BOYLE Sports Lockinge Stakes horse-by-horse guide to Newbury Group 1

BOYLE Sports Lockinge Stakes – 14:35 Newbury

CICERO’S GIFT (Charles Hills)

Beat The Lion In Winter when causing a 100/1 shock in last year’s QEII at Ascot on Champions Day but hard to take that form too literally based on wider profile and he appeared to ‘regress to the mean’ when fourth behind Opera Ballo (and Zeus Olympios) on his comeback at Sandown last month. More to prove than most and likely to be among the outsiders again this Saturday.

DAMYSUS (John & Thady Gosden)

Derby project didn’t work at three out but there were extenuating circumstances at Epsom and he was given time to recover, paying connections back with Listed and Group 3 wins at Deauville and Newmarket. Returned to HQ to land another G3 over nine furlongs last month, quickening clear in good style, but immediate reaction from winning rider was that he might be better suited to longer trips going forward. Might be one to oppose at short prices here on first ever try over a mile.

DANCING GEMINI (Roger Teal)

Just missed out by a neck in this race 12 months ago but he’d hit the ground running last spring and hasn’t been in the same sort of form since a one-length third in French G1 last August. Looks vulnerable to up-and-coming, younger horses and he has no more than an outside chance.

JONQUIL (Andrew Balding)

Made a successful start last year when landing the Greenham over seven furlongs here and added G2 at Goodwood to his tally in the summer. Back to something close to his best when scoring at Listed level at Ascot recently but this demands much more of him and he’s 0-4 in Group 1s.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER (Aidan O'Brien)

Late entry having been supplemented into the race at a cost of £20,000 and would be lining up on the back of a low-key run at Leopardstown on Sunday. Doesn't possess the form to suggest he can figure and likely a pace angle in the race.

MORE THUNDER (William Haggas)

Made a fine start for Haggas last year, winning four of his six starts and only missing out by a head in the Wokingham. Looks worthy of his official rating (117) based on final run of 2025 when beaten three lengths into fourth in Longchamp Group 1 (Foret) and no surprise if he won at the highest level as a five-year-old this term. Has a potent turn of foot so whether he’s quite as effective over a mile is open to question but ran over 10 furlongs in his youth and pedigree suggests he should be fine.

NOTABLE SPEECH (Charlie Appleby)

Bit slow to get going last term after a fine three-year-old season (fourth in this last year) but he came good again with big-race wins in North America, the sparkling Breeders’ Cup Mile success probably a new personal best. Back in the States for his comeback run this time and although only fourth, that doesn’t tell the whole story as he met trouble and finished with petrol in the tank. The outing should serve as an ideal stepping-stone ahead of his return to domestic action.

SAHLAN (Francis-Henri Graffard)

Trainer can do little wrong and he finished his three-year-old campaign with Group 3 and Group 1 (Prix du Moulin) wins before a creditable fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar. Firm ground in America looked a bit quick for him and a fascinating contender here if making the trip, especially with rain in the forecast.

THE LION IN WINTER (Aidan O’Brien)

No question that last season was a bitter disappointment, in the context of a highly promising juvenile campaign at least, but it was encouraging to see him take advantage of a drop into Listed company when scoring on seasonal debut at Leopardstown last month. With confidence restored, it would be no surprise to see the Sea The Stars colt pick up a first Group 1 this season but this weekend’s contest looks a tough test of his credentials.

ZEUS OLYMPIOS (Karl Burke)

Possessed a perfect profile of four wins from four starts between January 2025 to September and while that sequence came to an end when only third behind Opera Ball on seasonal debut in last month’s bet365 Mile at Sandown, that’s not quite enough evidence to suggest he’s not going to come up to scratch as a four-year-old. The run is entitled to bring him on physically, for starters, and he could settle a bit better in the early stages here with that outing behind him.

Verdict

It’s not been an easy time for Charlie Appleby but things can change in a heartbeat and more often than not the stable stars get trainers out of a slump in the biggest races. Notable Speech, who looked in need of the outing when only fourth in this event last year, arrives this time with an eyecatching Keeneland outing under his belt and he seems likely to go well.

A race-fit Zeus Olympios could be more of a threat than Newmarket winner Damysus, who might be better served going over a shade further rather than dropping back, while More Thunder is also respected, but at the odds it's tempting to side with French challenger SAHLAN, who beat Rosallion and The Lion In Winter in last season's Prix du Moulin at Longchamp.

Last seen looking ill-at-east on the rattling quick ground at Del Mar, he'll be better suited by the likely conditions at Newbury and represents a trainer with the Midas touch at the moment.

Updated at 10:30 BST on 14/05/26

More from Sporting Life

• Free bets
• Racecards
• Fast results
• Full results and free video replays
• Horse racing news
• Horse racing tips
• Horse racing features
• Download our free iOS and Android app
• Football and other sports tips
• Podcasts and video content

Safer gambling

We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.

If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.

Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.