Lockinge Stakes: guide to the nine runners and verdict

Three Classic winners from last year will clash in what promises to be a compelling BoyleSports Lockinge Stakes at on Saturday.

Notable Speech (2000 Guineas),

Rosallion

(Irish 2000 Guineas) and

Fallen Angel

(Irish 1000 Guineas) will all be making their seasonal reappearances, with two horses who were unlucky not to land Classics in 2024 – Dancing Gemini (French 2000 Guineas) and

Tamfana

(1000 Guineas) - waiting for them.

Here's a guide to all nine runners. 

Official rating: 107. Timeform rating: 123. Odds: 100-1. 

The only gelding in the field is out of his depth in this company and is surely merely looking for any scraps that fall off the top table. There is £5,400 on offer for the sixth home, and that’s probably the very most he can hope for. Finished eighth in the 2023 Lockinge and has got his head in front in only one of his 16 subsequent starts, being put firmly in his place by Dancing Gemini at Doncaster in March. 

Official rating: 118. Timeform rating: 136. Odds: 100-30. 

Was underwhelming last season after looking unlucky not to win the French 2000 Guineas on his return, but he has hit the deck running this term, winning the Doncaster Mile (by almost four lengths from Checkandchallenge) and bet365 Mile (at the main expense of the penalised Tamfana) in emphatic style. He’s back in deeper waters and is 0/5 in Group One contests, but we do seem to be dealing with a more polished model this year. 

Official rating: 117. Timeform rating: 136. Odds: 25-1. 

Progressed well last year, landing Group Three prizes at Goodwood and Newmarket. Looked the type to scale even greater heights this term, but he ran lamentably on his return when trailing home last in the bet365 Mile at Sandown. The way he hung in the closing stages that day suggests something was bothering him and it’s interesting that his connections are content to let him take his chance in an even better race just three weeks later. Has hinted that ten furlongs might suit him better but did not feature among last week’s Coral-Eclipse entries. 

Official rating: 122. Timeform rating: 137. Odds: 4-1. 

Unraced at two, he was a busy boy last year when all eight of his races were over a mile. Won the 2000 Guineas on what was his turf debut, when mastering Rosallion, and landed the Sussex Stakes later in the summer before signing off with a close third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. However, there were also bumps in the road, as he disappointed in the St James’s Palace Stakes (well adrift of Rosallion) and Prix Du Moulin (possibly not handling softer ground). He’s a son of Dubawi and most of his offspring improve with age, so do not discount him giving Godolphin a record-extending tenth triumph in this contest. 

Official rating: 112. Timeform rating: 130. Odds: 40-1. 

Was beaten off a mark of 92 in a handicap on Lockinge Day last year but he made great strides through the summer and has picked up from where he left off, scooping the Earl Of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket last month. However, this is a much tougher assignment for the chestnut and the drop back to a mile will be no obvious help to him. Was no match for the impressive Notable Speech the last time he ran over this trip, and now meets that rival on 3lb worse terms. 

Official rating: 116. Timeform rating: 133. Odds: 50-1. 

The Coolmore reject, sold unraced for 10,000gns in the autumn of 2023, has already achieved far more than many envisaged, with his highlight last year being a decisive victory in the Joel Stakes at Newmarket. That success led to him being supplemented for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, but he folded tamely. Connections are sticking with the Group One path and lack of a recent run is not a big concern, giving he was impressive when wining first time out at Sandown last season. Has shown he can cope with a sound surface, although his two wins have come on slower going. 

Official rating: 122. Timeform rating: 138. Odds: 7-4 fav. 

The Group One-winning two-year-old went to the next level last season, scooping the Irish 2000 Guineas (did well to get up close home) and St James’s Palace Stakes (runner-up got first run) after finishing a keeping-on second to Notable Speech in the 2000 Guineas. A respiratory infection let to his season being curtailed but an 11-month absence is unlikely to be an issue for this strong traveller because the in-form Hannon has given his stable star several racecourse gallops and said in an interview with racingtv.com last month that he was intent on him having “match fit” for the Lockinge. 

Official rating: 114. Timeform rating: 135. Odds: 16-1. 

She’s among the best fillies in training and gives Kieran Shoemark the opportunity to add another chapter to an eventful couple of weeks for him. Fallen Angel’s exploits as a two-year-old included winning the Moyglare Stakes, and she returned to Ireland last year to scoop the Irish 1000 Guineas in taking style. After then missing the height of summer, she chased home Porta Fortuna in the Matron Stakes before making the frame in the ten-furlong Prix de l’Opera. This will be the first time she has taken on the boys, and her very best efforts have come away from fast ground. 

Official rating: 116. Timeform rating: 137. Odds: 6-1. 

Thrived on a busy schedule last year, eventually gaining consolation for an unlucky defeat in the 1000 Guineas with successive wins in the Atalanta Stakes and then Sun Chariot Stakes. She was commanding in the latter, proving too strong for some quality opposition. The Queen Elizabath II Stakes was probably one race too many (for all she was again in the frame) and there was plenty to like about her comeback second to the race-fit Dancing Gemini in the bet365 Mile last month, not least because she was burdened with a 5lb penalty and not subjected to an overly hard ride. Tamfana is entitled to be sharper this time, with Rossa Ryan aboard for the first time. 

A strong-run race seems unlikely, unless Prague, who can be headstrong, has other ideas. Fallen Angel usually makes the running/races prominently and could get a softish time upfront, although whether her connections will want her to give everything else a lead on what will be her first run of the year is debatable. TAMFANA was patiently ridden on her return at Sandown but she generally goes forward and looks a solid each-way option at 6-1. She looks overpriced to turn the tables on Dancing Gemini, with the help of a 5lb pull, and may just get first run on Rosallion and Notable Speech, who could be compromised if held up, as they usually are. 

1 TAMFANA 2 DANCING GEMINI 3 ROSALLION 4 NOTABLE SPEECH 5 FALLEN ANGEL 6 7 PRAGUE 8 LEAD ARTIST  9 CHECKANDCHALLENGE