Full guide to the Lockinge entries

Henry Candy’s Limato is set to step up to a mile for the first time this Saturday in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes. Sourced from Racingfotos.com

The Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes, the fourth race in the QIPCO British Champions Series, takes place at Newbury on Saturday. Here’s a full guide to the entries left in the £350,000 contest.

LIMATO

Trainer: Henry Candy

General odds: 7-2

Unbeaten in four starts over 6f as a two-year-old and progressed again last term, winning the 7f Park Stakes in dazzling style at Doncaster in between finishing runner-up in the Commonwealth Cup and Prix de la Foret. Goes well fresh; suited by good ground or faster. First try over a mile.

TOORMORE

Trainer: Richard Hannon

Odds: 6-1

Touched off by Night Of Thunder in last year’s renewal before ending 15-month wait for a win in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood. Gutsy when beating to Dutch Connection (received 3lb) by a neck in the bet365 Mile at Sandown on return. Seems at best with a bit of juice in the ground.

KODI BEAR

Trainer: Clive Cox

Odds: 8-1

Exuberant front-runner ended his juvenile campaign by finishing runner-up in the Dewhurst. Chalked up three wins last term, looking top-class on occasions. His headstrong nature betrayed him in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, though, and best form on softish surface.

AMAZING MARIA

Trainer: David O’Meara

Odds: 10-1

Grey mare thrived for David O’Meara last year, winning Group 1 prizes at home and abroad after scoring at Royal Ascot. Possibly found 1m1f bit too far on return (might have also needed the run) at Newmarket. Now tackles the boys.

DUTCH CONNECTION

Trainer: Charlie Hills

Odds: 10-1

Smart juvenile who won the Jersey Stakes last year and also ran well in defeat at up to a mile. Beaten a neck by Toormore in the bet365 Mile at Sandown after travelling best. Is 3lb worse off with that rival but with that run under belt, and the ground faster, commands lot of respect.

AROD

Trainer: Peter Chapple-Hyam

Odds: 12-1

Finished a length third in this last year and followed that with wins at Epsom and Ascot (both times over an extended mile) before chasing home Solow in the Qatar Sussex Stakes. Not able to replicate that form abroad afterwards, or on return at Ascot when ground possibly softer than ideal.

ESTIDHKAAR

Trainer: Richard Hannon

Odds: 12-1

A leading two-year-old who was touched off by Muhaarar, the subsequent champion sprinter, in the Greenham on his return last year. Did not build on that in two subsequent starts but interesting if able to recapture best for yard that has won this four times in the past six years.

HOME OF  THE BRAVE

Trainer: Hugo Palmer

Odds: 12-1

Impressive when winning over 7f at Leicester on return (bossed the race after a couple of furlongs) and stable still on high after scooping the QIPCO 2000 Guineas. Extra furlong should not be a problem but the presence of other front-runners could be.

BELARDO

Trainer: Roger Varian

Odds: 14-1

Champion two-year-old after claiming the Dewhurst on his final start in 2014. Belatedly found his form at the end of last year and won on return this term at Doncaster. Race did not pan out for him in the bet365 Mile but softish ground possibly needed for him to be at his best.

MAHSOOB

Trainer: John Gosden

Odds: 14-1

Progressive in the first half of last season but the second half did not go to script. Back to winning ways in the Earl Of Sefton Stakes over 1m1f at Newmarket on return but form and grinding style (tried over 1m4f last season) means drop back to a mile not guaranteed to suit.

ENDLESS DRAMA

Trainer: Ger Lyons

Odds: 14-1

In the same ownership as Arod. Been off almost a year since finishing three quarters of a length second to Gleneagles in the Irish 2000 Guineas. Obvious player if picking up from where he left off but entitled to need the run.

EURO CHARLINE

Trainer: Marco Botti

Odds: 16-1

It is getting on for two years since the mare last got her head in front, but she earned her connections £816,000 when splitting Real Steal and Tryster in the Dubai Turf in March. Nothing wrong with that form and another to ponder.

THE REMAINDER

ADAAY has yet to prove his stamina over a mile, while COUGAR MOUNTAIN, eleventh last year, looks up against it. GABRIAL, quoted at 33-1, has run well at big odds in the QIPCO British Mile Series at big odds in the past but will need a personal best to prevail. JOHNNY BARNES was no match for Home Of The Brave when they met at Leicester last month. BARCHAN is a potential pacemaker for the other three Godolphin entries (Toormore, Dutch Connection and Home Of The Brave).