Boyle Sports Lockinge: runner-by-runner guide and 6-1 tip

Six-year-old who hasn’t been the soundest over the years, and you would have needed a crystal ball to think he’d be capable of following up a Listed win at Sandown with victory in the Group One QEII at Ascot in October. But that’s what he did, obliging from off the pace at 100-1, despite the ground appearing to be faster than ideal (previous four turf wins all on soft/good to soft).  

Quiet reappearance at Sandown last month, but this will have been the main plan and will relish any rain that has fallen this week. Not discounted at a big price. 

Didn’t make his debut until the December of his two-year-old season, but quickly made up into a lively Derby outsider following his second in the Dante.  

Failed to fire (too keen/didn’t seem to handle the track) at Epsom, but has since put that episode behind him, following up French Listed win with a pair of Group Threes at HQ, including the Earl Of Sefton (under a 3lb penalty) on his return last month.  

Perfectly placed there to utilise his large stride and quickly put the race to bed. Form is yet to be franked (runner-up well beaten at Chester since) so needs to improve again now up in grade, but looks well up to this level. First try over a mile. 

Nearly sprang a surprise in the French 2000 Guineas when second to Metropolitan on his seasonal return in 2024, and again showed his best form early in the season when winning first two starts last term before going down by a neck to Lead Artist in this race 12 months ago.  

Showed a good turn of foot to get to the front that day, but that zest has appeared lacking in all starts since bar his third in the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville last August.  

Supporters will point to his good record on flat tracks, so no forlorn hope, at least for a place, on ground that should be ideal. First-time cheekpieces.

Last term’s French 2000 Guineas runner-up and Celebration Mile winner who did well to quicken from what looked just a modest gallop in the listed Paradise Stakes (billed as a Queen Anne trial) on the straight course at Ascot on his reappearance last month.  

Appeared to outclass his rivals there, but all previous efforts at this level suggest that he will need to improve this term for all his connections are in great form as their charge returns to the scene of his Greenham win of last season.

Supplemented runner who faces a quick turnaround having beaten just one home in a listed contest at Leopardstown on Sunday. Prominent racer who is likely to ensure a good gallop for stablemate The Lion In Winter. 

Brought along in typically patient fashion – over 10 furlongs - by Sir Michael Stoute which has reaped dividends since William Haggas took over the reins, progressing from an official rating of 87 to ending his four-year-old season with four wins under his belt (including the Group Two Hungerford Stakes over seven furlongs here) and a new rating of 117.  

Not helped by tardy starts on more than one occasion, including when a running-on fourth in the Prix de la Foret on his final start.  

Plenty of improvement to come this term now up in trip again, but this looks an extremely tough season opener. 

Rattled off five wins from six starts between his debut in January 2024 and the Sussex Stakes six months later, but took longer to come to hand last season, including when a rusty-looking fourth in this race.  

Enjoyed a successful end to the campaign in North America, landing the Woodbine Mile and Breeders’ Cup Mile in ready fashion, and has the benefit of a run under his belt this year having looked an unlucky loser when fourth in a Keeneland Grade One last month.  

Best form on quick ground (suits his turn of foot) and general form of stable the only real concerns. 

Hold-up horse who was several lengths behind Jonquil when not getting clear passage in the French 2000 Guineas a year ago.  

Progressed well through the latter stages of the season, springing a surprise when overhauling Rosallion in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp before a running-on fifth behind Notable Speech at Del Mar.  

Scope to improve again this season for his master trainer, though has several lengths to find with some of these on last year’s form. 

Not seen at two after winning the Acomb Stakes at York, and failed to add to his tally in a much busier three-year-old campaign which included finishing third to Sahlan at Longchamp, second to Cicero’s Gift at Ascot and third to Notable Speech at Del Mar.  

Connections deliberately left him undercooked for his (successful) reappearance at Leopardstown last month where he appeared to get tired/idle late on, mindful of bigger days ahead, and interesting to see cheekpieces applied for the first time here. 

Lightly raced, long-striding four-year-old who stormed through the grades late in 2025, graduating from landing a Thirsk novice in August to winning the Group 2 Joel Stakes at Newmarket by the end of September. 

Made a fine return when third to the well-ridden Opera Ballo (who he had beaten at HQ) in a strong renewal of the bet365 Mile at Sandown last month, finishing nearly four lengths clear of Cicero’s Gift, and rates a big player here with that run under his belt. 

Undoubtedly a strong renewal compared to recent years. John and Thady Gosden have dominated of late, landing three of the last five, and have leading claims once more with the progressive Damysus. His turn of foot suggests that he should have enough speed for this shorter trip, but 10 of the last 11 winners had at least one win over a mile to their name and he’s arguably priced more on potential rather than form and looks short enough as a result. 

Baeed and Palace Pier held a class edge when coming from off the pace to win this prize, but otherwise it has generally paid to race handily in recent years. In contrast to Notable Speech who will likely be held up, this year’s race could suit the galloper Zeus Olympios who is likely to race prominently, however he’s another who looks short enough in the market as he moves up in class. 

In contrast, The Lion In Winter has a host of top-level form to his name and not much to find with a few of these on those efforts as a three-year-old. He has a run under his belt for fitness, this race has always been the plan, and he looks a little underestimated as his expert trainer chases a third win in the race. 

Assuming the course gets some rain, QEII winner Cicero’s Gift could be the most over-priced outsider.