The Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury is always a fiercely-fought race and this Saturday’s renewal at the popular Berkshire course should prove to be no exception.

Richard Hannon has experienced a fine start to the season and the Wiltshire handler should continue his fine campaign courtesy of Paco Boy. A four-year-old, Paco Boy has won his most recent start and the son of Desert Style should continue in a victorious vein with jockey Richard Hughes at the expense of Virtual.

Dialogue, a dual winner on the all-weather for Mark Johnston late last year, should make a victorious return to the fray by disposing of Holyrood in the Aon London Gold Cup Heritage Handicap whilst High Standing is taken to dispense with Tajneed in the Berry Bros & Rudd Handicap.

 

Newmarket

 

The Channel 4 cameras will also be screening three races live from Newmarket and Sevenna appears quite well-treated in the betinternet.com Stakes. The Henry Cecil-trained Sevanna, a creditable fifth on her most recent all-weather start, is likely to possess too many aces for Gordonsville.

Saeed bin Suroor’s Emirates Champion, winner of his only juvenile start last term, it put forward to triumph from Petrovsky in the Best Odds At betinternet.com Handicap whilst Istphahan is put forward to oblige from Angel Rock in the Play Live Casino At betinternet.com Handicap.

 

Home front

On the domestic front, there’s racing at Kilbeggan on Saturday whilst enthusiasts can choose between Limerick and Navan on Sunday.

At Kilbeggan last month’s facile Tramore winner Tamayo stands out in the Belvedere House Gardens & Park Handicap Chase. The Arthur Moore-trained Tamayo caused a mild upset when leading from three out with Robbie Moran to beat the 118-rated Alickadoo by a comprehensive five lengths in a better than average to mile six furlong opportunity handicap chase at Tramore on April 19th. It wasn’t altogether surprising that Tamayo was raised seven lbs for that success to a new mark of 103 and the seven-year-old should prove marginally superior to The Phantom Piper here.

Ardistan looks the part in the Fay Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle. The Christy Roche-trained Ardistan posted one of his best efforts for quite some time when finishing third in a most competitive two-mile handicap hurdle at Cork on March 22nd. Ardistan, ultimately beaten three lengths by Fixed Fee on that occasion, is taken to return to the winning groove here at the expense of Wicklow Lad.

Borrowaddy should continue Willie Mullins’ purple patch in the F.B.D. Insurance Hurdle. Borrowaddy, a former point-to-pointer, has already won over this course and three-mile distance for he easily landed a handicap hurdle with Patrick Mullins at the late April meeting here. Rated 115 then, Borrowaddy faces a step up in class here. The son of Presenting however seems to be progressing the whole time and he’s confidently predicted to show a clean pair of heels to Monty Blue.

Bangonform and Power Of Attorney are a likely pair in the Loughnagore Maiden Hurdle whilst confirmed front-runner Family Oficial, winner of his last three point-to-point starts, should make a victorious start to his track career in the closing www.kilbegganraces.ie (Prom/Am) INH Flat Race.

Limerick

At Limerick, it may prove profitable to row in behind Donegal in the Supermacs Drive Thru Hurdle. The Robbie Hennessy-trained Donegal was a listed winner on the flat for former handler Andrew Balding and he was only beaten a head by Conduit in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes over 12 furlongs at Goodwood last summer. Whilst Donegal has yet to win over flights, he finished a respectable fourth in the Grade 1 four-year-old hurdle at the Punchestown festival earlier this month and he should prove marginally superior to Freds Benefit here.

Massini Magic is bound to give a positive account of herself in the Supermacs Ennis Road Beginners Chase. Massini Magic, trained by OJ Power outside Knockanore, ran a race rich in promise to finish a creditable third to Jayo in a two and a quarter mile chase at Punchestown on April 29th. The extra one and a half furlongs of this particular race is bound to suit her ideally and she should have most to fear from Bahrain Storm.

El Jo should continue Michael Hourigan’s excellent start to the new jumps campaign by dispensing with Chasers Chance in the Twilight Evening Live Music 19th June Handicap Chase whilst Green Mining is recommended to make a victorious start to his park career by disposing of Primroseandblue in the Supermacs Dooradoyle (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.

Navan

There’s an all-flat card at Navan and Sioduil is the one to row in behind in the 5th June BBQ Night At Navan Race over six furlongs. The Jim Bolger-trained grey Sioduil started off this season by shedding her maiden tag in a five-furlong maiden on the all-weather at Dundalk on April 11th and she posted a definite career best effort when failing by a head to beat Dandy Nicholls’ British challenger Fol Hollow by a head in a handicap over the minimum trip at Naas the following weekend. Sioduil was raised seven lbs for that effort to a new mark of 92 and the Oasis Dream-sired filly should have little difficulty in dispensing with Mr Topaz here.

Fiona’s Spirit, trained by Des McDonogh of Monksfield fame, could vindicate the promise of her fourth-placed debut effort at this same venue on April 26th by repelling Lisselan Princess in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden.

Noel Meade’s Cross Appeal (a gelded son of Cape Cross that finished an excellent fourth when unfancied on his initial outing here on April 26th) makes most appeal in the Fun For Kids Maiden, a one mile and five furlong event that’s also likely to concern Swiss Guard whilst Jakarta Jazz and Miss Keller look set to dominate the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Handicap.