Hi Reader

The Lockinge Stakes is a Group 1 flat race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile at Newbury in May.

The event is named after Lockinge, a civil parish located to the north of Newbury. It was established in 1958, and originally open to horses aged three or older. The first edition was won by that year's 2000 Guineas Stakes winner Pall Mall. The horse repeated his success as a four-year-old in 1959.

The present race grading system was introduced in 1971, and the Lockinge Stakes was given Group 2 status. It was abandoned due to torrential rain in 1975.

The event was relegated to Group 3 level in 1983, and promoted back to Group 2 in 1985. It was raised to Group 1 and closed to three-year-olds in 1995.

The Lockinge Stakes became part of the British Champions Series in 2011. It is currently the second race in the mile division, which concludes with the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in October.

The leading horses from the Lockinge Stakes often go on to compete in the Queen Anne Stakes. The last to win both races in the same year was Frankel in 2012.

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Is More Thunder About to Light Up the Lockinge Stakes?

We have ten runners declared for the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes this afternoon.

Usually, I am keen to side with a horse that has had a prep run leading into this prestigious race. Last year we got on eary at 18/1 on the gambled on winner, Lead Artist.

More Thunder hasn’t had a prep run leading into the Lockinge Stakes. William Haggas reports he is fit and well, so I expect a good showing on his first run over a mile distance since trained by Sir Michael Stoute. More Thunder could well have gone through last season unbeaten in six runs.

He won twice in six-furlong handicaps at Newmarket before a fast finishing second in the Wokingham Stakes. A step up to seven furlongs worked well with a win in the Bunbury Cup and then a career best here in the Hungerford Stakes.

A wide draw and his hold up style around a bend at Longchamp didn’t work out when fourth in the Group 1 Prix De La Foret. I think More Thunder will love it over a mile where he has more time to use his speed to pass tired horses at the business end of the race.

Zeus Olympios looks our main danger following his comeback run at Sandown.

Newbury 2:35

1 point each way More Thunder 15/2 generally, 3 places.

Best of Luck,

Nicky

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Latest Big Saturday Race Winner was Urban Lion at 12/1

2026 running total -10.60 points or -£212 to to £10 ew stakes.​