Group 1 contest open to horses aged four years or older. The race was first run in 1958 and is named after a civil parish located to the north of Newbury. The leading horses from the Lockinge often go on to compete in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. The last horse to win both races in the same year was the superstar Frankel.
Sir Michael Stoute is the leading trainer with 8 winners although he doesn’t have a representative this year whilst the leading owners are Godolphin with 8 victories are represented by Modern Games. Here are my expert horse racing tips, trends, and analysis for the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes.
BERKSHIRE SHADOW
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Fifth in last year’s 2000 Guineas and shown consistent form since just below the top grade. Gelded before start of this season and won twice on the all-weather at Wolverhampton this spring. This is a step up in grade again and may well be found wanting.
CHECKANDCHALLENGE
Trainer: William Knight
Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
Lightly raced four year old having only his 10th ever start. A Group 3 winner at Deauville last August and 4th in Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes last Autumn. Started this season with a credible 4th of 5 ( beaten 5 1/4L) at the Newmarket Guineas meeting in the Group 2 bet365 Mile won by Mutasaabeq. Hard to see him turning the tables on that one and a place is probably the best he can hope for.
CHINDIT
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Pat Dobbs
Consistent miler who made it four wins first time out when winning a sub standard listed race at Ascot at beginning of the month by 3/4L from Cash. Beat Mutasaabeq in a Group 2 at same track last July but 0 from 7 when racing in Group 1 company and just falls short of the top grade. Ran third in this last year to the great Baaeed.
JADOOMI
Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford
Jockey: James Doyle
Racked up a hat trick of victories last season including Group 2’s at Goodwood and Leopardstown prior to finishing a highly credible third in Ascot’s group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes a short head behind Modern Games with Checkandchallenge 1 1/4L back in 4th. Finished lame that day so run can probably be marked up although not seen since. Any showers would suit.
JUMBY
Trainer: Eve Johnson-Houghton
Jockey: Charles Bishop
Won the Hungerford Stakes, a Group 2 over 7F here last August but has failed to match that effort since in four outings including when 5th to Garrus on his re-appearance in the Group 3 Abernant Stakes at Newmarket at the Craven meeting there. Well beaten on only start in Group 1 company and likely to be some way short of the best here.
LIGHT INFANTRY
Trainer: David Simcock
Jockey: Jamie Spencer
Runner up in two Group ones at Deauville last Summer under today’s jockey Jamie Spencer on good to soft ground. Made a satisfactory comeback at Newmarket at Guineas meet earlier this month when finishing third, beaten 3L, by Mutasaabeq in Group 2 bet365 mile. 3lb worse off at the weights here but that run would have sharpened him up and can get closer as winner had run of the race that day.
LUSAIL
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Not won since taking the 6F Gimcrack Stakes at York as two year old some nine runs ago. Did hit the frame in both the Group 1’s St James Palace at Ascot and Prix Jean Prat at Deauville last Summer. A length behind stable mate Chindit on his re-appearance at Ascot 17 days ago and even with Ryan Moore booked it’s hard to see anything other than a possible place today.
MODERN GAMES
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: William Buick
Joint highest rated in the field. Globe trotting Group 1 performer who book ended last season by winning the French 2000 Guineas and the Breeders Cup Mile at Keeneland.
Came back from 160 day absence when runner up in Grade 1 at Keeneland in April which should put him spot on for this. A genuine and consistent Group 1 performer who looks sure to run a big race for his top connections.
MUTASAABEQ
Trainer: Charlie Hills
Jockey: Jim Crowley
Took a further step forward on his seasonal re-appearance at Newmarket in the bet365 Mile a fortnight ago when arguably getting an easy lead in making all to beat Godolphin’s smart Native Trail by 3L with Light Infantry and Checkandchallenge a short head and 2 1/4L further behind. He was carrying a 3lb penalty that day making it a good performance. He has a good record fresh, winning first time out the last three seasons, so with an easy lead he mat have been flattered. A player nonetheless here.
MY PROSPERO
Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: Tom Marquand
Jointly rated top with Modern Games. Lightly raced having only run six times in his short career winning three times last season in listed and Group 2 company in France. Ended the season by finishing an excellent third, beaten 1/2L, by Bay Bridge and Adayar in 10F Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot in October. Drops in trip here for his seasonal re-appearance and has obvious claims.
THE WIZARD OF EYE
Trainer: J S Moore
Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
Highly rated by his trainer but likely to find this company too hot. Finished 7 1/2L behind Angel Bleu last weekend and clearly held on that run. Would be a major shock were he to figure here.
TRIPLE TIME
Trainer: Kevin Ryan
Jockey: Neil Callan
Made a winning seasonal debut at Haydock in the Group 3 Superior Mile Stakes last September following a year’s absence. Beaten in Group 2 company the following month on very soft ground and not seen since. Needs to step up here in his first try in Group 1 company.
LAUREL
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
The only filly in the race. Lightly raced Kingman four-year-old who’s won three of her four career starts with her best effort coming when going down by just under a length in last October’s Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket. Had easy task against her own sex in listed race at Kempton in April, comfortably coming home by 3 1/2L. That would have teed her up nicely for this but is taking on the colts for the first time now.
Al Shaqab Lockinge Betting Tips
A good renewal with only 5lb covering the front five in the betting. Preference has to be with the Charlie Appleby-trained Modern Games who is as tough as they come having travelled around the world running consistently. A drawn of 13 may be deemed a disadvantage on the wing but William Buick will no doubt have a plan to drop him in and come with a late (hopefully winning!) run.
The Gosden’s Laurel is taking on the boys for the first time in her life but is still relatively unexposed and can make a race of it with Frankie Dettori aiming to add to his last season riches. Mutasaabeq got the run of the race last time of Newmarket and was also giving weight all round. A reproduction of that run puts him bang in here with a winning chance but I’m just not sure whether he’ll be given as much rope out front on this occasion with the likes of front runner Jadoomi in the race.
MODERN GAMES 2 points win @ 3/1 with William Hill Promo Code
LAUREL 1 point win @ 7/2 bet365 Bonus Code
All odds were accurate at time of writing.
