Any Aidan O’Brien runner in any race deserves the highest respect and his Rhododendron is a veteran of nine Group One contests, making her a formidable opponent for anyone. But her only success at that level in the past year came in very different circumstances to the ones she will face at Newbury in Saturday’s Lockinge Stakes, for which she is surely the wrong favourite.
Her narrow Prix de l’Opera win was on soft ground over an extra quarter-mile in a race restricted to females. She might not even be the strongest contender from her stable, since Deauville loves a sound surface. Both he and Lightning Spear look overpriced, while Librisa Breeze is interesting.
But preference is for Addeybb (3.40), who has looked like he was heading into this company in both runs this season, when an emphatic Lincoln winner and when following up in a Sandown Group Two. The 6-1 is a very healthy price.
1.50 Newbury Having taken a fierce hold on his return to action at Ascot, Eqtidaar stayed on remarkably well to be second in that Group Three. He looks a Commonwealth Cup prospect for Sir Michael Stoute and can prove it on this faster surface, provided he settles just a bit better.
2.05 Newmarket A half-brother to the same stable’s Toormore, who won his first four races, Department Of War scored tidily on his Nottingham debut and could be a better bet than Old Persian, who has twice come up short at this level.
2.25 Newbury Stoute could continue a good day’s work with Crystal Ocean, who battled well to win the Gordon Richards last month. Giving a few pounds away to these four rivals ought to be straightforward, as his odds suggest.
2.50 Newmarket A course and distance winner last month, Purser looks like a colt with plenty more to offer and he can prove the right favourite in this contest.
3.00 Newbury The in-form William Jarvis made no secret of how highly he rates Chief Ironside after he won a Chester maiden recently, suggesting the horse might be “better than handicaps”. But the colt has got in here on what looks a very fair mark, the assessor perhaps taking the view that he was flattered by the way that race panned out. At 7-1, it may be worth taking a more positive view of this well-bred type.
3.15 Newmarket The race-hardened Midsummer Knight could prove a lively 10-1 shot after getting off the mark last time out. A pacy sort, he looks ready for this return to six furlongs.
Bangor 1.40 Fort Jefferson 2.15 Pray For A Rainbow 2.50 Atlantic Storm 3.25 According To Harry 4.00 Stick To The Plan 4.35 Dr Dunraven 5.10 Potters Vision
Doncaster 5.50 Clenymistra 6.20 Victory Command 6.50 Extra Mile 7.20 Bathsheba Bay 7.50 Two Weeks 8.20 Roman River 8.50 Buxted Dream
Newbury 1.50 Eqtidaar 2.25 Crystal Ocean 3.00 Chief Ironside (nb) 3.40 Addeybb (nap) 4.15 Dave Dexter 4.50 Crystal Hope 5.25 Ripp Orf
Newmarket 2.05 Department Of War 2.40 Purser 3.15 Midsummer Knight 3.50 Thebah 4.25 Horsted Keynes 5.00 Phantasmic 5.35 Mr Pocket
Thirsk 2.10 Key To Power 2.45 Akela Moon 3.20 Acclaim The Nation 3.55 Big Storm Coming 4.30 Related 5.05 Orvar 5.40 Temur Khan 6.10 Cool Strutter
Uttoxeter 5.30 Western Breeze 6.05 Just A Feeling 6.35 Shelford
7.05 Little Millie 7.35 Stylish Dancer 8.05 Northandsouth 8.35 Global Anchor
