Stablemates set for scintillating Lockinge showdown

Image from racingfotos.com – Canford Cliffs gets up to win the 2010 Sussex Stakes

Canford Cliffs, the top rated older miler in Europe, and his stable companion, Dick Turpin, remain on course for an early showdown in the JLT Lockinge Stakes, the fourth race in the QIPCO British Champions Series, at Newbury on Saturday. This is the second race in the Mile category and is for four-year-olds and up – the first mile race, the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, was for three-year-olds only.

The Richard Hannon-trained pair are worth travelling a long way to see – both are fantastic-looking thoroughbreds – and they look like being two of the main threats to Frankel in the big mile races later in the season, when the older horses can take on the three-year-olds.

Hannon saddled Dubawi Gold to finish second to Frankel, a full six lengths behind the brilliant winner, in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, but the trainer has promised that Canford Cliffs, in particular, will be a much tougher opponent come the summer. The JLT Lockinge Stakes, Newbury’s biggest Flat race of the season, provides the four-year-old with the perfect opportunity to show just how good he is.

Dick Turpin looks sure to run him close, however, having looked every inch a top class miler himself when winning at Sandown on his recent seasonal reappearance.

A cracking contest is in the offing, with dual Champion Stakes winner, Twice Over, also a likely runner. Having flopped in the world’s richest horserace, the Dubai World Cup, in March, when the slow early pace and outside draw were against him, Twice Over will be looking to get his season back on track. He is yet another big race runner for trainer Henry Cecil and jockey Tom Queally.

Newbury is staging a beer festival on Saturday, so if you enjoy trying out some fantastic ales, there’s another great reason to go racing at the beautiful Berkshire track!

If you can’t make it to the track, don’t miss the race on Channel 4. It’s due off at 3.45pm and is sure to be a cracker.