A field of 13 high-quality contenders go forward for Saturday’s £400,000 Group 1 Lockinge Stake.

Following the latest confirmation stage today, a field of 13 go forward for Saturday’s Group 1 Lockinge Stakes, taking place on Saturday 16 May at Newbury Racecourse. The mile contest, run for a total prize fund of £400,000, looks set to be another top-class renewal.

Currently heading the market is Damysus, who bids to land his first Group 1 for Wathnan Racing and John and Thady Gosden. Joint second-favourite is Karl Burke’s Zeus Olympios, who was unbeaten from four starts last season and should improve for his recent third-place finish at Sandown.

Alongside him at 3/1 with sponsors BOYLE Sports is Notable Speech. Fourth in lastyear’s renewal, he subsequently landed major international successes in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile and the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile. Stablemate Opera Ballo also holds an entry for Charlie Appleby and the Godolphin team and would arrive in winning form, having recently secured a Group 2 contest at Sandown.

Last year’s Group 3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes winner and French 2,000 Guineas runner-up, Jonquil, is one of two still entered in the race for Andrew Balding, alongside Gladius.

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. The duo were first and second respectively on their comebacks in the Heritage Stakes at Leopardstown last month. In an interesting turn of events, O’Brien has also supplemented a possible pacemaker in Mississippi River at a cost of £20,000.

Francis-Henri Graffard and Sahlan, the Group 1 Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp winner, represent the French challenge.

Completing the field More Thunder remains for William Haggas and could return to scene of his 2025 Group 2 Hungerford Stakes win. Meanwhile, Charlie Hills’ Cicero’s Gift, winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day, and Roger Teal’s Group 2 scorer Dancing Gemini, who just missed out last year, are also among those still incontention.

Photo:Pat Healy Photography