This Saturday’s Lockinge Stakes should be one hell of a spectacle, especially as it brings together last year’s 2000 Guineas first and second, Rosallion and Notable Speech.
Throw in another eight contenders who are all there on merit, and you’re looking at an unmissable one mile Group 1 contest.
William Hill readers can find my Lockinge Stakes betting preview below, as well as tips on every Newbury race on Saturday – it looks set to be a fantastic day of racing.
Without further ado, let’s get straight to it and look at the main contenders in this year’s Lockinge Stakes.
When I saw Richard Hannon’s Rosallion (5/2) win the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in person at ParisLongchamp, I could just tell that the youngster would go on to bigger and better things.
That he did, and in 2024 he finished runner up in the 2000 Guineas, won the Irish equivalent three weeks later, then turned in a superb performance to lift the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last June.
His subsequent setbacks have been well documented, however if the Blue Point-colt returns on song, he will be the one they all have to beat as he looks for his sixth career win.
Godolphin’s blue silks have been carried to victory no less than nine times in this contest, and who would bet against them making it win number ten with Notable Speech (5/1) on Saturday afternoon?
Since his 2000 Guineas win, he has been firmly put in his place by Rosallion in the St James’s Palace Stakes but bounced back to win the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
Trainer Charlie Appleby has already landed both the 1000 and 2000 Guineas this season, so picking up yet another Group 1 with Notable Speech should be well within his compass.
New horse on the block – Dancing Gemini (7/2) has been all the rage in our sports betting in recent days after it was revealed that Ryan Moore had been booked for the ride.
Trained by Roger Teal, last year’s Derby 6th has also had the benefit of two runs this season, winning on both occasions.
He looked in peak condition when landing the Group 2 Mile at Sandown last month, and this step up to a Group 1 again is a natural progression for this son of Camelot.
There has been very little talk about Tamfana (6/1) being a potential winner of the Lockinge, but I personally think she holds a great chance of taking home the silverware.
David Menuisier believes his filly Tamfana is “ready to go again”, having decided the Lockinge Stakes, rather than the Prix d’Ispahan, was the right race for the four-year-old.
The daughter of Soldier Hollow made her seasonal reappearance in the Sandown Mile last month, finishing just a length and three-quarters behind Dancing Gemini in the runner-up spot.
Last season’s close Prix de Diane third should strip fitter for her Sandown run, and I can see her being bang there in contention at the finish.
Suggested bet: Tamfana (6/1) Each Way in our horse racing odds.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at time of writing*
