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18 Remain In Contention For The BOYLE Sports Lockinge Stakes
Following today’s scratching stage, a high-quality field of 18 horses remains in contention for the Group 1 BOYLE Sports Lockinge Stakes at Newbury Racecourse. Contested over the straight mile and worth a total prize fund of £400,000, the race stands as the centrepiece of Newbury’s Flat season and is set to take place on Saturday 16 May.
At the head of the market is Notable Speech, the winner of the 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes in 2024. Fourth in last year’s renewal, he subsequently landed major international successes in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile and the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile. The five-year-old son of Dubawi holds an entry alongside fellow Charlie Appleby-trained Opera Ballo for the Godolphin team. Opera Ballo would arrive in winning form, having secured a Group 2 contest at Sandown last week, beating several rivals he may face again here.
Also among the leading contenders is dual Group 1 winner Field Of Gold, who finished second on seasonal reappearance that day. After going close in the 2000 Guineas last season, the son of Kingman went on to secure Group 1 victories in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. He forms part of a two-strong challenge from John and Thady Gosden, alongside Damysus.
Jonquil followed up his triumph in the 2025 Group 3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes at Newbury by winning the Group 2 Celebration Mile Stakes at Goodwood. The four-year-old colt is one of three still entered in the race for Andrew Balding, along with Gladius and Blue Bolt, who enjoyed a consistent rise through the ranks last season, including a Listed success at Sandown.
The Irish challenge is presented by Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore partners, who could send over 2024 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes winner The Lion In Winter and Expanded.
One French raider remains for Francis-Henri Graffard, who has left in Group 1 Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp winner Sahlan.
Harry Eustace’s Royal Ascot winner Docklands is set to return to Britain following a short stint in Hong Kong, where he contested the Group 1 Champions Mile. More Thunder could return to Newbury after landing last season’s Group 2 Hungerford Stakes for William Haggas, while Karl Burke’s Zeus Olympios, who was successful in all four of his starts last year, should improve for his recent third-place finish at Sandown. Charlie Hills’
Cicero’s Gift, winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day, and Roger Teal’s Group 2 scorer Dancing Gemini are also among those still in contention.
The final confirmation stage is by noon on Monday 11 May, followed by declarations on Thursday 14 May.
